Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - VCR turns off during play mode!

Hi; Smokey, A question for you. I have a R.C.A. VCR. Had it about 14 months. This is my moms by the way! She uses it to record her show in the daytime, an watches them at night. When she starts to watch them. The VCR will work fine for about an hour, then the VCR will turn itself off. You can turn it back on an the VCR will eject the tape out. You can turn it back on again start watchin it show again, an it will turn off again. To me (no expert) the VCR is turning itself because it senses is wrong! It only turns it self off in play mode. I know it could be a lot things, Maybe you can narrow it down for me! Thank's for your help.


P.s M E R R Y CHRISTMAS an HAPPY NEW YEAR

Ole Smokey dog is the TV guru. I kinda think I know enough to get me into trouble:) Sounds like it could be dirty. Tape has oxide on it that rubs off on the video/audio heads etc. **DO NOT USE A CLEANING TAPE!** actually you can but the only one recommended is by 3M Black Watch Systems from such as http://www.npcatalog.com/niche/headcleaner.html
I did a quick search and came up with this site but this is an excellent price. Or as the article says a professional cleaning which is what I recommend but Black Watch is the next under a pro. Try cleaning, I can give you detailed instruction on how and Q-Tips are a no, no too! On the video head anyway. So lets go form there...

Good Afternoon, Sparkycars:

Big Mike is my hero. One thing I learned from experience on this problem is a brake failure on either the take-up or supply reel hub. This problem would indicate the supply hub.

VCR's determine when tape has ended by tension. When everything is operating normally, both brakes release and allow the tape to travel through the machine. The machine stops when the tape has reached its end, the supply hub stops, and the tape tension trips the machine into the "OFF" mode. Then it rewinds the tape.

If the brake on the supply hub doesn't release properly, it throws an extra tension on the tape while it is passing through the machine.
When the take-up reel is half-full, that puts extra load on the take-up motor and makes it work harder. And, it is dragging tape against a brake that is on. Coupled with the drag of the failed brake on the supply hub, the tape will reach a tension that will stop the machine. The machine thinks it has reached the end of the tape. And it rewinds.

While what Big Mike said is true, I have also seen this scenario several times. It is just something to consider.

Smokey ;)