Neo Geo Top Loader - CD would not spin

I am back with another Neo Geo CD problem.

Unfortunately my Neo Geo CD Top loader seems to have problem with the CD Drive.

I actually send it to a friend to recap it for preventive reasons. He recieved the mahcine that left form my hands with a working CD drive.

The mahcine arrived on my friend's hands but he reports that:

a. The mahcine turns on, shows the boot screen.

b. The CD spins for a while doing a mechanical sound but then stops and of course it would not read any CDs, neither Neo CDs or audio CDs.

c. This was not a problem before I send it so I can imagine that some kind of damage was done during the transport.

Here is the video where you can see all those that I am describing:

http://youtu.be/LBHTifw0xBc - Please turn the volume on a little higher to listen to the drive spinning sound.

My friend who is good at hardware have tried almost every method described on the above videos to bring the CD in working condition. Nothing of the stuff described on the videos above was the case. Please take an extra second to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RugNFeKfACM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hv3oGk9KUA

Can you first of all see the video with the symptoms and give me some advice?

Can you suggest any possible places to buy replacement kit for Neo Geo CD TOP loader?

Can you advise me what else can be done for the problem to be investigated and fixed?

Thanks a lot for your help. It is VERY much appreciated.

Has your friend fully taken it apart and just done a good one over on all the gears, checked connections, adjusted the pot, etc.?

adjusted the pot,

Click to expand...

Do you mean the whole round CD mechanism?

You really need to hold the lid sensor shut with something, so you can see if the disc spins etc. If it's not spinning, observe the laser assembly, does it move back to the inside on power up? And the laser lens should focus I think - ie. you should see it bob up and down a few times (dont look directly at the laser if you test without a disc etc).

GadgetUK said:

You really need to hold the lid sensor shut with something, so you can see if the disc spins etc. If it's not spinning, observe the laser assembly, does it move back to the inside on power up? And the laser lens should focus I think - ie. you should see it bob up and down a few times (dont look directly at the laser if you test without a disc etc).

Click to expand...

My friend reports that the laser "eye" tries to read (it would move up and down).

He also reports that the "head" would go back to center if you change position to it.

He believes that the laser kit is failed.

I try to describe the symptoms the bets way I can. Forgive my English.

Any tips, methods, advice for a replacement?

CountRaven said:

Do you mean the whole round CD mechanism?

Click to expand...

Should be a round knob (probably orange) somewhere on the lens mechanism that can adjust the lens to help read discs.

Is there anyone arround those forums that offers service on those machines having such kind of problems?

Is there anyone arround those forums that can point ne to replacement parts for such neo geo cd systems?

My friend seriously thinks that the main problem is on the laser.

I am also searching for one spring that makes the cd tray going up on pressing the open button. One of the two in this machine is missing.

Last but not least if there is any kind of tutorial, guide or whatever that probably would help on the fixing of failed parts on the cd drive. Please guide me on this.

I really want to have this machine fixed and I really need some help.

And for the case that I would google should I search for "neo geo cd laser lens replacement"? I guess that there are not just the lens but the whole laser kit, right? So an ebay or google search of "neo geo replacement" or "replacement kit"would be a good start... Or not?

CountRaven said:

Is there anyone arround those forums that offers service on those machines having such kind of problems?

Is there anyone arround those forums that can point ne to replacement part for such. Ro geo cd systems?

My friend seriously thinks that the main problem is on the laser.

I am also searching for one spring that makes the cd tray going up on pressing the open button. O e of the two in this machine is missing.

Last but not least if there is any kind of tutorial, guide or whatever that probably would help on the fixing of failed parts on the cd drive. Please guide me on this.

I really want to have this machine fixed and I really need some help.

And for the case that I would google should I search for "neo geo cd laser lens replacement"? I guess that there are not just the lens but the whole laser kit, right? So an ebay or google search of "neo geo replacement" or "replacement kit"would be a good start... Or not?

Click to expand...

Yes, I think we can all agree a Google search would be a great place to start.

Yes but what should I search for?

Neo geo cd laser lens?
Neo geo cd laser kit?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SNK-Neo-Geo...270?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c497bb0e6

Here is a cd replacement kit, no laser lens included.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OPTICAL...419?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53f8011673

Laser lens... No photos.

This may also be a good reference http://gamedoctorhk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1837
Link points that item is made in Japan by sharp.


Perhaps if I get this cd kit and those lens too? Is this points a right way of what to pick up trying to fix this?

Thanks

I think I found the model of the laser part.

SHARP H8147AF

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313&_nkw=SHARP+H8147AF&_sacat=0

From comments on this video that point a machine with similar problem that was fixed after laser part replacement.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MBcx_nsljrs

Can anybody confirm that this is the correct laser model?

CountRaven said:

I think I found the model of the laser part.

SHARP H8147AF

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313&_nkw=SHARP+H8147AF&_sacat=0

From comments on this video that point a machine with similar problem that was fixed after laser part replacement.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MBcx_nsljrs

Can anybody confirm that this is the correct laser model?

Click to expand...

That is the correct one. There is also a tutorial here on how to adjust it:
http://www.jamma-nation-x.com/jammax/tutorials.html
under: Neo Geo CD : Jun 9 2009 : How to Adjust the Laser on a Failing Unit

Have ordered a replacement laser part. Fingers crossed.

FWIW, I had a similar sounding issue on my NGCD unit and it actually just turned out to be a loose gear that moved the CD lens. The gear apparently had slid up in shipping and wasn't moving the lens properly. I just pushed it back in place and it started working perfect.

I repaired a top loader Neo Geo CD that had similar issues. It would not spin correctly because something had pushed the spindle down on its shaft. I just had to get under the spindle and raise its position on the spindle a few millimeters. By the way, a new laser may require adjustments (using the little potentiometers) to get the focus correct. The proper way to do it is to generate an eye diagram with an oscilloscope, but if you do not have one you may be able to get it close enough to work with trial and error. Good luck with the repair.

Sorry to bump the old thread, just wanted to check that the "H8147AF SHARP" is the correct laser to get to replace a dying one in the top loader as it looks liek that was the one you ordered and got working again.