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rixrex · **Posted:** 12 Sep 2012, 01:03

Well, that was a player I sent, which was just fine when it left, but of course arrival is a different matter. You'd think since it was priority mail service it would have been handled better, which the post office here claims it was up to the point of customs over there. After that they claim no responsibility.

So I suspect it was a sudden jar or even maybe sat upside down while jostling around in a truck, no way to know.

The problem is evidently a mechanical issue, and perhaps something got jarred out of place. I was thinking maybe also the belt slipping since you stated that the load assembly attempts to drop down before playing and seems to get stuck at that point. Whatever it is, it has to be some minor item either out of step or alignment, or even a small piece dislodged?

Or just the tray slightly askew at an angle and not in perfect parallel position to the tracks. EG, both sides of the tray have gearteeth and maybe one geartooth is ahead by a spot or two compared to the other side.

In regards to the A to B side turn, maybe an obstruction of some sort since the assemply moves fine on the lower track and the track is a U track and not a flip-turn type.

Here's a trick to be able to watch the turn better, get a smaller LD, like the 8 inch size that was available for some music and karaoke releases. I don't know if there's a smaller than 8 inch LD, but at least this will give you more of an unobstructed view of the attempted turn.

I don't know if this will work, but maybe load a CD into the tray and just hit the side B button to close the tray and start play. Usually when you do that the laser goes right off to side B. In other words, trick the laser into going to side B. You might try that first with an LD in the tray and see what happens.

Of course, I just realized that the laser will not go to side B if the tray does not move into the proper position for side B play. I cannot recall specifically about this player, but some others I remember actually lift up the whole disc clamp section and set it into a position while the disc stops spinning and goes the other way, then the laser assembly moves the rest of the way up the track to the top side.

Seems like I remember this happening with that U=turn style of track on both Sony and Panasonic players. If so, then it's still a slipping belt or tray getting struck issue.