Thank you for your replies. Took the thing apart today, very interesting machine. I decided just for the heck of it to put a battery in while it was deshelled and power it on.
To my surprise... it worked?
The thing actually turned on and ejected the tape that'd been in there for a few months now.
it seems to play tapes and enter into film mode just fine. So strange?!
Is this still a cap issue?
https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...Jj?usp=sharing