I don't know about the laser, but I do seem to recall one of the reasons for
cd players failing toward the end of the side was play in the mechanism, ie
wear. It can also be due to vibration of course, but that often happens
because the cd is crap and results then vary on different machines, but
there is always a bit of a problem with them.

It is very unlucky to get so much rubbish spares when just rdering one
part, not to mention loss in the mail. Could be that Sods law is trying to
tell you something. Its very odd though that if it did work, new parts don't
fix it. I assume there are some setup controls somewhere or is it all
supposed to be self calibrating, I'm a bit out of touch these days.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email:
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________


"Martin "Schöön"" wrote in message
...
I am trying force my temperamental CD player back in line. It
has always had a somewhat troubled personality. It often refused
to play the last few tracks of a few of my CDs. It has come up
with a new trick lately. It refuses to even acknowledge the
existence of certain CDs (they work fine in all other players
I try) and in some cases it ignores certain tracks.

I started by cleaning the mechanics and then the optics hoping
dirt was all that had happened. This didn't help at all.

Next I thought, maybe the laser is loosing power. I read some-
where that it wasn't hard to replace the laser and it didn't
look hard (I am a microwave engineer). A quick Internet search
told me a replacement laser wasn't costly, some 15 euro at
amazon.co.uk including shipping.

The laser is a Sony KSS-213C. What I actually ordered and
received within five working days was a subassembly including
two motors and a steel plate. It is called KSM213CCM. It is
what I find inside my CD player and replacing it is easy
enough.

But the unit I received was dead on arrival. It had taken a
knock or two on the way and the skimpy packaging had not
protected it. Apart from loose plastic parts it also contained
a dead laser. I use an old digital camera as an IR detector.
The old laser is easily detected and shows up on the display.
The new laser emitted no useful light. I sent it back and the
vendor sent a new unit that got lost on the way.

Now I have received a third unit and it is not dented but
still it does not work. It does not spin its disc motor when
I insert a CD. I have replaced the new laser so I have the new
sub assembly with the old laser and now it works. Nothing wrong
with motors in other words.

I also notice the new laser (if it indeed is a laser) emits
light visible to my unaided eyes. It actually flashes three
times after I close the CD tray. And then nothing happens.
The old laser emits steady IR.

Shouldn't CD lasers emit IR light?
How do I check if the new laser is a genuine Sony KSS-213C?
(Yes, I have tried a form on Sony's web.)

TIA,

/Martin (in the marked for a new CD player, I guess)