wrote in message
...
I've tried so many things, I probably looked at that.
There is no restraint on the sled. It moves freely.
The drive belts for the table are weak, but I twisted them and it
seemed to work ok. I made sure it was fully seated when closed. It
wouldn't clamp the CD if it wasn't. I have watched it seeking track 0
but I don't remember if that was only when tipped or if it did it when
it was flat also. I believe there was no action whatever when it is
flat, but I will look again.
I can't see the lens assy from the bottom, but I will try a small CD
and see if I can view it then.

thanks.

Well, if the tray drive belt is weak, then the very first thing I would do
is to replace it. I wouldn't for one second believe with absolute certainty,
that the loading cycle is completing correctly and fully, just because the
disc appears to clamp. I have had similar situations many times, where the
final push of the mech, beyond just clamping the disc, works a "load
complete" switch, and that extra little bit of mechanical resistance from
the switch's spring loading, is just enough to hold it open. If, as you
suspect that you observed, the deck does absolutely nothing when it is flat,
then this would be a good indicator that the system control micro is waiting
for something like a "load complete" signal. In this situation, gravity may
well take over to assist the last little movement, when the deck is tipped.
This would also make sense with your assertion that once the deck has read
the TOC 'on the tip' as it were, it will then play in any position. The
system control micro only needs to be told that loading is complete, once.
Just change the belt, before going any further ...

Arfa