Model 2 Sega CD Spindle not Spinning

[Original_Name]

The system powers up and shows me the "Insert Disc" menu, but when I enter the disc, the spindle doesn't seem to spin, and it gives me a "No Disc" message. The lens works and everything; it's just the spindle itself which is having problems. Any tricks to get it to work? I'm not afraid to dissect the little guy to fix him.

[Original_Name]

Okay, so I tried turning the system upside down, then turning it on, and I could actually hear the mechanism working. It still didn't read any discs though, unfortunately.

[Ack]

Wait, clarify that a bit. So when the console is upside down the spindle spins but doesn't read discs, but when it's right side up it doesn't spin at all?

Have you cleaned the gears lately? Might have something to do with that.

[Original_Name]

Well, I only received it recently, so I haven't done anything to it lately, but I'll try cleaning them. So I'd like, unscrew the bottom screws and remove the case, find some gears near the spindle and clean them with... what?

EDIT: Oh, and to clarify, yes, that is correct. When it's right side up, I don't hear anything happening in the system, really, but when I turn it upside down I can hear what I'm almost certain would have to be the spindle turning. Although, when I open it, you can't see the disc slowly stop spinning like you'd see after opening the disc drive during a Dreamcast or Saturn game session.

[Ack]

Hmm...I don't actually know how to open a Sega CD, though hopefully there should be guides online. If it works one way but not the other, do you think something could be caught in the gears that gravity's causing to screw up? Sounds kinda far-fetched, but if you got the thing recently anyway, it's a good idea to give it a cleaning.

[Original_Name]

God, this thing is a nightmare.

I discovered that when I tried spinning the spindle with my finger, it didn't move much, so I opened the system up, and loosened up the spindle so that it spun more when I flicked it. Then when I put the top back on, I tried the disc again, and found that the spindle was moving stiffly again, because the spindle was too high. So I opened it again removed some of the rubber feet that raised the spindle up. Now the spindle spun like I wanted it to, but I found that the spindle itself was too low. So I put little foam blocks under the feet, and it seemed to be raised to the right place, but the system still won't read discs, and when I checked the spindle again, it was all stiff like before, and now I can't get it to loosen up again.

I cleaned some dust and what I have to assume was hair out of the inside before trying all this, but that didn't help. I'm exhausted, and my hands are ruined from pulling sharp metal plates on and off.

[Original_Name]

Okay! Got the damn thing to work!

I have to keep the disc on with tape, though, because the spindle is too small to hold the disc in place. Does anyone know an alternative to taping the disc down that's less tedious and noisy? Some way to expand the width of the spindle?

[MrPopo]

You could try wrapping tape around the spindle to add some bulk to it. You'd have to trim it down, of course.

[Original_Name]

Yeah, I'll give that a try. I also had to place a couple of household objects down into the system to keep the lens from travelling too far towards the spindle... for some reason it kept getting so close that it blocked the spindle from spinning.

So yeah, I've nearly finished reviving the Frankensega.

[Platinumfungi]

Is it possible to just replace the spindle itself? Maybe someone has a dead Model 2 that they'd give you the spindle from? Just a thought...