Magnavox Dvd/vcr Recorder Zv420mw8

Hello! I used to work on VCRs and if I'm reading right your vcr is either not disengaging correctly which means the supply reel and take up reels, which is the left and right wheels on your videotape, on the machine when the cassette is loaded is not pulling in the tape as the rollers pull back toward the cassette or the roller assembly that pulls the tape out and onto the round thing as you call it which is the video head assembly, may have grease that has dried OR even a gear had went bad. As far as it ejecting without a tape in it then that could be a bad sensor or something electronically is screwy. If you have had the cover off and trying to diagnose yourself then there are two sensors that are sensitive to light and that MAY be the ejection without a tape issue.

I know this stinks because it's a combo and trust me, it would be cheaper to buy a Magnavox DVD recorder for $49.00 at Amazon and buy a VCR for about $6 (That's the going rate around here at Goodwills) and then just check Google on hooking them to gether. Simple! If a tape won't copy due to copyguard then just search Google for copyguard removal. They WILL run you just over $100 and don't buy the cheaper ones. If you just have home videos or stuff you recorded off the TV then you won't need anything than the two items I mentioned. Good Luck!!