[ChrisW6ATV]

I have not heard of a "CH8000" before, is that maybe the Canadian version of the VH8000, or is the topic title just mis-spelled?

Thank you for your efforts and posting of the gear repair work. I have three of these machines, waiting for when I decide to do a restoration of one or more of them. Two of mine likely have the broken gear as well, and most of these that appear on Ebay seem to have the same problem. I worked at a store in the Chicago, Illinois area when they came on the market there in October, 1980, and the Magnavox reps were very clear about the shipping screw needed to protect the laser mechanism during transport.

You may be aware that two men in Europe (I forgot what country) restored a Philips VLP-600, the European version of these players, and they put a video about it on Youtube. They also had one or more machines with the broken gear. The work they did to restore their player was a serious amount of effort, but they nicely documented it all.

There is indeed a Sams manual (for the VH8000), number VDP-1. I have it, but it does not cover the laser/optical alignment, which is what these players all likely need in addition to the gear and belt repairs. The Philips VLP-600 manual does cover that work; I have a PDF of it that I can share.