Model 1 Sega CD repair help

[Hobie-wan]

Correct. It is more likely the belt. Try putting a disc in with the top case off. It will be tricky as you'll still need to have a Gen plugged in and powered on. You should be able to see if the spindle never lifts the CD fully off the tray.

[CamaroCam]

So, I tried running it without the shell connected, like you suggested, Hobie. After helping it along, I got the motor to latch on to the disc, and it reads it perfectly. Listening to the Beatles on it as we speak.

The problem, is that it won't lift up and latch on to the disc on its own. Do you have any idea what the fix for that is?

[Hobie-wan]

That's a worn belt, as I thought it would be.

[CamaroCam]

Do you think that an O-ring from my local auto parts store would do the trick?

[Hobie-wan]

Engine O rings are round and fat. The belts in CD drives are square and thinner. If you can find one the same diameter and about the same tension, and if it will fit maybe...

[darkcat]

theres a trick often used in the community with belts, clean it with a good cleaner dish soap will work, at this point place it in to hot water, Let it sit then dry and cool to temp. This will tighten the belt. It could also be the sensor, to check this hook up a ohm meter and put a disk in it should be OL until the disk is in then it will be around 0. Could also be the laser isn't reading the cd properly since it worked with a music cd. Pot tweaking in this case should fix the problem.

Another chance is that the over current didn't blow the fuse right away. Then over powering the laser and damaging it. Also could be a bad resistor or cap.

Over all its hard to know whats wrong with out it without a good meter and scope.

[Hobie-wan]

After helping it along, I got the motor to latch on to the disc, and it reads it perfectly.

That's clearly the belt.

[darkcat]

After helping it along, I got the motor to latch on to the disc, and it reads it perfectly.

That's clearly the belt.

In most cases it will be the belt but if the sensor or the laser is not seeing the disk right away then it can cause this same effect. I had the same problem with a sega cd model 1 that ended up being the laser just needed pot tweaked. Ether way start with the belt clean it with in a soap and hot water mix then let air dry. If that doesn't fix it then pot tweak, if that doesn't fix it then clean the sensor for the disk found.

Also you mention it reading a audio cd but is it reading game cds?

[Hobie-wan]

Obviously tweaking the laser output power or the disc presence sensor is going to help the mechanical process whereby friction of a rubber belt upon 2 grooved wheels will help the spindle

lift up and latch on to the disc

Now washing the belt might help. But come on, read the rest of the information in the thread. The OP was having trouble with it reading anything because it wasn't grabbing the disc. It just happened that they had an audio CD in when they helped it along.

[darkcat]

The laser tweak will often help with this due to the cd no being scene by the laser or sensor. With it not finding it will instantly spit the cd out (I've seen around 5 xbox units do this and 2 sega cd model 1 units). The belt if is a issue you need to listen for the sound of a winding slip, the same as the original xbox it will not close fully. If it has the sound of movement the whole time its trying to close and a second before it slips out then it is the band. Another low possible cause is a broken piece of plastic blocking a gear for it close to do a quick visual check on the gears also look to make sure they are greased properly still. Ether was the mech and elec are both dependent on each other one fails the other will also fail.