The PLAY function of my Cassette desk doesn't work anymore

If your Realistic VR632HF cassette player is loading tapes but none of the functions like play or rewind are working, it may be a mechanical or electrical issue. Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try: Check the belts: The drive belts that operate the cassette mechanism can become worn or stretched over time. Open the cassette player and check the belts for signs of wear or damage. If they are loose or damaged, replace them. Clean the heads: Over time, the tape heads can become dirty or magnetized, which can affect the sound quality or cause the cassette to not play at all. Use a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol to gently clean the tape heads. Check the electrical connections: Make sure all of the connections inside the cassette player are clean and secure. Over time, dust and debris can accumulate in the connectors, causing poor performance or even complete failure. Check the motor: If the cassette player is not rewinding or fast-forwarding, it may be a problem with the motor. Check to see if the motor is running when you attempt to rewind or fast-forward a cassette. If it is not, it may need to be replaced. If these troubleshooting steps do not solve the issue, it may be a more complex problem that requires professional repair.

likely something has wrapped around the drive capstan, that would make tapes play faster. Forward and reverse are likely belt issues.

John Check if the capstan is rotating This is a shaft that touch the rubber wheel in the cassette Does the motor run properly? You say it is new then it should be under warranty take it back to the supplier and they should repair or replace it. If it was standing for a very long time i.e. 20 or more years then the mechanism is bound and if you know what you do then lubricate with sewing machine oil on all levers and shafts the motor can also do with a single drop ( 1 millimeter wire dipped for 25 mm in the oil and the oil that drops off, is the size of a measured drop of oil) I did get some Revox machines that were standing for such a long time and I had to use a pump pliers to get those wheel to turn they were BOUND but after playing it for a while they became working again

There are end sensors in the unit that are fed by a lamp and they burn out - I am guessing the lamp is out in the center of the tape.
There could be other reasons but without seeing the unit I can not determine remotely. I have repaired thousands of VCR in my 40 years in service.

It thinks it has reached the end of the tape and should play the other side.

Here's what to do: take the cassette and slam it (gently) against a wall or desk. Turn it over and do it again. This loosens up the tape pack.

Then fast forward the tape all the way to the end and then rewind it all the way to the other end.

Before you play the tape make sure the cassette screws are tight. And make sure your tape heads are clean .

something maybe broken on the inside for it to say play but fast forward. the botton could be stuck as well. maybe open the vcr and clean it all up in side. that might help

I tried the above steps, but each time when restarting the DVD player, it said 'reset' and asked for the language to be selected again. Pressing the "Fast Forward Fast Rewind Fast Forward Up Down" sequence caused the player to lock up and require powering off at the wall.
I found on another web site that there are different initial sequences. Once I use the one for Region 2, it worked fine.

I found the instructions below on another web site, but it worked for me...

• Make sure there is no disc in the player.
• Turn on the player (you can use remote control or front panel, it doesn't matter)
• Wait for "No Disc" message to appear on the TV screen.
• Press the Repeat button on remote (plain, not A-B).
• Press the correct sequence of buttons of remote according to the original region code of your player (it's on the sticker on the back panel of the player). FF = fast forward, FR = fast rewind.
• Region 2 players: FF, FR, FF, UP, DOWN
• Region 3 players: FF, PLAY, FR, UP, LEFT
• Region 4 players: FR, PLAY, DOWN, DOWN, RIGHT
• Region 5 players: FF, UP, DOWN, STOP, RIGHT
• Region 6 players: LEFT, RIGHT, RIGHT, PLAY, LEFT
• If you pressed the correct sequence, a small white number 0 will appear somewhere on the top right of the screen. The white number 0 of the same font and size as the "No Disc" message, so don't confuse with the red "not allowed" sign that would appear when you press a function that's not available.
• Turn the player off and on again, then you can pop in a DVD of any region and watch immediately.

Good luck!

Cheap cassette players have no rewind feature. This allows the mechanism to be simpler and cheaper; they just 'pull' the tape forward constantly, without the pinch wheel for "fast" [sic] and with the pinch wheel for "play".

To work out if this is the problem with your cassette player, look inside with no cassette inserted. If one of the spindles is plain, without the "three-pronged" device to engage with the spool, then you have the cheap device with no rewind. Turn the tape over, and fast-forward.

There is an idler wheel behind the platen ( black plate behind the cassette)..replace the idler wheel.

The guy in texas is Marrs communications