UPDATE ON VCR SNORING NOISE:
after running more tests, i found that the "snoring"
sound only happens in the SLP speed, not the SP speed.
and MAY be associated with the belt that drives the
spindles. i can see a portion of the belt through
a hole in the motherboard, and with a wet Qtip,
moistened the inside of the belt, which solved the
noise problem for a short time. After drying, the
noise returned.

since removal of the belt would be a significant
task (because to remove the drive assembly, requires
removal of motherboard from case), is there any
acceptable "belt dressing" available that i could
apply with a Qtip?