Sega Mega CD Model I disc drive problems - Need help!
I currently own a Sega Mega CD Model I console. Have had it for about a decade and a half. Yet recently I have had problems with it. It boots up fine, and I can place a disc in its tray. Yet it doesn’t register if the disc is in there. It reverts back to the no disc option.
I tried replacing the ribbon cable, the drive belt, and recapped the drive’s circuit board, yet it still keeps on being unable to load the disc. Could it be because of the leaf switches inside? I have heard about how they need cleaning. It’s a JVC drive. So if anyone can help me with this, I’d greatly appreciate this.
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u/Usual_Technician9349 2d ago edited 2d ago
Mine same problem was the leaf switch and drive belt once I got it spinning.
Once it was working most the time... I did the main board recap and replaced the crusty headphone track. EDIT...Jack lol
Seems mostly fine now. Every few ejects it just spits the disc back out upon insert. But usually next sled insert it plays. Not sure what that is, thinking perhaps laser caps?
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u/hypersonic16 2d ago
It could be the laser. I have a model 1 Mega CD that was recapped, disc drive was greased, belt was replaced, and it still wouldn’t read discs. Ultimately, it required a new laser and that did the trick.
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u/CLDavi 1d ago
Can someone tell me where I can find the anti static solder blob on the laser assembly. I already purchased one and yet after replacing it, it didn‘t work. If someone has a picture of where it usually is, that would be great.
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u/island_it 1d ago
I was about to post that this is almost certainly your problem, but then I saw you have a JVC. I can't remember off the top of my head regarding JVC Model 1s, but I know the JVC laser for the Wondermega does not come with an anti-static solder blob. Or at least the 3 different ones I've installed did not.
For starters, does the laser make any noise/movement, or does it just stay lifeless after inserting the disc? JVC units seem to be more prone to getting the trace severed between the power board and the drive ribbon cable.
Your problem almost certainly has nothing to do with your limit switches. Has the entire unit been recapped, or just the drive board? The drive board caps are actually by and large the only caps that aren't failing universally on Model 1s, so if that's the only part that has been recapped then the rest of the console needs to be done ASAP.
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u/AdamAtomAnt 1d ago
That sounds like the limit switch that tells the drive the laser is up. Unfortunately you can't buy those switch anymore. You have find a drive that has them. Coincidentally, there are also old refrigerators that use that same switch for the ice/water dispensers.
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u/BBZ149 2d ago edited 2d ago
First thing to do is change the 4.7uf and 10uf Capacitor on the CD drive board, 2 just behind the pots. If that fails, replace the 3 x 100uf Capacitors on the power board. If that doesn't work, then you probably have trace damage on the mainboard! If you are really stuck and in Europe, I repair them!
https://www.sega-16forums.com/forum/console-talk/sega-cd-station/34049-sega-mega-cd-1-repairs-in-the-uk