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Troubleshooting CD Players

Technics SL-P222

Sometimes it doesn't spin when a disc is inserted. If I give it a start with my finger then it starts spinning.

This was mentioned in the top post but I couldn't tell if the explanation was explicitly saying whether this symptom means bad disc motor.
 
classyharlan said:
Technics SL-P222

Sometimes it doesn't spin when a disc is inserted. If I give it a start with my finger then it starts spinning.

This was mentioned in the top post but I couldn't tell if the explanation was explicitly saying whether this symptom means bad disc motor.
Click to expand...
Bad disc motor. Disc motors are really hard to find. The motor will have a sticker on it with the part number. Google the number. If you can find the part, you will have to make a gauge to measure the height between the top of the mechanism and the bottom of the disc table, when you hold the table down. Don't let it move up, because when you put the disc table back on you'll be pushing it down until it hits the gauge. You can make something out of a piece of wood, or nuts and washers for shims, be creative. When you remove the table pry it from the neck on the bottom so you don't bend the table!
 
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dr*audio said:
Bad disc motor. Disc motors are really hard to find. The motor will have a sticker on it with the part number. Google the number. If you can find the part, you will have to make a gauge to measure the height between the top of the mechanism and the bottom of the disc table, when you hold the table down. Don't let it move up, because when you put the disc table back on you'll be pushing it down until it hits the gauge. You can make something out of a piece of wood, or nuts and washers for shims, be creative. When you remove the table pry it from the neck on the bottom so you don't bend the table!
Click to expand...
The service manual showed that the table is attached by a screw so I decided to try taking off the table, for the heck of it and also to give a shot oiling the bearing and be 100% sure oil was getting on it. The manual listed a clearance of .9mm and I had a guitar pick of .88mm so I tried that. After reassembly it didn't seem to get any worse, it won't read after about the 20 minute mark of a disc now but I'm not sure whether that's a new problem or one that I just didn't notice before. Assuming that I did not cause a new problem, it seems that removing/replacing the disc table isn't as nervewrackingly exact a task as I'd imagined. I suppose it would be more difficult for a table attached by super glue and not a screw.

This is not a question, just a "thought-I'd-share-with-everyone" followup. I'm still looking for a replacement motor.
 
Sony CDP-55

It plays 1 or 2 discs ok but then starts skipping. It was said elsewhere in this thread that that means laser starting to fail.

The laser is KSS-121A. I can't find whether or not there is a modern replacement version.
 
classyharlan said:
Sony CDP-55

It plays 1 or 2 discs ok but then starts skipping. It was said elsewhere in this thread that that means laser starting to fail.

The laser is KSS-121A. I can't find whether or not there is a modern replacement version.
Click to expand...
No, the laser is not available, but you should check the RF waveform on a scope and see if it's 1.5V peak to peak. If it's lower than 1V you can try increasing the power so it read 1.5V. You can't make it any worse than it is.
Also oil the disc motor top bearing. That causes skipping.
 
Pioneer PD-6030

It has a linear motor for the sled. When holding down manual search, after it goes into fast search (i.e. hold it for the first few seconds and it searches slowly, after that searching speeds up), it skips backwards. It won't search forward at its quick speed for more than a second or two before skipping back.

Also, when pushing track search multiple times during playback (i.e. interrupting playback to search for a different track a ways away from the current one) the track search feels really iffy, like it's about to fail reading. I haven't actually made it fail, but the deck doesn't just go zip zip to the selected track.

Is this typical of linear motors? I've seen something similar on another linear motor deck I had.

Playback is fine, no skipping or errors. Selecting a track and then pushing play is also ok.
 
classyharlan said:
Pioneer PD-6030

It has a linear motor for the sled. When holding down manual search, after it goes into fast search (i.e. hold it for the first few seconds and it searches slowly, after that searching speeds up), it skips backwards. It won't search forward at its quick speed for more than a second or two before skipping back.

Also, when pushing track search multiple times during playback (i.e. interrupting playback to search for a different track a ways away from the current one) the track search feels really iffy, like it's about to fail reading. I haven't actually made it fail, but the deck doesn't just go zip zip to the selected track.

