Newbie here to the Laser Disc world. Just picked up a Laser Disc player (Pioneer VP-1000) at a thrift store for $50. The unit turns on fine, picture comes on but it will only play the first frame on the disc and wont let me fast forward through or play the rest of the disc.

Where should I begin to look here? Capacitors, Laser Misalignment?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

First frame as it is stuck on frame #1?

Did a quick search and this player has a transit screw.

VP-1000 shipping screw

Yes, Its stuck on the first frame no matter what i play. I read that sticker on the inside about the shipping screw needing to be removed. It's not in there and i am curious why it wouldn't work without it, wouldn't that prevent the laser from moving back and forth?

I will also note the scan forward is the only option that illuminates when pressed (does not work thought), the fast forward, still and slow will not illuminate and also do nothing.

Okay so cleaned the lens, took the unit back apart. There is no grease on the rail or gear. The part that stinks is i can't operate the unit while looking to see if those parts are moving or not in the first place. Hoping someone who is familiar with these units can step in.

Try a CLV disc.
Wonder if this is getting stuck since its a CAV disc with the chapter or frame lock, can't remember what you actually call it.

Did you try to press play again after it freezes on that frame???? or keep pressing play???

So i just noticed the gearing is pretty jammed up. I manually moved it back and forth which did free it up a good bit but still a bit janky. I'll see if i can find a CLV disc.

Still doing the same thing. What a pain.

Sounds like it, but then again that's what you get from thrift stores.
Can't tell you how much money I dumped into them for junk with no returns and can't test at the store.
Speakers, amps etc, this is why the high priced stuff on ebay goes high and the junk sells for junk prices.

I found a broken drive gear with the help of a Laser Disc group on Facebook. Hoping fixing this solves my issue

The pinion gear breaks very easily in this player. Part number is VNL-028. This pinion gear is used in all pioneer built open-top players except the PR-7820. Typically the center breaks out of the gear. Pioneer revised the assembly with a closed bottom pinion. Here is a picture of the 'revised' pinion gear.