what could be the reason my vcr is eating up my tapes?

It's hungry?

More than likely your VCR needs cleaned. Even if you have used a tape cleaner, which you can buy at most electronic outlet stores, it still can eat up your tapes. What tends to happen is threw time dust will build up in the VCR wheel's or tracks. If this is the case, simple take the top off the VCR and get a Cotton swab and gentle clean around wheels and and areas where you might see dust at. Could tell you more if I new how old the VCR was. Good luck friend!

1st. of all, what did you use to clean it with. They make 2 different types of tape cleaners. The dry type, & the wet. The wet type will do the better job, as it uses a small amount of rubbing alcohol in it to clean the oxide that's on the tape. When it gets built up on the capstans and rollers it becomes somewhat sticky. An alternative to this is open the machine & use tape cleaning q-tips and dip them into alcohol & clean the parts inside. Providing you either know how, or have someone show you the ins & outs of it. The other thing may be, you've put in an already damaged tape that has twists or wrinkles in the tape & when it feeds in, it gets caught. I have several that's been messed up & have to think to Manually advance them beyond that point before I put it back in to play!

Yes. If you hav alot of tapes, you might want to buy a new one as they may some not be made anymore. It can be some thing called the pinch roller, or a broken or loose belt.

To be perfectly honest, it might just be too old. All electronics have a lifespan and your VCR's just might be up.

~Scottie

What's a VCR? lol lol lol