Is this typical of linear motors? I've seen something similar on another linear motor deck I had.

Playback is fine, no skipping or errors. Selecting a track and then pushing play is also ok.
Click to expand...
Could be caused by a number of things.
1. If the rails are not clean it will apply more voltage until the sled moves and may overshoot where it was trying to get to, and then jump back.
2. Could be electronic adjustments are off.
3. Could be low laser power.
 
I hope the good doctor is in the house! I have a Sony 5 disc CD player model CDP C325M that I have not been able to get to work properly. Initially it was having trouble reading discs. I noticed a wobble when a disc was playing which was due to the shaft in the motor being loose. Bad bearing. I replaced the motor with similar Mabuchi model. Following that the unit had intermittent glitches playing discs. Traced problem to broken traces in the main flex cable. Could not source new flex cable at reasonable price so hardwired the laser unit to the board using light gauge wire same length as flex cable. All new connections tested and are good and mirror the flex cable connections. Unit now playing discs but most of the time for only about 25 minutes before it starts skipping forwards and sometimes backwards and eventually stops reading disc giving no disc error. I have cleaned and oiled the sled rail and cleaned all gears. Have cleaned the outer part of lens. Have not attempted to oil the motor bearing but it is a new motor. When the laser has trouble locking on at about the 25 minute mark, I can see it moving out and back searching for a lock but it usually fails. On one occasion the unit actually played an entire disc without skipping but that was a one off. I have tried playing several manufactured discs and same issue on all. I do not hear any scraping when disc playing and the chucking arm seems to be set at the right height and is holding the disc properly. Have checked the springs in the laser block assembly and stretched them slightly. Maybe that is the problem though and the platform is sagging. All other functions on the player appear to operate as they should. Any advice greatly appreciated. Glenn
 
When it starts to skip after 25 minutes, if you go back to the first track does it play properly?
 
Hi dr*audio, yes- i'm pretty sure if i press play again it starts off at track 1. I'll double check that tomorrow. Glenn
 
Thank you Dr*audio. That diagnosis was correct. The flex cable was looping up between the laser housing and the chassis as the laser moved outwards from centre of disc. I should have twigged that it would be a flex cable issue. Unit now working like new.
 
Hi all. Can anyone suggest a supplier for a Sony CD disc tray belt part 4-926-399-01. It is out of the unit I mention in post 728- Sony CDP c325M? It was a common belt in Sony CD and cassette players. The total circumference is about 16-17cm.
 
A Rega Apollo recently quit working which is a rare experience for me.
This is only the 3d cd fail that I have had in 37 years of using cd players and dvd players. The other two were very cheap entry level units so I won't go into that. I did have a Cambridge Azure that had mechanical hum right out of the box. No fix offered so I traded it back to the dealer. Sadly that experience gave me a negative prejudice for the popular brand.

This brings me to my problem with the Apollo, which is that I live 3000 miles from a repair shop. He offered to buy it minus the cost of repairs which will not be much subtracting also the shipping cost. Better than throwing it in a dumpster, but not much.
 
I am not familiar with the Rega Apollo but I looked at a Saturn with a friend who was shopping. I was not impressed. The Saturn uses a cheap transport from a portable Cd player, the kind that has a plastic disc table with plastic tabs that the disc snaps onto. These break all the time. It is sad that a manufacturer would use cheap parts in an expensive player.
 
dr*audio said:
The Saturn uses a cheap transport from a portable Cd player, the kind that has a plastic disc table with plastic tabs that the disc snaps onto.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a CDROM drive. That's an alternative approach to product longevity; use a part that is readily available, and easily replaceable. Rather than custom-made unobtanium.
 
cpt_paranoia said:
Sounds like a CDROM drive. That's an alternative approach to product longevity; use a part that is readily available, and easily replaceable. Rather than custom-made unobtanium.
Click to expand...
The problem is there is no manufacturer of new cd players that supports them with parts. They want you to buy the complete mechanism for $200. Those crappy disc tables with the plastic tabs and ball bearings break all the time; I used to work on portable players that used them. You had to replace the assembly with the disc motor and table, removing all the gears and laser and install them on the new part.
 
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