Bad PSX (orig PS) CD mechanism - replaced, but...

[blakespot]

I still have the orig Playstation I purchased in 1996. It's worked quite well over the years. I modded it long ago. A year or so ago the occasional CD would not load or load slowly. I assumed drive was about to give up the ghost. Then the machine wouldn't spin at all and the display would flicker repeatedly. I assumed a PSU failure had taken place -- replace it with an eBay unit (with a blue LED) and that problem went away. But the CD-ROM drive problem got worse.

 

Finally I couldn't load anything. It sounded like a spin issue. So, I bought a replacement new mechanism on eBay and installed it. I hear spinning and seeking, but the spinning doesn't last as long as it should and the seeking sounds stuttered -- as if it's having trouble focusing - not normal. So I looked and there was no other seller of such parts so I rolled the dice and purchased ANOTHER mechanism from the same guy and it's the same thing. Spinning that slows down -- I can hear like 5 spins per second before it stops, and it won't load anything. The seek sound sounds labored also.

 

This is the unit and vendor I twice purchased for my SCPH-1001:

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OPTICAL-LASER-LENS-MECHANISM-for-SONY-Playstation-SCPH-1001/360534474878

 

Does anyone have any advice here? For whatever reason I'd like to keep this unit working rather than buying a used, modded PS1. Thanks.

 

 

bp

[Osgeld]

You have to adjust the gain and voltage per cd mech theres a ton of guides online for the various revisions of playstation

 

Most of them are general and generic and may work best practices is to use an oscope

 

Ps check your old drive most spin issues are from the hub cracking and not gripping the disc those can be pulled off and replaced for a couple bucks

Edited May 15, 2019 by Osgeld

[blakespot]

You have to adjust the gain and voltage per cd mech theres a ton of guides online for the various revisions of playstation

 

Most of them are general and generic and may work best practices is to use an oscope

 

Ps check your old drive most spin issues are from the hub cracking and not gripping the disc those can be pulled off and replaced for a couple bucks

 

 

Oh? So it wouldn't work right off. I have no scope. I have a voltmeter. Am I lost then?

 

 

bp

[Osgeld]

you can get it close enough to work with a meter

[DragonGrafx-16]

I'd just buy a later revison, unless you really need a 1001. My late PS1 (the model right before the smaller one) has been going strong for 20 years.