Weird issue this time - player recently acquired, seems just like new. Player gets to the end of side A and just ends (yes, I'm pressing Play not the A). Yet when I eject and reinsert the disc and press B, it moves onto side B no problem. I just replaced the loading belt. Any other ideas?

Added to say - this thing slips a lot. Could a bad grip ring be causing the only playing side A issue?

I was going to ask about the grip ring before your 2nd post.

The answer is yes. The grip can play a big factor because in the transition from A to B that disc needs to be slowed down quickly to get going in the opposite direction and have the laser read Side B by a determined amount of time. If any of this fails, the player will give up.

There are replacement grip rings available on ebay as you probably already know.

Yep - ordered and on its way from eBay - thanks very much for your response and help.

New grip ring and issue solved.