Please help me fix my Mega CD!

[fireaza]

Okay, so I recently brought an untested Mega CD model 1. The AC adaptor adaptor for it finally arrived today, so I've been able to take a closer look at it. It starts up no problems, but it won't eject the tray. It makes a bit of noise, but that's all. I've pulled it apart and it looks like everything is in order, those two little switches seem to be getting hit at the right time (one when the tray is open, and the other when it's closed). The little plastic tabs that hold the board haven't snapped, the board is firmly in place.

One thing I've noticed is the tray seems to stick when it's almost closed/open. If you give the tray a little pull while it's trying to open, it's able to fully open (though it also won't fully close by itself, it seems to get stuck in the same position when closing and even if you give it some assistance, it still won't raise the spindle when the tray is pushed shut). I've been fiddling with the tray, and there seems to be a little resistance when the tray is almost closed, like some kind of friction, though I've tried adding lubricant to different surfaces, and it doesn't seem to have helped.

Little help guys? :D

[TPSNT]

I think you will need to replace the drive belt. You can try to remove it and soak it in warm water for a couple minutes. It is only a temporary solution, but at least you will know if that is the problem before you buy a replacement.

[fireaza]

I think you will need to replace the drive belt. You can try to remove it and soak it in warm water for a couple minutes. It is only a temporary solution, but at least you will know if that is the problem before you buy a replacement.

You're my hero! Soaking the belt did the trick (though I had some trouble getting the tray to go back in correctly!) Looks like I'll be up for a new belt, any suggestions? I found a link to a replacement belt, but the store won't ship outside the States :\

Also, is the Mega CD suppose to autoplay games? I pop the game in, but it just sits at the main menu, I have to play the CD and choose the "CD-ROM' option to start the game. It could be because my BIOS is version 1.00.

[TPSNT]

I have no idea where to get a replacement. I think I have read somewhere that you can use a Xbox 360 drive belt, you can find plenty of those on Ebay, but I don't know if it's true. There are also different drives for the Xbox 360 which might use a different size drive belt.

My Mega CD does auto play games if you wait long enough at the main screen, but if you press start again after the tray has closed the game starts immediately. You don't have to go trough the CD player each time.

[APE]

Pep Boys or another auto parts store will have what you want. I've seen people take the belt in and match it almost perfectly.

IIRC the belt in the Mega CD is square rather than rounded. Be aware of this.

[fireaza]

I pulled apart an old DVD drive, and even though I thought that diameter of the belt was the same as the Mega CD, it apparently wasn't as the tray stopped opening like it was doing before. Seems like you have to be very precise in the size of the belt you buy. I found a link to the right belt in a YouTube video, but the store won't ship to Australia :(

I might try a few auto parts stores around here (though wouldn't they only carry larger belts suitable for cars?), but what I REALLY need is someone to link me to an online store that will ship to Australia that has the correct-sized belt that I need :D

[omp]

Jaycar sells a mixed bag of belts, you maybe lucky.... What type of drive do you have in yours? The one with the spindle that rotates to lift the peg, or the geared one?

[fireaza]

It's got a big black gear that rotates and pushes the switch. I know Jaycar sell a mixed bag of belts, but it seems kinda silly to buy them for $19 when I only need one.

[MangledLeg]

Just go for the mixed bag fireaza - you'll find a use for the other belts :) I was in the same spot for a C64 tape drive and bought a bag. Came in handy when I needed to get a Sony Beta player up and running and needed some belts!

[fireaza]

Just go for the mixed bag fireaza - you'll find a use for the other belts :) I was in the same spot for a C64 tape drive and bought a bag. Came in handy when I needed to get a Sony Beta player up and running and needed some belts!

It seems so wasteful! All my other consoles don't have moving parts, so there's no belts to wear out for them.

Also, hey there Mangaman :D

[bart_simpson]

You can use Xbox 360 replacements or maplin tape belt 19mm belt will work on jvc drive and Sony drives.

[fireaza]

You can use Xbox 360 replacements or maplin tape belt 19mm belt will work on jvc drive and Sony drives.

