My D505 was working great for the few days that I've had it, but today it developed a problem where the laser gets stuck on top, and the gear that moves it up and down the rail grinds. If I give it a push it can go back down the rail. It has no problem going up the rail, it just can't retract back down. It also seems to work fine when it's on the lower side of the track for Side A.

I've cleaned and lubricated all of the rails and points of friction with Shin Etsu silicone grease, so it doesn't seem to be caused by a lack of lubricant.

Here's a video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10Uz6eM ... 1VHb2/view

Most likely a broken motorholder. The pin holding the small gear may have broken causing friction when moving out of position. Gravity does not help. The only way is checking this by removing the motorholder. If it’s using the grey plastic motorholder chances are it snapped. It is a common issue
The part is available these days generic. Contact Ethan Gallo is my advice

Thank you, that sounds spot on, because I can see that the gear is hanging loosely at an angle.

He is active here on the forum…

https://www.laserparts.net/

The part you need is vnl-1779 btw
Installing the part is easy enough…
https://youtu.be/R21SbXIVAew?si=5C7dUTUG8ftsYECf

What a relief to find that he makes a nice replacement. Thanks for the info and links!

Ordered the part!

I would order an original if that’s still possible. 3D printing a part like that…it’s not a crap load of work to replace this thing…once, but if the part isn’t strong it changes from a repair item to a maintenance item and boy that doesn’t sound fun. I’m not a master of 3D printing but I do have experience and I don’t know of any way to 3D print that part that isn’t massively weaker than the original IP one that breaks. The improved part from Pioneer has never broke for me.

The big problem with the OEM part is that it's $75 shipped to the US.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/204342143334

Repaired two ld players with the generic vnl-1779 part and they both are running fine for over a year now. The price is reasonable for a 3D print IMHO
Time will tell if they hold up but the alternative being having a broken unit doesn’t sound like fun either.
Ethan went trough alot of effort finetuning the part. I tested some of the first printed ones that needed some finetuning and after a few months the right specs were reached. I sold both players to close friends and they have zero issues with the generic part . Did some testing myself for a few months. No complaints.
The prc hub, the grip rings for other machines all work fine and believe me I saved many players buying generic

Keep them spinning I say

Got it back online with Ethan's 3D part. Thanks for the help and guidance, another player saved.