Advice for tape drive repair / maintenance

Tony Duell wrote: and you will need a service manual for the machine (but hey, do you really have a machine that you don't have the service manual for?). -tony Yes, many machines. I can buy a new VCR/DVD combination for $89 with a one year warrenty. Why would I want to waste a weekend repairing a worn out VCR? That is time much better spent playing with my own designs, writing a utility routine, or working on some old unique piece of computer gear. Repairing a cheap piece of consumer electronics may be fun but the critical shortage in my life is time. There is never enough to do all the fun things, so I have to pick what gives the most pleasure. Repairing something just to say I can do is not on my list of priorities. Billy