I had to replace the belt for the CD loading/eject mechanism on my Sony CMT-EX22. The belt is staring you in the face as soon as you lift the cover off, but actually getting to the point where you can remove and replace it is surprisingly painful. Without your video I'm sure I would have abandoned this project. Thanks for saving my unit from the landfill. In the process of replacing the belt, I also noticed that I seem to have the same LED failures that you found. If I ever get motivated to replace them I'll be back. Thanks again and keep up the good work.
Thanks so much for this. Mine has an issue of the loading tray not moving backwards unless laid on it's back. I'm sure this will be a great help in disassembling and possible greasing the mechanical points. Thank you again and you are definitely worth the subs mate!
My wife found one of these at a thrift store a year ago, and cleaning it up got me interested in the idea of modding it. Now I'm trying to figure out where/how/why to add an esp32 to it. Internet radio? Bluetooth speakers? smart phone remote? RTC, so I never have to set the clock again.....
That's a good idea, and I actually have a spare zero 2 and audio hat. I'm not sure if I remember that much space inside the enclosure tho. I'll have to think about it. Off the top of you head, do you think it'd be hard to vampire 5v or 3.3v from somewhere inside the case?
would you have any idea on how to Get the disk to get spinning. I've disassembled this thing so many times and the belt and the whole motor mechanism isn't the problem. the glass panel isn't letting the cd spin. could it be the motor in the Laser Reader being too weak?
My only guesses would be either yes, the motor is worn out, or that the CD hold down thingie on the glass is stuck. This unit didn't have that particular problem, so not really sure otherwise, sorry!
Dude!! Thanks for you help with this vid I had to replace the belt in mine and would have never got it back together without this! I’m still having issues with cd skipping is there any possible replacement or retro fit that I could replace the laser reader with? It could also be the motor that spins the disc because there is a distinct clicking when it starts up
Happy to help! The CMT-EX1 uses the KSM-770A laser assembly, which you should be able to find replacements for online. I couldn't point you in any specific place to buy though, sorry.
Hi there! Fantastic video, very informative. I acquired one of these a bit less than a month ago and the CDs now seem to spin out of control sometimes clock and other times counterclockwise as soon as I pop the CD in but it never actually gets to read it. I've already replaced the belt and now the loading is smooth as butter, but it still spins out like crazy and doesn't stop unless I turn off the power (and even then it still has to come to a stop a while later from all the momentum). Do you have any idea what could be causing that and more importantly, how to stop it? Thank you very much!
Definitely doesn't sound good, and judging from the fact that it's spinning both clock and counter clockwise, I'd say it sounds like a problem with the microcontroller circuitry. It would only ever pulse the drive CCW when it's attempting to bring the spinning disc to a halt. Have you cleaned the laser lens assembly? You could also check that the laser sled is actually moving the lens back and forth smoothly - the grease on the rails can and will dry up over time causing it to not be able to track and if it can't read the disc, it may go a bit crazy trying to!
@@silvestronsbitsandbytes Well, I went back and took it apart as far as I could brave (or remember how to put back together), cleaned it nice, greased it a bit more and made sure the lens could move and it ended up working just fine again! The lens slider doesn't move quite so smooth, at least when I'm pushing it from the sides with a screwdriver, but it's getting the job done again. Was that your case as well or should it be moving as smooth as the loading lift mechanism? I would hate to have to return this, it's a beautiful machine, but if it's going to consistently take this kind of maintenance at some point I gotta consider other options. Anyway thank you so so much for the help! Aside from the on-video help you've been incredibly kind to reply to me and all of us here.
Ironically enough it looks like those LED's have a moderately high failure rate. Was looking for a teardown video to help with mine with a really dim display and looks like ive got to do the exact same thing as you. Do you have a link to the LED's that you ordered?
I'm not 100% sure the original manufacturer part number for the LEDs I used, as I just got loose ones off the shelf from my local parts store Jaycar electronics. It's a 5mm blue 13500mcd LED. If I had to do it again though, I'd use a lower brightness LED, so I wouldn't have to drop the voltage quite so much through changing the dropper resistors.
Were you able to find LEDs that worked well for your cd player? I am looking to also replace the LEDs for my cd player as well. If you have a link for the leds that you may have used please send!
@@ty_chi4453 In mine, the LED's were the smaller 3mm size. I ordered a variety of colors off of Amazon. Just generic 3mm LED's. Used the blue ones and it was a simple desolder - resolder job. I sold that CD player months ago but if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer.
@@ty_chi4453 The original LED's had a rubber diffuser cap on them that helped dim them slightly as well as diffuse the light. I put that back on and it was the perfect brightness.
I had to replace the belt for the CD loading/eject mechanism on my Sony CMT-EX22. The belt is staring you in the face as soon as you lift the cover off, but actually getting to the point where you can remove and replace it is surprisingly painful. Without your video I'm sure I would have abandoned this project. Thanks for saving my unit from the landfill.
In the process of replacing the belt, I also noticed that I seem to have the same LED failures that you found. If I ever get motivated to replace them I'll be back.
Thanks again and keep up the good work.
That's amazing to hear, thank you!
hi, i have the same problem and currently have the entire thing disassembled trying to get the new belt on. how did you do it?
