Head jammed in record

Hello Nick, the Bias control, is used to optimize the polarization of the recording-playback head, at the time of recording, depending on the type of tape you use, you have to try
A lot of Bias level, it can give you good bass recording, but the highs can be missing, you have to go regulating, starting from the central position and turning to + or to - and find the sound you like in the recording

Hola Nick, el control de Bias, se utiliza para obtimizar la polarizacion del cabezal de grabacion-reproduccion, en el momento de grabacion, dependiendo del tipo de cinta que utilices, tentras que ir probando
mucho nivel de Bias, puede darte buena grabacion de graves, pero los agudos pueden faltar, tienes que ir regulando, partiendo desde la posicion central y girando para + o para -- y encontrar elo sonido que te agrade en la grabacion

Do you have any small children who have access to the machine? Kids are notorious for posting coins, half eaten biscuits and bits of toys into the tape slot. 1st give the machine a light shake and see if it rattles, next remove it from any power source and remove the cover. You may find something obvious, if not, reconnect the power, being careful not to touch anything inside, and try to load a tape. Dirty heads WILL playback, but will NOT record. The standard for these machines is load spool to erase head, to video head, to soundhead, then between drive spindle and pinch roller and on to take up spool. Has the tape you are trying to record had the tab removed, if so (like a pre recorded tape) it will NOT record until you place a piece of tape securely over the tab hole.

You might have a gummed up switch. Try some contact cleaner and go from there.

Please click HERE so that you will be directed to the site where you can troubleshoot the issue.

I hope that this will work for you.

Hi There, You can fix your tape yourself. 1- wind out tape from both sides of cassette. 2- cut both sides to form straight edges. 3- cut a small thin piece of clear scotch tape. 4- from cassette tape, put both sides together with recorded side facing down-- in other words you will be putting the scotch tape on the inside of the recorded tape. 4- line up the two ends and splice them together. - cut the excess scotch tape from the edges. Make sure there is no sticky stuff left there because if there is, it could rip out your video heads. The tape should only be played once and at that time, should be rerecorded to dvd or another media.
Hope this helps, mr cicmo

If you send me the DV tapes, I can convert them for you. You can contact me at [email protected]

First try cleaning the heads with some electronics grade alcohol and a static free cleaning swab...although it sounds like the head may need alignment...if those two things do not work out for you, the capstan motor might be the culprit.

This will be a bit difficult because I can't see the unit, but here are a few ideas.
1) Did the arms that pull the tape around the head go all the way around the heads? If not, I would look at the loading motor belt. It may be slipping and not fully loading the tape.
2) Is the tape being pressed up against the pinch roller on the right hand side of the deck? If not, there is a pivot arm that is supposed to pull the tape up to the pinch roller. This arm often gets stuck in the "loaded" position and therefore does not pull the tape up to the pinch roller.

Please update this with what you see and I'll provide more details on how to address the problem.
Dan

you have probably bent the tab that holds the tape end sensor or its light. The tapes have a clear section at the end of the tape and the light shines through to the sensor to tell the unit that the tape is finished. The light should not pass through the recordable part of the tapes. If anything is bent the light may shine on the sensor and tell the unit you're at the end of the tape and to shut off. Some units have a tape tension sensor also that tells the unit that the tape is broken and to shut off. Only way to know is to remove power and take it apart and look for anything that may be bent. Stay away from the rotating head assembly and the posts that the tap travels on. Do not apply power with the unit open. Do not load a tape and remove power as some units freeze in the loaded position and will not load new tapes unless manually placed back in the unloaded position.

As i recall, +r's will only format in dvd vr, the unit does not like high speed recording disks. switch to dvd drive - insert blank disk - if no format screen - goto (on remote) setup - onscreen menu - system setup - disc setup - new disk format - hit center button in ring on remote to change to vr or move up to reformat as vr. once disk is formatted, use record speed button on remote to set record speed 1,2,4,6 hr then switch to tape deck with tape in and stopped at begining, on remote hit dubbing, it will ask you confirm dubbing vhs-dvd .... toggle over to yes & hit center button... away you should go... c245 is a copyguarded tape.