Hi Laserdisc brain trust! I am hoping you can help me with next steps.

Just acquired a Pioneer CLD-V850 and I was hopeful it would work, because it powers up fine and it opens and ejects the trays for both LD and CD without issue...

Alas, when I insert either a CD or an LD, the drawer closes, there is some humming sounds and then it ejects 10 seconds later. No error appears on the display, it just says "OPEN" and ejects the discs.

After opening it up to inspect it, it seems like it is taking the disc, the laser is moving properly underneath the disc, it raises the disc, but there there is a humming sound after which it drops down the disc and ejects it.

If the drawer was not working, I would just replace the belt right away, but this appears to be something else.

Here is a video of a CD loading, if anyone is willing to take a quick look and recommend next steps. I would be very grateful!

https://youtube.com/shorts/SdmNIvVwdlI

It's the loader Belt. When it It's stuck and hums on your video just lift gently the mech. Up! Then it should complete and see your disc! The mech is stuck, you need to lift it when it hums so it can complete.

Thanks Grasshopper!

Any recommendations on how to source the belt? Is any listing on ebay ok?

Should be belts listed on ebay. Type 704 pioneer belt.

Did, you see if it played a disc ok?

It does not play either a CD or an LD. It fails to spin up the disc and just ejects it.

As grasshopper said, you need a new loading belt as the old one it too stretched to not only move the tray but to ensure a tight grip when the belt lifts the transport up to the clamper.

Here is the belt you need....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175730011496

Thanks... I have the belt ordered.

I hope it's this simple.

I will report back here whether it is working.

A stretched loading belt will cause all sorts of issues in an LD player since it’s not just used for loading.

Here is something I wrote up awhile back on changing it (if you were not sure of how to do it). Your player is the same chassis as this one.....

ldfan @ [CLD-D704] Loading Issues

Just wanted to report back here... For anyone that might review this, that the belt replacement was the only problem and we now how a working laserdisc player!