Thanks so much for this. Mine has an issue of the loading tray not moving backwards unless laid on it's back. I'm sure this will be a great help in disassembling and possible greasing the mechanical points. Thank you again and you are definitely worth the subs mate!
Great video!!! Relaxing and informative, keep up the good work :D!!
My wife found one of these at a thrift store a year ago, and cleaning it up got me interested in the idea of modding it. Now I'm trying to figure out where/how/why to add an esp32 to it. Internet radio? Bluetooth speakers? smart phone remote? RTC, so I never have to set the clock again.....
I think an RPi Zero with an audio hat might be more versatile. If you can find a Chromecast Audio that'd be ideal! Great thrift find too!
That's a good idea, and I actually have a spare zero 2 and audio hat. I'm not sure if I remember that much space inside the enclosure tho. I'll have to think about it. Off the top of you head, do you think it'd be hard to vampire 5v or 3.3v from somewhere inside the case?
would you have any idea on how to Get the disk to get spinning. I've disassembled this thing so many times and the belt and the whole motor mechanism isn't the problem. the glass panel isn't letting the cd spin. could it be the motor in the Laser Reader being too weak?
My only guesses would be either yes, the motor is worn out, or that the CD hold down thingie on the glass is stuck. This unit didn't have that particular problem, so not really sure otherwise, sorry!
I also want to convert USA version to European power supply ( from 120 to 230v 50hz). Can I use the same spec caps as you for 230v?
Yes, it should be exactly the same change. Just remember to change the fuse as well.. good luck and stay safe!
@@silvestronsbitsandbytes Thank you for advice, and great video, keep sharing!
Those LED condom's must had some kind of phosphor coating, oh the silly things we did before white LEDs became surplus and affordable!
Yep that was my understanding too. Hard to think of a time before white LEDs now, but the 2000s certainly made it work!
Dude!! Thanks for you help with this vid I had to replace the belt in mine and would have never got it back together without this! I’m still having issues with cd skipping is there any possible replacement or retro fit that I could replace the laser reader with? It could also be the motor that spins the disc because there is a distinct clicking when it starts up
Happy to help! The CMT-EX1 uses the KSM-770A laser assembly, which you should be able to find replacements for online. I couldn't point you in any specific place to buy though, sorry.
@@silvestronsbitsandbytes no worries I actually found one online from aliexpress it was only 13 bucks so Im gonna give it a try and see how it goes!
Hi there! Fantastic video, very informative. I acquired one of these a bit less than a month ago and the CDs now seem to spin out of control sometimes clock and other times counterclockwise as soon as I pop the CD in but it never actually gets to read it. I've already replaced the belt and now the loading is smooth as butter, but it still spins out like crazy and doesn't stop unless I turn off the power (and even then it still has to come to a stop a while later from all the momentum).
Do you have any idea what could be causing that and more importantly, how to stop it?
Thank you very much!
Definitely doesn't sound good, and judging from the fact that it's spinning both clock and counter clockwise, I'd say it sounds like a problem with the microcontroller circuitry. It would only ever pulse the drive CCW when it's attempting to bring the spinning disc to a halt.
Have you cleaned the laser lens assembly? You could also check that the laser sled is actually moving the lens back and forth smoothly - the grease on the rails can and will dry up over time causing it to not be able to track and if it can't read the disc, it may go a bit crazy trying to!
@@silvestronsbitsandbytes Well, I went back and took it apart as far as I could brave (or remember how to put back together), cleaned it nice, greased it a bit more and made sure the lens could move and it ended up working just fine again! The lens slider doesn't move quite so smooth, at least when I'm pushing it from the sides with a screwdriver, but it's getting the job done again. Was that your case as well or should it be moving as smooth as the loading lift mechanism?
I would hate to have to return this, it's a beautiful machine, but if it's going to consistently take this kind of maintenance at some point I gotta consider other options.
Anyway thank you so so much for the help! Aside from the on-video help you've been incredibly kind to reply to me and all of us here.
Ironically enough it looks like those LED's have a moderately high failure rate. Was looking for a teardown video to help with mine with a really dim display and looks like ive got to do the exact same thing as you. Do you have a link to the LED's that you ordered?
I'm not 100% sure the original manufacturer part number for the LEDs I used, as I just got loose ones off the shelf from my local parts store Jaycar electronics. It's a 5mm blue 13500mcd LED. If I had to do it again though, I'd use a lower brightness LED, so I wouldn't have to drop the voltage quite so much through changing the dropper resistors.
Were you able to find LEDs that worked well for your cd player? I am looking to also replace the LEDs for my cd player as well. If you have a link for the leds that you may have used please send!
@@ty_chi4453 In mine, the LED's were the smaller 3mm size. I ordered a variety of colors off of Amazon. Just generic 3mm LED's. Used the blue ones and it was a simple desolder - resolder job. I sold that CD player months ago but if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer.
@@michaelpabian9415 Were the LEDs that you replaced really bright or was it the right amount of brightness?
@@ty_chi4453 The original LED's had a rubber diffuser cap on them that helped dim them slightly as well as diffuse the light. I put that back on and it was the perfect brightness.
Thank you Thank you Thank you very good video thank u for fix!!!!! :D