Minor technical difficulties with my CD player...

[sheath]

Okay, so I have this CD player. It's about a year old, maybe a little less. Cheap one, really...but it has sentimental value.

Over the last several days, the CDs won't turn. Or they do turn, but sporadically. It's like something in there isn't 'catching'. Instead of the little 'whoosh' of a CD spinning, it is just a 'click...click...click'...before it says 'no CD'.

*sigh*

So I used the CD cleaner thingie and THAT turned just fine, every time. Then I did the cleaning with alcohol thing, like the little manual says. Yep, I keep the manuals like a good little owner and actually read them. But this one doesn't help.

So...any ideas? It might be a stupid kind of question, but I don't want to pay to have it fixed, and I don't want to throw it out, either.

Thanks.

S.

 

[Machiavellian]

I would try contacting the manufacturer - check if theres a website and see if you can find out info that way - saves a stamp or a long distance bill - claim you purchased it recently or got it as a gift and would recommend their products in the near future but currently.. bla bla bla - butter them up first before dropping the bomb that their cd player stinks but you want it fixed

 

[sheath]

I would try contacting the manufacturer - check if theirs a website and see if you can find out info that way - saves a stamp or a long distance bill - claim you purchased it recently or got it as a gift and would recommend their products in the near future but currently.. bla bla bla - butter them up first before dropping the bomb that their cd player stinks but you want it fixed

Very good idea. I will look them up now, as a matter of fact.

I just hate having to wait until someone else can fix it...I wish I were more mechanically inclined and could do it myself.

S.

 

[Machiavellian]

well when all else fails - you can always take a pic of it - leaving you a memory of it - and grab a big fat hammer and well ...
- you'll feel better if you beat the crap outta it. Good luck all the same.

 

[oo0_boo_0oo]

I sympathise, I had a stereo that did the same thing...

Have you tried manually spinning the disc... quickly shutting the door and pushing play? I ran mine like that for months before it finally gave up the ghost totally and I had to replace it.

Depends on the style of stereo I suppose and if it has a manual door...

 

[sheath]

well when all else fails - you can always take a pic of it - leaving you a memory of it - and grab a big fat hammer and well ...
- you'll feel better if you beat the crap outta it. Good luck all the same.

Now THAT would help.

And I know of a few CDs I would put in it before smashing the unit...lol



S.

 

[sheath]

I sympathise, I had a stereo that did the same thing...

Have you tried manually spinning the disc... quickly shutting the door and pushing play? I ran mine like that for months before it finally gave up the ghost totally and I had to replace it.

Depends on the style of stereo I suppose and if it has a manual door...

I have been doing that...that is what keeps it going. When it DOES go. I spin the disc, then close the cover and hit play. It catches about half the time.

But it has gotten TONS of use...I always have music in my house. Always. There have been days when that CD player ran for 24 hours straight. So I guess it's about time for this to happen?

S.

 

[oo0_boo_0oo]

I reckon its a gonna to be truthful, sadly nothing lasts as long as it used to...

 

[sheath]

I reckon its a gonna to be truthful, sadly nothing lasts as long as it used to...

God, ain't THAT the truth.

S.

 

[Weird Harold]

So I used the CD cleaner thingie and THAT turned just fine, every time. Then I did the cleaning with alcohol thing, like the little manual says.

Strange, very strange.

Since the cleaning disk turns just fine, the problem isn't something mechanical like a worn drive belt. That suggests it's a sensor problem or a 'firmware' or "programming" problem.

Did the cleaning with alcohol procedure include cleaning the play and track select buttons? That's the only thing I can think of that you might still be abl to do to correct the problem -- a stuck button could possibly cause the player to think the CD is done playing as soon as you insert it.

If cleaning the contacts under the button doesn't help, I suspect there is no repair possible because one of the chips has failed and it would cost more to replace it than buying a couple of new cd players would cost.

 

[oo0_boo_0oo]

electrical goods may have become cheaper... but their quality has suffered.

 

[sheath]

Thank you for that post, Weird Harold. I'm glad to know someone else finds it strange! I thought I was just really THAT clueless...

I did clean all the buttons, yes.

It is playing NOW...but I also know it could stop at any time. And it will.

So I guess it will have to be a new CD player after all...?



S.

 

[Weird Harold]

Thank you for that post, Weird Harold. I'm glad to know someone else finds it strange! I thought I was just really THAT clueless...

I did clean all the buttons, yes.

Actually I was wondering about the switches the buttons activate -- most cleaning instructions are pretty much cosmetic cleaning.

When you're ready to give up completely on it, there is one last thing you can try that could either cure it or kill it (or do nothing at all to it.)

Get a large bottle of Rubbing Alchohol and a covered bowl that in combination will alllow you to complete immerse the CD player in alcohol.

Soak it several hours, or oevernight, preferably somplace with some vibration to agitate it (on the washing machine during the spin cycle, on a vibrating seat cushion, propped against your electric toothbrush, or whatever you have that vibrates -- the higher the frequency of vibration, the better.)

