Opened up the McIntosh today.

https://vimeo.com/886492928

As you can see the laser looks for a disc and then moves under the cd. The motor doesn’t spin.

The laser clearly works as you can see it briefly.

My question is: is it worthwhile recapping the spindle motor drive board?

Are there any other tests you can suggest whilst I eliminate reasons for non spinning.

Previous owner said there were no issues prior to its sudden failure. It worked. Then it didn’t work. There was no period of intermittent fault.

I’ve cleaned all the micro switches.
I’ve changed the belt for a new one from Germany.
I’ve cleaned and relubed the sliding clamp mechanism.

Thanks in advance.

PS machine only cost me £99. I was the only bidder. So would be great to get this working again, as I have regretted letting my original one go when DVD gained momentum.

Ive removed the Laser / motor assembly.

Ive done a continuity test on the three microswitches and they are all functional.



Id next like to inject some power into the motor whilst its out to see if that works. But as im sure you know, its not a standard +/- connection, but instead a multipin ponnestion.

Does anyone have a spec sheet for the motor, or a suggestion of pins and voltage to use?


thanks

Sounds like you are doing more than needed.

Did it work for CD playback?

No. Nothing for either format.

I wouldn’t jump the gun on replacing caps unless you know it’s really the cause.

If the motor is not spinning, I think it’s more of a problem with the motor not getting a message from the processor to spin it up. I recall someone working on a different auto reverse player and I think he found a bad or loose ribbon cable on the laser pick-up assembly. I would look through both cables (the one from the laser to the turnstile and the one from the turnstile to the main board). Look for cracks in the cable and also re-seat them to ensure they haven’t worked themselves loose.

I have cleaned and reset the ribbon cables to no avail. I’ll check continuity on those cables tonight and update

In that case, I would also look for possible cold solder joints at the connectors and also take a look at the turnstile to see if any copper traces on the board look deteriorated.

I once fixed a motor on a high end vintage turntable that had deteriorated copper traces on the motor board. Once I fixed it with jumpers to bypass the bad traces, the motor spun up again.

Agreed. The reason I removed the entire caddy was to have full access and reflow. Also, previous owner was a massive smoker. It’s filthy inside. I’ve cleaned all the obvious bits. But the deeper into it I’m getting, the more determined I am to resume the deep clean as well.

It was so bad I had to remove the LED display and clean that and the glass window. Both were fogged up with residue. Cables are tacky to the touch. So it’s going to be a bit of a job, whichever way you look at it.

I also need to scope it as well because he said “he tried everything to get it working” . So I’m imagining that also could mean RF and focus gain pots have been messed about with.

Back to the nicotine, it’s so invasive, dust has settled on the tack and made matters worse. Either way, if this can be fixed, I’m not anticipating an easy ride.

The sad thing about all that crud inside the player is that if it got used it wouldn’t be as bad. When LDs spin they blow most of that crap out.

Exactly.... Besides the obvious, its cosmetically very nice. Glass is flawless. But having been to the guys house to collect, even as an ex smoker myself (never in-doors!), even I was shocked. I feel just removing the mcintosh from that house was doing it a favour.