Hey,

I just received my first LaserDisc player, a CLD-D702 that was listed as working but when I looked at it I could not get it to work. When it's turned on, the front display lights come on and it appears normal and you can hear mechanical movements. I can open the tray and put a disc in and close it, but after that nothing really happens and when I push play nothing happens. I opened the top and I can see that the disc is not spinning. I open and closed the tray with the top off and I can see the pickup moving and checking out the disc. I have tried LDs and CDs and I am not sure it's able to identify the disc (not sure how it's suppose to act). I cannot see a visible laser, but I am not sure I would be able to see it? I did try cleaning the laser lens with Isopropyl Alcohol and a q-tip but it didn't make a difference. Any ideas why pushing play does nothing and the disc won't spin? Thanks!

Does any icon appear on the display indicating it knows something is in the tray? I believe most LaserDisc players use an infrared laser so you wouldn't be able to see it anyway. Does it try to focus; does the laser pickup move up and down?

Put a disc in the tray and press Side B on the player and see if it works.

When you say “nothing” happens when you push Play do you mean actual nothing?

It’s either not recognizing the disc or the Play button is broke.

What kind of disc are you using? Try it with a CD.

Great question - I just looked at the manual and on the display it's suppose to indicate the type of disc loaded in the player as: LD, CD or CDV. My display shows nothing in that section when I do in fact have a disc in there. Oh boy, what do you think would cause that not to work?

Yes it looks like it's trying to focus on the disc, the laser pickup does move up and down.

I tired it, nothing happens. I think because it doesn't even think there is a disc in there.

Yeah, nothing happens when I push play. Luckily I have the remote control and tried the Play button there too, but no result either.

Yep, I think we are getting somewhere, it's not recognizing the discs - that's a LD or a CD.

If it does not have CD or LD on the display then you have issues with either the laser or the circuits driving it. If the unit can not determine what is installed it will operate as yours. I’d return it and get your money back.

If you want to get into laserdisc you need to get one from one of us from here who know if a player is working properly.

Well the good news is because the person selling it couldn't show me that it worked properly - I didn't have to pay for it. But yeah, if anyone is selling a nice Player - I would be willing to buy one from a trusted source. Let me know.

I have a follow-up question - Does the spindle motor need to spin the disc before the player can ID it?

Yeah I was going to say I think the pickup is dead, but wanted to see what Kurtis had to say since he is the expert.


Very true. Funny enough, I'm working on the Mitsubishi rebadge of the CLD-D702 right now that was sold to me as working. The seller knew nothing about laserdisc so he did not know it was not normal for the player to sit searching on side A for 20 seconds before playing...

No

Thanks, I am guessing the pickup is the laser assembly and that its probably impossible to find a replacement?

Correct, official name is "pickup assembly" part number VXX1841 and unfortunately it isn't a simple swap out.

How much are you willing to pay???
Grasshopper has a nice mint CLD-95 but its not going to be cheap.

Already gone over and works great, just told me yesterday but I have too many players.

I didn't know grasshopper was still working on players. Glad to hear that.

The CLD-95 is spectacular. If you are looking for something cheaper though, I recommend a CLD-D503. Doesn't have the flaws of the CLD-D502 or the fragility of the CLD-D504.

I'm still in contact with him, its his personal player and its in great shape.
Uncertain if hes still taking on repairs as he always says there are no parts etc.