How to Release Pinch Lever on Sony U-Matic Players

Introduction

If you have a Sony VO or VP series U-Matic player that goes into standby when you try to stop or eject a tape, the pinch lever may be stuck. This guide will show you how to release it and prevent it from getting stuck again.

Step 1 How to Release Pinch Lever on Sony U-Matic Players

How to Release Pinch Lever on Sony U-Matic Players, How to Release Pinch Lever on Sony U-Matic Players: step 1, image 1 of 1

First, remove the top cover. It is held on by four screws, one in each corner. (This varies by model)
After doing this, you should see something like this photo. What we're interested in is the area inside the red circle.

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Step 2

This piece of metal you can see here is the tail end of the pinch lever. In this picture, it is in its unlocked position.

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Step 3

In this picture, the pinch lever is hidden under this brace. This is what it looks like in its locked position. This is the position it should be in while playing a tape.

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Step 4

If the lock is somewhere in the middle, like this, it is stuck.
With the deck powered off, push the end of the lever to the right. It may take a bit of force, but don't use an unreasonable amount.
Power the deck back on, and the tape should unthread. You can now eject your tape normally.

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Step 5

To keep the pinch lever from getting stuck, you just need to oil it.
Start by removing this screw and the brace which it secures.

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Step 6

Next, remove the indicated end of this spring and the E-clip. A pair of curved tweezers can be handy for the spring.
Slide the pinch lever partway up its shaft, and try to get some oil inside the bushing at the bottom of the capstan lock.
Do not try to completely remove the lock unless you want to do more disassembly. It is not necessary for this repair anyway.
I used common bike chain oil on my machine and it has been working well for about a year as of writing this. I doubt this is the best oil to use though, so if you have something better, go for it.
That's it! Assuming all other functions work, you now have a working U-Matic player.