Anyone got Vintage Lite-On DVD drives with a stuck tray?

[Keatah]

Anyone got vintage Lite-On DVD drives with a stuck tray? Especially when there is no disc in the drive. And especially if you greased the tray mechanism and tried a new rubber band..!

Edited September 17, 2019 by Keatah

[+save2600]

Drawer belt probably needs replacing. Sometimes they slip too, because grease tends to spread. In the meantime, can pop the tray out manually by shoving a paperclip in the tiny hole in front. 

[Keatah]

The tray's motor belt is new and correctly sized. All the parts are freshly cleaned and minimal grease has been carefully applied. No grease migration, not yet. And all the parts look good with no excess wear. No broken gears or anything binding them up. No parts at odd-angles. No visible issues. No visible wear. And there is no electronic, switch, laser, controller problem. The drive is also getting correct power and IDE signals. It is not an OS problem either.  

 

But..

The tray still sticks when no disc in the drive.

And it ejects/opens fine when there IS a disc in the drive.

 

The tray motor turns, and it looks like it's straining, and it has enough torque, but the rest of the mechanical stuff doesn't move. So the motor is good. The tray opens smoothly and smartly if you press the button and tap it with a paperclip to get it moving. Or it also opens if you smack the drive - sometimes.

 

The drive is/was lightly used and was made in 2005.

 

(I think we'll make this a test based on an unconventional fix I just did. So! Can you fix the drive?)

Edited September 17, 2019 by Keatah

[Ed in SoDak]

Shim it.

[Keatah]

Where at?