When you think it's had all the of the gunk and debris soaked away and/or disolved, let it dry for a day or two before trying to use it.

an alcohol bath has prolonged the life of my TV remote a couple of times, but it's strictly a last resort type of cleaning unless you know there's no alcohol soluble parts -- like non-rubber drive belts.

 

[Zergplex]

Zergplex Says

Actually I was wondering about the switches the buttons activate -- most cleaning instructions are pretty much cosmetic cleaning.

When you're ready to give up completely on it, there is one last thing you can try that could either cure it or kill it (or do nothing at all to it.)

Get a large bottle of Rubbing Alchohol and a covered bowl that in combination will alllow you to complete immerse the CD player in alcohol.

Soak it several hours, or oevernight, preferably somplace with some vibration to agitate it (on the washing machine during the spin cycle, on a vibrating seat cushion, propped against your electric toothbrush, or whatever you have that vibrates -- the higher the frequency of vibration, the better.)

When you think it's had all the of the gunk and debris soaked away and/or disolved, let it dry for a day or two before trying to use it.

an alcohol bath has prolonged the life of my TV remote a couple of times, but it's strictly a last resort type of cleaning unless you know there's no alcohol soluble parts -- like non-rubber drive belts.

I have never actually heard of anyone trying this before. I'll have to keep that in mind next time something I have is about to meet Mr. Sledge Hammer.

-Zergplex

 

[zhukov1943]

Hey, Sheath:

PS2 junkies like me are very, VERY familiar with this problem. After a while, the gear that adjusts the height between the laser reader and the disk gets out of whack, and it can't read the disks anymore. If you're feeling really gutsy, take the cover off and see if there's a little "gear" in your CD player that adjusts the height of the laser reader. Mark the position of the gear with a pen. Now take the gear off, move it one or two "teeth" to the right or left, re-assemble it, and see if your CD player will play the disks again. If not, try one "tooth" less or more, or on the other side of the mark. In other words, fiddle with it...

I haven't had to do it, but my buddy's done it to his PS2 twice so far...

If that doesn't work, drop it off your roof.

 

[Weird Harold]

Re: Zergplex Says

I have never actually heard of anyone trying this before. I'll have to keep that in mind next time something I have is about to meet Mr. Sledge Hammer.

-Zergplex

Actually, it's just a home adaptation of the "Ultrasonic Parts Bath" my Dad used to clean engine parts at work -- just using rubbing alchohol instead of the more powerful solvents the parts cleaner used.

zhukov1943 said:
After a while, the gear that adjusts the height between the laser reader and the disk gets out of whack, and it can't read the disks anymore.

Actually, it's probably what's called "servo creep" and the servo motor that drives that gear that's the problem. The proper way to adjust it is to turn the servo-motor in it's clamp to adjust for the creep. It not only reduces the risk of lost parts because younever actually take aything completely loose, it gives you a finer control than +/- one tooth.

 

[sheath]

Lots of good advice...thanks for that.

It looks like I'm going to be working on Mr. CD Player today. I mean, it's going bad anyway...I can't really seriously fuck it up any more than it already is, right?

Let's hope, anyway.

S.

 

[zhukov1943]

Best o' luck - and remember, new ones are CHEAP!

 

[ReadyOne]

If even a couple of disks spin and most others do not, the problem is in the clutch/drive mechanism where the CD is gripped.

There are several systems, most reply on friction. Closing the cover pushes something against the center of CD and holds it to a spindle that is turned by the motor. If this pressure is relaxes, the CD slips against the spindle.

Another mechanism involves a magnet which is attracted to the spindle and holds the CD between it and the spindle.

Another, often used in laptops, uses springs to push things (ball bearings) against the inside of the center hole/over the top edge of the center hole.

If the piece that hold the CD against the drive spindle is plastic, then its gotten worn. If there is a spring, see if you can increase the pressure, or if you can put a shim between the cover and the springy piece to get it closer to the CD when the cover closes.

You might try using a thing circular plastic washer on the top of the CD, like a CD label which goes all the way to the edge of the hole in the center, thus making the CD thicker. Thicker tape on the CD could do the same. Remember that the CD need to stay balanced when it spins at high speed.

 

[sheath]

Well...guess WHAT.

I took the cover off, which was more difficult than I thought it would be. But once I was in there, I cleaned it ALL with alcohol...and I mean all of it. Then I found what seemed to be a 'gear'...little tiny thing, with teeth just millimeters apart. I used a sewing needle to move it just a little. When I noticed it was moving UP, I stopped.

Then I put the player cover back on, and voila...the damn thing WORKS. Every single time! Not a skip, not a hesitation, nothing. It's like a brand new machine.

So...I guess 'servo creep' was the answer. I am SO glad I asked here instead of throwing it out or paying for repair!

Thanks, all. I'm now again playing my music at a properly annoying volume.

S.

 

[ReadyOne]

Glad you got it fixed!

Sounds like you moved the load mechanism (it was starting to go up) so that when it engaged it was higher than before. That might have gotten more pressure against the CD/spindle. And the good cleaning also helped by getting rid of (plastic) dust that could have been making it easier for the CD to slip (like powder makes you skin smoother).

In another few years, you can repeat the process and hand the player down to your grandkids as an antique!