Hello guys, I just picked up this Pioneer CLD-D702 laserdisc player as it's my dream machine but unfortunately, it has a few issue which is usual with second hand vintage/retro equipments. Although it reads and plays well on side A, it experienced a few problems with side B despite being able to complete the full cycle to switch to it. I have a video attached below about the problem but I'll briefly explain here, when it completes the auto-reverse cycle to side b, it took a while to read the TOC and at the same time it made a gear grinding noise at the start (eg. chapter 1) unless I skip to the middle to last chapters. Fortunately it was able to complete the auto reverse cycle when going back to side A although initially it had some grinding noise but the problem was fixed after applying some oil to it. Other than that, another problem occured when the lens eye decided to fall from the pickup but luckily it waws ammended after supergluing with some UHU superglue and lastly sometimes when powering off the pickup decided to move backwards to the alpha turn auto reverse mechanism in an attempt to switch sides but it went into timeout mode so I need to manually unplug the power cord in order for the pickup to return to the rest position. Anyone experience something like this with their CLD-D702 or related players please let me know sooner or later. Thanks

Check for a sticky residue on the ribbon cable that connects to the laser assembly. On the 701 (maybe 702 as well), there is a piece of plastic that is double stick taped to it to act as limiter for the retraction mechanism. This piece comes off over time and leaves a sticky residue that limits the movement of the pick-up.

I ended up cleaning it off of my 701 with a light amount of baby oil and that fixed the issue for me.

In the end, the limiter piece is not needed and the player functions fine. Odd thing is that previous Alpha Turn models didn’t have it so I’m not sure why Pioneer bothered to add it in later production runs.

Hello there, thanks for replying. I have attached two photos of my player and where is the limiter piece coz I'm new into diagnosing these alpha turn players?

It appears it might have fallen off some time ago. The crinkle look of the ribbon cable in the top picture is a good indicator it was in that area. Do you feel any stickiness there?

I don't know coz I didn't touch that area but how does it looks like in actual though?

Maybe you should touch it.

In any case, it’s just a flat piece of plastic double stuck to one side of the ribbon cable and acted like a spring tensioner. I don’t see it in your pic. Bigger issue is to see if there is any stickiness.

Just touched it, no I do not feel any stickiness. However when I received this unit, the belt was almost worned out as it gave some grinding noise when trying to open it.

So did you replace the belt already? I assume you did.

Also, can you make a video showing the left side the player to see how the laser pick-up travels. That would be better than the top view.

Nope but will do it soon. Yeah i will take a video on the left side later.

After re-gluing the lens you could have add distance between the lens and sensors. The RF signal needs to be checked for lens height. If the lens was not put on perfect then it could also change the read angle from straight up to slightly tilted requiring centering adjustments needed. I would have returned it if it came that way. You need to look at all adjustments if the lens is not 100% where it was supposed to be.

Also check if it can play a CD. The centering and other adjustment are more critical reading a CD.

Hi, I hope you watched the video I posted. The Side B problem has happened even before the lens was reglued and yes I did reglued according to the factory standard which reads fine with CDs and LD Side A (no skipping except expected minor crosstalk on bad shaped CLV discs that I don't care). It came from Taiwan and was purchased two months ago and the seller demonstrated to me its working fine. FYI, the video was shot after regluing the lens and I've replaced the belt but problem still persists on side B only. I do have a broken D760 for emergency parts when needed as it doesn't turn on and the turn sprocket for the alpha turn was damaged. Maybe I can salvage some parts for the upper part of Side B if needed.

CD is working very fine.

Hi, here's the left side view of the player in action.

Hoping to see more of the retraction mechanism that keeps the ribbon cable taught. That is where the stickiness issue affected my player as it was gummed up with it.

Did you feel for stickiness on both sides of the cable especially where it was really crinkled?

Hi, nope but I decided at last just take it to my technician friend to repair it. At the same time, I have a dead CLD-D760 which I cna salvage some parts but with the help of my technician friend. Hopefully I'll come back and update with excellent news.

Hey guys, some updates here:

Today I collected the player from my technician friend and he had successfully repaired the side b issue due to misalignment to the laser assembly which caused the problem of the pickup hitting the top. The only issue left now that needs to be fix is the recallibration to eliminate any leftover crosstalks by using the GGV discs due to this being a high spec player and I wouldn't want any further trouble to develop . However, thankfully someone who works in a Pioneer service centre in West Malaysia has one of those 8inch GGV discs so he's happy to perform my service soon. As of now the player is playing both Side A and Side B fine.

That is good news! Enjoy your player and discs.

Thanks, though some recalibration work is still needed and I wouldn't do it myself due to this being a high spec player so I'm sending to someone in West Malaysia who thankfully still has those 8inch GGV discs. Alpha turn players like these with the drawer needed alot of disassembly seems kinda hard for me to handle too at the moment, that's why.