This is a guest article from Andreas Weisser who runs Restaumedia in Germany. Neither Andreas nor Richard can take responsibility for the work that you do based on these instructions which are provided on an as-is basis. Any risk of using them is solely your own and not Andreas’s, Richard’s, or anyone else other than you, the person undertaking to use these instructions. If you have any questions, please contact Andreas. — Richard
This is a step-by-step guide for the removal of U-matic Cassette from a Sony VP 7040/9000 U-matic Player by hand.
1 — Turn the power OFF.
2 — Remove the Upper-Case of the video player. Use a Phillips screwdriver to loosen the fixing screws. Then pull the Upper-Case in the direction marked by the red arrows shown here in picture 1.
3 — Flip the covering board to the left side as shown below.
4 — Now you can see the tape wound around the tape guides and the tape drawer as shown in picture 2, below.
5 — On the left side you can see the Gear Box. Turn the white pulley of the Gear Box in a clockwise direction by hand as shown here in picture 3.
Make sure that you don’t touch the tape with your fingers. While turning the white pulley of the Gear Box the Drawer arms should slowly move on the Threading Ring in the STOP position. Turn the white pulley until the tape is no longer in contact with the tape guides and the Drawer arms as shown below in picture 4.
6 — Carefully disconnect the wires from the Cassette-up Compartment from the board on the right side of the Cassette-up Compartment (marked with a red arrow on Picture 5, below).
Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the fixing screws of the Cassette-up Compartment Stay. Remove the Cassette-up Compartment Stay carefully by hand.
7 — Now you can slowly lift the Cassette-up Compartment Block with the Cassette in it. Make sure, that the tape will not be scratched when removing the Cassette-up Compartment Block (Picture 6, below).
8 — Place the Cassette-up Compartment Block upside down on a table as shown below in Picture 7.
Load the tape fully into the Cassette by turning the reel hub on the back of the Cassette by hand. Be careful to avoid uneven wind and wrinkling of the tape. Make sure that the tape lid does not close at this point!
9 — On the right side of the Cassette-up Compartment you can see the Gear Box of the Cassette-up Compartment Block as shown in picture 8, below.
Turn the white gear-wheel in a counterclockwise direction slowly by hand. Now the Cassette should be moving upwards to the EJECT position. The tape lid will close automatically at this point.
10 — Remove the Cassette from the Cassette-up Compartment.
11 — Put the Cassette-up Compartment back into the chassis. Insert the projections of the Cassette-up Compartment Block into the holes of the chassis (Picture 9, below).
12 — Replace the Cassette-up Compartment Stay and connect the wires on the right side of the Cassette-up Compartment Block.
13 — Replace the Upper Case and fix it with the screws.
14 — Turn the power on. Check if the Player works again. Don’t use a Master-Tape for this procedure.
15 — If the trouble occurs again call your local Broadcast Service to check your Player.