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Not-So-Fast VCR Repair

For the first time, after aaaaall the years we've been doing this, we had to actually do some VCR repair. Well, more of just a cleaning than repair but it's still interesting to open up one of these things. While shooting the most recent Best of the Worst (coming soon!!), our workhorse VCR/DVD player combo that we've been using for probably the last 7 or 8 years just stopped playing tapes. We of course have more than one backup VCR just in case something like this happens so our day doesn't come to a screeching halt but this is the first time we've had to break one of the backups out. But now our main player is cleaned and running like normal again. Just takes some spray air and a little rubbing alcohol on the tape head. So yeah, if you've never seen what one of these things looks like inside, here ya go.

Not-So-Fast VCR Repair Not-So-Fast VCR Repair Not-So-Fast VCR Repair Not-So-Fast VCR Repair

Comments

I wouldn’t have guessed it had failed while trying to watch a DVD.

Preston Petersen

Reminds me of my dad, he used to do this job before it was very much completely unnecessary.

Tanya

You're not a videophile? Do you even s-video bro?

Miles Long

"I'm surprised you don't have a temperamental $1500 VCR that needs constant service and has features and quality only videophiles care about"

K2

I had to clean mine out a number of years ago. Primitive technology from a more civilized time. I've moved all my physical media to Plex, but I still have plenty that is not on disk. I love my little "altar" to this almost dead format. https://photos.app.goo.gl/dybR3YtTFothDViE8

Kellic

My son fixes and builds computers, and I’ll have to show him this especially the bottle of alcohol because he uses stuff like that all the time.

Angi

Curious what the issue was? Or was it just gunked up with dust?

Faith Martin

Inside, where the magic happens

DonMac

This looks like a city. Like a little model of a city and all the houses which are here and the streets.

Richard Bruins

You been on to TechMoan then?

Anthony Bardill

Bet they got filthy rich with those DVD to VHS rips sold in the Milwaukee back alleys. Thank god for magnetrons!

Bill Wilson

They probably do for editing, but why spend for more than one if you're just watching a movie? Besides, the AG line doesn't come with a DVD player built in.

Timothy Liebe

I'm surprised you guys don't have a Panasonic AG-1980 or something of that caliber

Miles Long

How much drinking alcohol did it take?

Allison PM

The notion that you hack frauds would ever actually clean or repair a real VCR is revolting and offensive. Please continue doing it.

dirtside

Can it FINALLY play my Night Court tape?

Tim Temmerman

Mike & Jay inadvertently finally fix Mr Plinkett's VCR, thus marking the end of days

Heather Faller

Surprised the guys managed to find some alcohol in the studio.

Emir M

Shout out to this VCR for the incredibly bad experiences you've had which have lead to the arguably pretty good experiences of your viewers.

Erik Stevenson

Did the Actar Babies instruct you on cleaning techniques?

Beckoning Chasm

This is the kind of content I signed up for. BEHOLD! THE INSIDE OF A VCR!

Rainbow Randolph

I transfer VHS' as a hobby and every 3-6 months need to clean the heads on my VCR's. It's actually quite cathertic to open one up and do a thorough clean. My preferred method is to cut a piece of paper into 5 or 6 thin strips, roughly 1x4 inches, then wet the end of a strip with alcohol, hold the wetted end stationary against the head, turn the head counterclockwise with your other hand and apply gentle pressure with your finger to clean the heads as the drum turns. Repeat until no more magnetic residue or dirt comes off the heads.

FraudHack

If you guys want a better look at how this stuff works, check out Technology Connection's video on it. VCR tech is surprisingly cool.

ErrorStack

Yay!

Marvin Falz

This is the content I'm here for

Dominic O'Neill

I know how these things look on the inside because I've been watching your show for more than a decade, although I didn't know they looked this pristine.

Juan Calvo

What was the tape that broke it?

Mahaloth

My heart jumped. I thought this was their review of Dune 2. I was so excited. Alas, it’s the inside of a dirty vcr. Oh well. Maybe next time.

John Schmulowitz

Try to take some breaks, that hard Labor after so many years, you bodies need the rest, drink a beer on time

Wouter Huibers

Surprised it’s so clean inside. I thought it would be dripping in slime, grease and Cheeto dust.

Matt Evans

That poor thing injested generations of muck and biomatter, from some of the filthiest homes in the world. Glad to see it cleaned up and still working!

Damon Killian

I'm so glad you have a back up VCR so Rich Evans' work on watching every Nukie tape goes uninterrupted.

Javier Barragan

Mike's been drinking, again.

Twit In A Hat

yeah, I have two of those- they do direct dvd burning and are way too expensive now

Weston Ulfig

You guys have a Magnetbox? For some reason I thought you had either a Panaphonics or a Sorny.

Bright Anderson

You use spray air directly on the tape head?

Ty Jay

Night Court marathon, engage!!!

Todd Monchilov

My wallet is open for RLM electronic repair videos.

c

La Cheeserie!

c

When are you setting up the OnlyFans for this VCR?

Bill Lehecka

Rubbly alcohol, perfect for the weekend 🥳 That's a childhood dream fulfilled, wondering what the VHS player looked like inside. I remember breaking one by trying to jam a tape into it without taking the first one out. Now I feel like digging it out from the pile of old stuft in the attic and try to repair it and watch some of the old unlabeled vhs tapes in the house 😄

Joan Scott Brockie

Josh, The Wizard, once again doing his magic?

Andre K

Unbelievable you managed to clean this thing after all the shit that has gone through it.

Monsieur Marbot

I believe in this Universe it is Newhart that Plinkett wants to watch.

THE_GnomeChomskee

I have this exact same VCR/DVD combo

Tyler Hansen

Hey I've got the same Magnavox VCR/DVD combo player in silver!

Mitchell Grace

And yet Mr. Plinkett still awaits the chance to watch his Newhart/Night Court tape. Perhaps he only needs a cleaning. Not his VCR, but Plinkett himself.

THE_GnomeChomskee

You've known how to repair one ALL THIS TIME? My whole life is a lie.

Matthew Chambers

Decades from now, when things possibly and tragically come to an end (and I hope I die the minute I finish the potential last episode), I hope you fucks finally fix that poor SOB's VCR.

Zan Ferguson

Wow. Crazy to think that’s what we all look like inside.

Alden Goldfinch

Thanks for posting this on your webzone

Nathan Mills

That model is a lot more clean and sophisticated on the inside than the garbage Walmart models I used up to the late 90s.

Matthew Riley

Finally you can watch Night Court

Jazz Jackrabbit

Do you guys fix beatmax players too?

JimiAKAme

I was literally just wondering how often you guys have to clean/repair these. Thanks for sharing!

cynthia

Remember when The Love Butcher "butchered our VCR" RIP Love Butcher

Karin M

No no, the proper way to fix it is to stab it with a soldering iron.

DamienC

Really cool! I wonder if they’ll talk about this in one of the videos.

Evan Hiley

What’s the bill for something like that?

Jerry Strickland

We have the same vcr. Wow.

Shan O’Blivion

So much for being hack frauds!

Brady Mills

Why can’t you guys work this fast for Mr. Plinkett?

Tyree


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