Trying to figure out if anything can be done to fix this issue: I'll put in a disc, close the tray,(without obsruction) and then I'll hear the assembly sounding like the spindle is catching on the edge of the disc hole and not going in (sounds like it's crushing it).

I have to make sure the disc is just right in the tray for it to fully load the disc and play the movie. Sometimes it takes several tries to get it right.

Is this something I can fix with adjustment/repair, or is it time to possibly find a new player?

You need to open it and watch it and see if it just might need a new belt.

Took it apart, I'm not seeing a belt.



Also, sorry for the aspect ratio goof, but I also got a video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYx6txcHDVw

The assembly raises, it just seems to catch and not drop the disc onto the spindle. As far as I can tell, if I push the discs all the way forward (to the back of the player) in the tray it might not be an issue, but still...anything I can do?

Need a view from the other side, that is where the centering mechanism should be. Did this just happen or did you receive it like this?

It happened after I'd had it several months or so, I've had it almost two years.

I'll tear it down tomorrow again and get a new vid (in widescreen)

It looks like it's not lifting straight up. Something is physically crooked because it shouldn't be possible for the disc to be so off that the taper in the clamp can't compensate.

Twenty times.

The first time I tried it again, it did the disc jam. So I grab my phone to take a video, and the next twenty times it worked just fine (not kidding, I counted the number of vids on my iPhone). There were a few times where it popped a bit because the disc was off, but it dropped onto the spindle like it should.

Maybe all the opening and closing worked something loose again. I don't know how long it sat before I bought it (it was clean at least-nearly spotless on the inside). I'll try to use it a little more regularly and see if it happens again.

I did spot the belt inside and it seemed to be in fine shape, much better than the belts in my G4 Cube's dying CD-RW drive.

If you hadn't used it in a while then it could just be that it needed some use. I still think if you replace the loading belt all will be better.

I'm probably going to end up doing that. Went to use it today and it did the same thing, though a light rap on the front panel seemed to work it loose and it loaded the disk.

Link for the belt?