Sega CD finally repaired....sort of. What to do?

Hello folks

A while ago I bought a non-working lot of Sega CD's (3 model 2's and a model 1),

2 of the model 2's used the Samsung lasers and new lasers fixed these.

1 of the model 2's used the JVC laser but required a new sled and laser due to lagging music issue's (game would play but music lagged 5-10 seconds behind).

The model 1 looked like it had been to hell and back.
-It was missing the cable clamp on the side (cosmetic) but inside was where the fun began.
-It was missing 3/4 of the screws, it only had 3 holding the case together, none for the drive and 1 or 2 each in the boards.
-The ribbon cable to the drive was damaged
-The drive itself was in 2 pieces.
-On a good note the boards were fine as I tried them in my Mega CD.

I decided last night to have a good look at it.

First I checked the ribbon, which was electrically ok .



Next getting the drive together.

As you can see the clamps that hold the laser sled to the carriage were missing.



So I made my own from plastic from a cheap DVD case (lol!)



My next job was to sort that bloody archimedes screw (now called asshole screw) out, this winds a pin on the laser sled to raise and lower the sled. This is where it fell apart, the asshole screw had a chip in it where the pin tracked. I have read this is a common fault and why the laser sled pops out and no longer raises. After I pulled mine out I discovered mine also a tooth ripped out (bloody fantastic). Also had to glue the carrier for the asshole screw in place (not pictured, used hot glue to fix AND brace the carrier in place).



I tried it anyway on the off chance it would work (knowing damn well it wouldn't) and it failed. Without the sled fitted everything turned smoothly, but with the weight of the laser sled it was a no go.

So I fixed the laser sled in place, removed the tray and disabled the tray motor and bypassed the tray "closed" switch (to fool it into thinking the tray is in). The bloody thing works! Have only tried an audio CD not a game as I have to dig a Sega CD (as opposed to Mega CD) game out since this is an American unit. I had to remove the top magnet bracket that holds the CD in place as the felt/rubber/whatever that "grips" onto the CD is missing. Putting the magnet directly onto the CD was fine (another thing to fix minor though). Ignore the bare Genesis/Mega Drive board, it had just dried after having a bath as it was filthy.



So now what to do from here?

1/(preferred) Try and find someone willing to sell the asshole screw, lol don't like my chances! I would probably have to get another unit and take the risk that A/it uses the Sony drive B/doesn't have the same problem C/Bloody expensive in Australia D/knowing my luck I COULD fix this 2nd unit and be in the same boat!

2/Try and shoe-horn it into a spare model 2 case I have, I haven't looked yet but you never know with some thinking it could be done. I would prefer not to do this really as the model 2 just needs a replacement sled to get going. I bought this unit as a faulty unit to repair the other model 2 I had, ended up being just needing a new laser. (See same boat!)

3/Go to the St-Vinnies store and buy an old portable CD player and make my own "Aiwa" Mega CD. I would have the CD bit working via a control pad board inside to the CD player buttons (Play, FFWD etc NOTE this requires more thought than "hey I thought of this 6 hrs ago and went to bed in the interim") and use the cassette door as a place to put the cartridges. I have a VA3 "3/4" Genesis board here to save a bit on room. BIG JOB!

4/(not preferred) Sell it as a "working but...." unit to someone who has a faulty unit but has a good asshole screw.

Sorry for the long post, but thoughts? Suggestions? I could try and fix the asshole screw by adding my own tooth, but not sure if this would work...



I will definately be doing a re-cap as the SMD caps have started to leak, as they did in my Mega CD (recently re-capped).

 

Dammit, that just sucks. I'd throw you a spare in a second if I had one... Not looking forward to the day my unit goes out and does this to me...
Nice workbench there though, puts mine to shame!

I do like the third idea though, an Aiwa Mega-CD but not an Aiwa Mega-CD...!

Don't you hate buying a dead unit to fix another unit... and you end up getting it working easier than the one you are trying to repair?
I can never bring myself to sacrifice a known working unit, ever. For the greater good though?

 

I am going to try and fix the asshole screw, I am going to try to fabricate the missing tooth lol! Ain't got anything to lose.

Off topic, I just did a list to re-cap my Sega CD2, not looking forward to that one as it is very crammed and a lot of little SMD stuff on the under side of the board......

I needs a bigger workbench, it is crammed and messy.

 

Really? The underside... I haven't even started looking at my Mega CD units properly... just got them up and running and was going to leave it at that for now.
The messier a bench is the more productive you are being... or counter-productive because you can't find that one damn screw that rolled into a pile of random Mega Drive cables and controllers... How many caps did you count on the board anyway?

I agree with you though, just try mustering that missing tooth up... definitely let us know how you go! (I'll probably have an issue like that in the future...)

 

A good temporary screw holder (place to store stuff) is to use a dead power supply case. I have a few of these laying around, the old school sega/nintendo ones are deep.

 

This is where a 3D printer would be a great idea. Obviously you'd need to either recreate the part in something like AutoCAD or scan in a duplicate, unbroken part but making 1:1 identical parts would be great.

 

Added my own "tooth" works fine.... for now lol!





It works smoothly but I am worried about the track where the pin from the sled runs, bit hard to fill that and make it smooth.

 

http://www.donberg.co.uk/descript/k/ksl_2101abm.htm

You can try and get a whole replacement unit i need some for a few broken model ones i have here.

I sure i have a spare part like above i will pm you one i found it you can have it for free.

 

That would be great thank you!

 

Found it mate i have a spare ribbon cable aswell PM your address and i will ship it.