Sega CD, Broken?

[scarmullet]

Hello, I got a Sega CD Model 1 for Christmas and it is constantly ejecting and closing the tray. In opening it up to try and fix it, I notice that the track the main drive assembly goes up on, you know the corkscrew that the gears spin when the tray is moving, is covering in white goop, and the laser assembly keeps on falling off the track at the slightest turbulence. I fastened the smaller board to the chassis, the board that has the switches on it so the switches are going through the hole and making contact.

What do I need to do to fix my Sega CD?

[Hobie-wan]

Sounds like it's literally fucked. Merry Christmas!

Well that was incredibly helpful.

Scarmullet, perhaps you could take some pictures so that someone might better help? The white goop will be silicone grease, so that's fine as long as it's just on the gears and slides.

[scarmullet]

Here is a video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcjJpltcjxQ

if its not good enough, I could get another vid in a couple days.

[Breetai]

Sounds like it's literally fucked. Merry Christmas!

Why did you even bother to post?

To the OP, I watched your video and I really don't know what to say. Sorry that I am not much help either.

You might find some more experienced people over at Sega-16 (here's an old thread about a problem with the Sega CD1 http://www.sega-16.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-1896.html), Digit Press or Assembler Games. These forums, especially Assember, are often more tech oriented.

[Bikeage]

Sounds like it's literally fucked. Merry Christmas!

Why did you even bother to post?

Was caught up in the moment when picturing someone getting a defective Sega CD for Christmas in 2010, and could not resist the innuendo of a Sega CD violated with white goop. Never did have much respect for that console.

Had I not been so ignorant and given it some thought I'd recommend carefully taking the casing apart and give everything a thorough cleaning and inspection. I've not touched a Sega CD since 1994, so consult a guide if needed... I recall reading they were a difficult tear down. The behavior of the CD tray could be anything from a dirty or shorted IC lead to a mechanical dislodgement. And I know it's redundant, but another unit for reference or parts may be in order.

[OmegaMaximum]

It's a little hard to tell from the video, but if the tray immediately ejects, no pause, make sure that nothing is in its way, seems obvious, but some people don't notice it. Another obvious thing to look for, is if there are any missing screws, something may be loose, and not moving properly. Something else, make sure that the gearing on the sides of the tray, and the inside of the unit are running properly, and that the belts are sitting straight and not too stretched out. You're gonna have to pop open the case and watch this happen to test most of this.

Unfortunately the Model 1 SCD is pretty complex compared to the Model 2 and the CDX, I would recommend, if possible, finding another working unit to compare, or just replace the unit it self.

[Jamisonia]

I tried to mess around with one of these units I picked up for $15 one time, it was a headache and a half. It also sounds like its possible the tray isn't tripping the proper switches on the inside. There's two switches the tray trips when it closes, I believe if the first one isn't tripped it will reject the tray, and if the second isn't tripped it won't spin the game.