Panasonic top-loader VCR Issues

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

A further update: The VCR will play EP recorded tapes fine (even though it doesn't have an EP mode option in the record speed switch, but I'm not sure what EP Mode would be the equivalent of in terms of SP, LP and SLP)

So either the tape speed detecting circuit inside the VCR is defective so as to not allow it to detect SP tapes, or another thing I thought of is that there's a drive belt on the topside of the VCR mechanism that goes from a pulley in the middle of the VCR Mech. to the playback idler and perhaps when I replaced that belt I put the wrong size belt on that pulley system and its causing the VCR to play at the wrong speed.

EP and SLP are the same speed. Different brands used different names for that speed for God only knows why.

If it's tracking and playing perfectly at SLP/EP speed with an SLP/EP tape it's probably an electronic problem.