I have an opportunity to get the CLD-52 Elite for about $100. I wouldn't bother if my CLD-703 was fully functioning, but currently it has a stalling problem where disc won't even be accepted in player. I'm clueless to repairs, while I think "greasing rails" has something to do with it, but do you think there's a fair upgrade from 703 to 52 anyways? You think it'd be worth getting considering the trouble I'd have to go through repairing?

I'd try to repair the 703 as it will most likely give you more pleasing picture than the 52.

Yeah - all the Elite players <91 are all but regular players with "ELITE" stenciled on them. (Even the 79 is a dolled up 704) In the case of the 52, it's a CLD-502 which isn't nearly as good as a 703.

The 703 type of player is very well known for it's grip ring problem, and if it's (just) that replacing it should fix it completely.

The 703 load issue would be the load belt, you can buy a SCQ3.6 and replace the load belt. Pioneer no longer sells the grip rings

To follow up... would that be all grip rings, or specific to 52?
I imagine they are cut from something obtainable, source?

THX

The grip ring is a very thin rubber, almost the thickness of a business or index card.
Good luck now that they are no longer around.

I would look into buying metal hole punches and sheets of thin rubber along with some spray 77 glue.
New business to start........

The ones I've seen seem to include some webbing, or internal strings/nylon (like a tire maybe) or fabric.

Forgot about the loading belt, that's also very common!

Huh, VEB1237 (the grip ring) is coming up as available, until I log in, then nothing is.

I'm getting "not available or you are not authorized to purchase the part" after logging in.

However, after trying to create a new account, I was pointed to this other site that has the rubber ring listed:

http://www.pacparts.com/part.cfm?part_n ... fg=Pioneer

Says it's out of stock, but it's still worth a shot.

FYI, I make and sell replacement grip rings for PN VEB1237 which is compatible with the 704 and others. Look on eBay for that PN. Cheers!