JVC M90 Cassette Won't Eject (Help)

[JC Slater]

Hi guys, it's been a minute! So I recently I've been firing up cassettes because my kids (6 and 7) have been super interested in the boombox. Everything was working fine until today. I was playing a tape then hit the rewind button which seemed to cause the tape deck to stop functioning. None of the buttons are responsive and it seems frozen in the tape cycle, so the tape will not eject. Because the deck is stuck in the cycle, the eject button is jammed and won't push down. Hopefully this makes sense.

1) Did something short/break?
2) Is there an easy fix for this?
3) How do I get the tape out?

Thanks guys, hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks,

Jay

 

[floyd]

Hi guys, it's been a minute! So I recently I've been firing up cassettes because my kids (6 and 7) have been super interested in the boombox. Everything was working fine until today. I was playing a tape then hit the rewind button which seemed to cause the tape deck to stop functioning. None of the buttons are responsive and it seems frozen in the tape cycle, so the tape will not eject. Because the deck is stuck in the cycle, the eject button is jammed and won't push down. Hopefully this makes sense.

1) Did something short/break?
2) Is there an easy fix for this?
3) How do I get the tape out?

Thanks guys, hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks,

Jay

Sounds like the main drive belt went out . if you open up the unit and try to spin the main flywheel it should unlock the deck enough to get the door open.

 

[JC Slater]

Sounds like the main drive belt went out . if you open up the unit and try to spin the main flywheel it should unlock the deck enough to get the door open.

Thanks Floyd, I'm going in I'll keep you posted.

 

[JC Slater]

Thanks Floyd, I'm going in I'll keep you posted.

***Update: I opened it up, unscrewed the deck, and removed the cassette tape. While the deck was accessible, I started poking the head gently with a screwdriver and it clicked into position. I put it the deck back in place, and the cassette door was no longer jammed, so I screwed everything back in and closed her up. When I powered it back up I heard the deck go through its normal startup cycle. I was hesitant to put another tape in, but amazingly it played one like nothing ever happened . Got lucky!

 

[Superduper]

I suspect the belts are loose and this will happen again sooner rather than later.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

Ultimately, deck malfunction will burn up the fusible resistor too!

 

[BoomboxLover48]

***Update: I opened it up, unscrewed the deck, and removed the cassette tape. While the deck was accessible, I started poking the head gently with a screwdriver and it clicked into position. I put it the deck back in place, and the cassette door was no longer jammed, so I screwed everything back in and closed her up. When I powered it back up I heard the deck go through its normal startup cycle. I was hesitant to put another tape in, but amazingly it played one like nothing ever happened . Got lucky!

Stay away from using metal objects to "poke" the playback head. Use a wooden tongue depressor or a plastic rod.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

Next step should be replacing it with new belts. If not, the deck will cause more problems.