CD-Rom2 broken

[Nutribrain]

I've two CD-Rom2 units which seem to be broken, when I press play, the motor doesn't start. One of the units I used for more than 15 years now, so I wasn't surprised when it stopped working. But I have another unit sitting in the original box for about 8 years, which I bought nib. This unit also seems to be broken, the motor doesn't spin up, too. I opened the old one, everything seems to look fine inside. What could happened to both units that they suffer of the fault.
Anyone an idea on how to fix it?

[TurboXray]

Might be the CD based then. My Duo is like that. CD motor won't spin. The motor itself is fine since I can applied power to it manually.

[Nutribrain]

I also tried to bypass the IFU unit and powered the CD-Rom2 directly, which ended with the same result – motor won't start and display started to light. I also tried to change the ac. What wonders me is that the unit I haven't used so far has the same symptom.

[kattare]

I had a duo I was working on the other day that wouldn't spin.  It ended up being the spindle height.  I dropped it down about 1 mm and viola.  There's a bunch of things that can cause it though, and the NIB aspect makes things interesting.  Maybe it's caps?  Maybe it took a beating in shipment?  If I understand things correctly (and I may not!) the CD won't spin until the laser can see some light reflecting off the disc.

[papa_november]

No, you understand it correctly. The drive won't spin up unless the laser can see a disc. If the laser is busted, it won't spin up.

[Mqark]

My CDROM² stopped working. I had assumed it was a faulty laser and have ordered a replacement laser unit.
I opened the CDROM² last night in preparation and actually managed to get it working without having to replace anything!

I disconnected both ribbon cables, manually wound the laser unit from it's position right against the sensor switch to a point in the middle, then powered the unit up (upside down ) without the laser half of the case connected by the ribbon cables. I don't think it's relevant that it was upside down - it was just easier to hold that way!

When it powered on I heard a reassuring click that I'd previously not heard - this made me quite excited so I connected the ribbons back up and the motor started spinning and the drive started seeking.

I put the whole thing back together, popped it back in the briefcase and spent the rest of the night playing burnt CDR's.

Sometimes, just prodding around and gently moving mechanical parts and disconnecting and reconnecting cables is enough.

I'm really very happy to have my old friend back!

[Nutribrain]

Today I opened the case of one of the CD-ROM2 units. I hadn't as much luck as Mqark. I heard that soft click sound one time after powering the unit up and press the play button with a cd inserted. The second time I press this play button this click sound isn't to be heard. I have to remove power from the unit and repeat the procedure mentioned above, then the click sound is there again.
So, what from what I understand and read in this thread, the laser could be the reason. Where can I get a replacement laser, preferred within europe?

[OldRover]

The problem could simply be a stuck sled gear. There is a small dual-spur gear that sits between the sled motor and the sled rotor. It tends to get stuck, and it can also deteriorate since its plastic is very cheap. Use some WD40 on this gear and try to move the sled manually. I suggest this because if the sled doesn't move, the motor also won't spin up. The sled needs to be in the base position and able to read the disc before the motor will spin up, and if the sled can't move, it can't read the disc...making it look like the spindle motor or laser could be the problem. The laser is HIGHLY unlikely to be the problem in the unit that was NIB.

[Nutribrain]

Old Rover, your hint was a complete success! Both units suffered by a stuck sled gear, also the NIB one. Thank you very very much for your assistance!
The units were "out of order" for about 1 year now. Now I'm off to play till dawn!

[kattare]

Probably worth noting... I've seen the sled get stuck all the way at the outside extreme on several duo's now when trying to read CD-R's.  ;-)  I had one apart the other day and was watching it as it would track across the disk.  When seeking (I think trying to find an audio track in the game) it'd lose focus and just boom, go all the way to the end and get stuck.  Only a manual turning of the motor gear would get it unstuck.  Some tuning with the laser power pot and I was able to fix it, but man, I'd hate to be without my gamebit in that situation!

[OldRover]

Not a problem, N. The stuck sled gear is the #2 most common cause of drive failure in original CDROM2 hardware.

[sit79]

i think i might have the excact same problem. what would be a safe way to move the sled gear? do i have to open the whole thing and turn the motor gear?

thx
sit

[thesteve]

simple answer yes

[sit79]

i moved the sled from the outer position to the very inner position. when i power it on nothing happens. no click sound, the sled is not moving at all it just says PC and "...just a moment" on the screen. the middle gear looks fine (cd rom2 is in near mint condition). where exactly is the base position of the sled? Mqark mentions in this thread about him moving the sled to a position in the middle.

What are the symptoms of a dead laser? would the laser move around or would the cd-rom2 make any noise?


thx
sit

[nat]

An easy way to figure out of the laser is dead-- open the lid, use something small and pointy to hold the CD lid "door" switch closed, and hold a CD at an angle above the spindle and laser so you can see a reflection of the laser eye in the CD.

Power up,  and press RUN. If you see a red laser from the eye in the reflection, the laser itself is working. You've got another problem (could be laser calibration, stuck gear, sled, motor, limiter switch, etc).

[thesteve]

base position is nearest the spindle.
the laser should move to base position before doing anything else