Solved! Denon CD player motor not responding.

[davidg1]

I have a Denon DCD-1700 CD player from around 1990. The motor does not come on to play a disc. The drawer and electronics all work. The unit has been sitting unused for quite a while, but I do not think that it is broken or worn out. What should be the next thing to try? Thanks.

 

[jsmithepa]

Is not broken because it's been sitting unused? It is to me if it doesn't play regardless of the reason. Even electronic/electromechanical devices have SHELF LIFE.

It needs to be cleaned, refurbished, broken belt, dried rubber parts, congealed greased etc. Are u attached to this CD player? they are relatively cheap new.

 

[davidg1]

It was very expensive when I bought it. Is very heavy duty and has a very good D/A converter. To buy one of this quality would be expensive. I just took the top off and added a Cd and found that it spins, so it is not the motor. The counter does not advance and there is no sound.

 

[jsmithepa]

Bummer. The moving stuff are usually the first to go but looks like yours is electronic problem. Depends where you are. In the West nobody repairs anything, I wouldn't even know where to begin to look for a repair outfit.

 

[jsmithepa]

Another part that should move is the laser head assembly, so u may want to check that out, use a CD with light, see-through if possible label, if u can't see with naked eyes, your smartphone camera may. Look for the moving laser.

 

[davidg1]

I cleaned the laser and plugged it in an let it sit for a while and then it played! The electronic parts must have needed to charge. The first track does not play the first 55 seconds. The rest of the tracks play. I do not know what would cause this to happen.

 

[jsmithepa]

If the lens was dirty, highly likely having sat on the shelf like that, helped am sure. The laser assembly needs to move freely, so if u continue to have little glitches, I would attempt to clean the mechanism that moves the laser, remove old grease and re-lube, if u are handy with tinny mechanical parts.

 

[Corwin65]

I cleaned the laser and plugged it in an let it sit for a while and then it played! The electronic parts must have needed to charge. The first track does not play the first 55 seconds. The rest of the tracks play. I do not know what would cause this to happen.

It's a 28 year old CD player. Technology has advanced quite a bit since then. I would not be surprised if something cheap today is as good as that was.

 

[davidg1]

If the lens was dirty, highly likely having sat on the shelf like that, helped am sure. The laser assembly needs to move freely, so if u continue to have little glitches, I would attempt to clean the mechanism that moves the laser, remove old grease and re-lube, if u are handy with tinny mechanical parts.

The mechanism runs on a gear linear track with gears. The track looks clean and not sticky, but not lubricated either. I think that it could use some lubrication. I am not sure what to use but I read somewhere else to use 'lithium grease'. What would you recommend for lubrication? The gears to have some dark matter on them. What to use to clean? I think alcohol would be harmful to the plastic parts.

 

[jsmithepa]

WD40 to clean, yes some light lithium grease.

 

[davidg1]

WD40 to clean, yes some light lithium grease.

Thank you. I will give it a try as soon as I find some grease.