Would THIS belt do the job? It seems to be compatable with most 360 drives. Though, it doesn't say what size it is. You say the Mega CD takes a 19mm belt? How about THIS ONE in that case?

[sonicdude10]

If you need a belt and the stores won't ship international, I am willing to help. I'll play the middle ground and ship it straight to you if interested. I'm in the USA.

[omp]

Hey mate, I found 5 minutes today to suss mine out. I have a few (new) belts laying around that I had purchased a few years ago for XBOX belt replacement. These bad boys were to thick though and didn't work to well. I have about 7 of them. I compared them to the one in my drive and they match up! Swapped it over and the drive opens nice and smooth. I knew I had them just hadn't been motivated to swap it out (I am going to do a re-cap as well).

So if you have this drive, it is a match.



Here are the belts old on the left, new on the right.



If you are keen, PM me your address and for $2 (paypal) I can chuck 1 in an envelope for you.

[bart_simpson]

Re cap the mega cd board where the 10uf 16v caps are allways bad like the game gear ones green and very smelly lol.

[omp]

Re cap the mega cd board where the 10uf 16v caps are allways bad like the game gear ones green and very smelly lol.

Yes, I am not looking forward to that! The wife hates it when I re-cap Game Gears.....

[fireaza]

If you need a belt and the stores won't ship international, I am willing to help. I'll play the middle ground and ship it straight to you if interested. I'm in the USA.

Thanks for the offer! But surely there would be some store that has the same size belt that will ship internationally, it's not like belts are rare or exclusive or anything like that :P

If you are keen, PM me your address and for $2 (paypal) I can chuck 1 in an envelope for you.

That would be awesome, thanks!

For future reference, do you know what size these belts are? I contacted a seller on eBay who was selling 360 replacement belts, and he said they were 18 mm x 1.2 mm. Does this mean the Mega CD also uses 18 mm x 1.2 mm belts?

[omp]

I measured the belt's today, I won't say "original belt" as it may not have been. I will say "belt that was in there"

BTWIT- Dia ??mm(+23mm but was probably stretched) x 1.90mm/sq

New- Dia 22.5mm x 1.7mm/sq

But understand this is for the drive pictured above. I believe there are 2 types (there maybe more?) The one above has all the "smarts" on the board under the CD sled and another where the "smarts" move up/down WITH the laser sled.

Other than the Mega CD I have I also have a damaged Sega CD, which I recieved that way as a "faulty lot" when I opened it up, any bloody wonder the previous owner had fun in there. It has the 2nd driveI mentioned. I may try and repair it but don't hold any hope for it, but the boards seem fine in it as I put the motherboard into my Mega cd last night.

I have to see if they use the same laser, the Sega CD uses a Sony KSS210 (from memory) but I haven't looked at the Mega CD.

[fireaza]

Well, my Mega CD is all fixed, thanks to the belt omp sent me! I'm not sure if is the *exact* size as the original, as the drive doesn't seem to snap shut as quickly, but it works, and I actually prefer the smoother action of the new belt. Thanks for your helps guys!

[Tokimemofan]

I measured the belt's today, I won't say "original belt" as it may not have been. I will say "belt that was in there"

BTWIT- Dia ??mm(+23mm but was probably stretched) x 1.90mm/sq

New- Dia 22.5mm x 1.7mm/sq

But understand this is for the drive pictured above. I believe there are 2 types (there maybe more?) The one above has all the "smarts" on the board under the CD sled and another where the "smarts" move up/down WITH the laser sled.

Other than the Mega CD I have I also have a damaged Sega CD, which I recieved that way as a "faulty lot" when I opened it up, any bloody wonder the previous owner had fun in there. It has the 2nd driveI mentioned. I may try and repair it but don't hold any hope for it, but the boards seem fine in it as I put the motherboard into my Mega cd last night.

I have to see if they use the same laser, the Sega CD uses a Sony KSS210 (from memory) but I haven't looked at the Mega CD.

Not all Sega CDs use the sony laser, mine has a JVC Optima 5. This Mega CD seems to be the same as my Sega CD. The JVC version lacks the large black timing gear that the Sony versions have. My experience has taught me to assume that there are still unknown revisions out there.