Was my vintage CD players' skipping problem that they weren't perfectly level?

[Sobsey]

I have two 1980s CD players: a Sony CDP-210es and a Kyocera DA-310cx. I like the way they sound, though both have had occasional skipping problems. I was away for a couple of months, and when I came back, both were skipping worse. Letting them warm back up didn't help much. I read up on cleaning the lenses and transport rails. I pulled the Sony from the rack where it lives, put it on my worktable, removed the cover, and cleaned the lens with a water-dampened cotton swab. No improvement. I tried again with a swab moistened with isopropyl alcohol. Tried to get at the transport rails, too (not easy on that machine). Played perfectly! Put the cover back on, put the Sony back in its rack -- immediately skipping again. Put it back on the table, plays fine, so I left it there, still hooked up to my amp (an old Creek from the 1990s). Working fine; every long now and then it misfires, usually resolved by giving the CD itself a wipe-off.

With that in mind, I simply leveled the Kyocera, which was *just barely* not level. Now it plays fine, too.

Internet searches for CD players out of level skipping doesn't turn up very much. Have you had this same experience?

 

[John3655]

In my limited experience, the mechs are very sensitive, cleaning involves removing the rails, cleaning the holes they run through in the carriage, brushing all the teeth on any cogs and worm drives, lubricating all and the motors, cleaning the lens and if possible the underside. It's as much cleaning dirt as removing sticky old lube. Iso is too harsh for the lens it can dissolve glue, some lenses are plastic, any lens cleaner will do or just water and dish soap. Being grounded and static safe is important.
Probably being level helps but who can really say with an old cantankerous mech.

 

[ladyaria]

No.
Either vibrations or heat from other components is causing it to mistrack when in the rack.

 

[Rey1]

I had skipping problems on a Phillips swing arm player, levelling it fixed the issue. Rails seem to be less subject to skipping.