I have several computer CD/DVD drives with sticking trays.
Problem happens right at the start when it can't separate
the spindle from the disk.
Usually works with a disk inserted, but always sticks
when empty.

There's a powerful magnet holding the disk down on the spindle.
I tried shimming it so it would be further away from the spindle
when no disk is installed
and exert less force. By the time the sticking problem is
reduced, there isn't enough force to keep the disk held down
on speed variations.

I tried a mag tape demagnetizer on the magnetic top clamp with
no effect.

I've seen several of these. They all say "super multi" somewhere
in the name. Mechanisms look pretty much the same.

This particular one is a HP GH40L.
LGE-DMGH22LS40(B)

I've taken 'em apart, cleaned/lubed/checked for rough surfaces etc.
The ramp on the opening mechanism is steep right where the disk
clamp separates. The carriage moves down a fraction until the magnetic
clamp on the top hits the top cover. Instead of separating, it just
hangs up. It's not the belt, the motor stops dead in its tracks.

Would be nice not to have to send these perfectly reading/writing
drives to the landfill.

Ideas?

mike wrote:

I have several computer CD/DVD drives with sticking trays.
Problem happens right at the start when it can't separate
the spindle from the disk.
Usually works with a disk inserted, but always sticks
when empty.

There's a powerful magnet holding the disk down on the spindle.

The belt is deteriorating. If you replace the belt on the
motor, it will usually fix this. What is happening is at the
point of maximum load, as you describe, the belt slips.
I've actually replaced the belt with just the right size
of rubber band on some of these.

Jon

Friday's Fry's ad had a 24x DVD drive for $16. Is it worth repairing the old one?

G²

On Sun, 25 May 2014 14:50:44 -0700, mike wrote:

This particular one is a HP GH40L.
LGE-DMGH22LS40(B)

The drive is made by HLDS (Hitachi-LG Data Storage). Generally, those
are good drives.

Would be nice not to have to send these perfectly reading/writing
drives to the landfill.

Ideas?

Yeah. The belt is slipping or the magnetic puck has too strong a
magnet. In your case, since the motor stops dead, it's not a slipping
belt. My solution was to pile some tape onto the center of the lower
motor spindle, to prevent the upper magnetic puck thing from getting
to close to the motor and sticking.

Some good ideas he
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/252183-32-lite-writer-tray-eject-disc-tray

Also, don't forget to update the firmwa
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?cc=us&lc=en&softwareitem=pv-80854-1


--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Sun, 25 May 2014, Jon Elson wrote:

mike wrote:

I have several computer CD/DVD drives with sticking trays.
Problem happens right at the start when it can't separate
the spindle from the disk.
Usually works with a disk inserted, but always sticks
when empty.

There's a powerful magnet holding the disk down on the spindle.

The belt is deteriorating. If you replace the belt on the
motor, it will usually fix this. What is happening is at the
point of maximum load, as you describe, the belt slips.
I've actually replaced the belt with just the right size
of rubber band on some of these.

As long as the belt is for the tray (I thought many drives had switched to
a geared piece of plastic?), then of course a rubber band would work.
They work as replacements for belts in more critical places, except their
unnevenness may shine through. But since the belt on the drive is only
opening and closing the tray, it isn't in a position to cause noise in the
audio.

Michael

On Sun, 25 May 2014, wrote:


Friday's Fry's ad had a 24x DVD drive for $16. Is it worth repairing the old one?

G²

Gee, I have five or six lying about, taken out of junk computers I've
found on the sidewalk. At that price, no, there isn't a lot of value in
spending much time on this (though maybe learning about the Drive is worth
the time). One can strip the drive down before taking it to recycling,
not many useful for other projects parts except for the motors, but if you
remove the metal and the plastic and separate it out, that is better than
sending the drive intact to landfill.

Michael

On 25/05/2014 22:50, mike wrote:
I have several computer CD/DVD drives with sticking trays.
Problem happens right at the start when it can't separate
the spindle from the disk.
Usually works with a disk inserted, but always sticks
when empty.

There's a powerful magnet holding the disk down on the spindle.
I tried shimming it so it would be further away from the spindle
when no disk is installed
and exert less force. By the time the sticking problem is
reduced, there isn't enough force to keep the disk held down
on speed variations.

I tried a mag tape demagnetizer on the magnetic top clamp with
no effect.

I've seen several of these. They all say "super multi" somewhere
in the name. Mechanisms look pretty much the same.

This particular one is a HP GH40L.
LGE-DMGH22LS40(B)

I've taken 'em apart, cleaned/lubed/checked for rough surfaces etc.
The ramp on the opening mechanism is steep right where the disk
clamp separates. The carriage moves down a fraction until the magnetic
clamp on the top hits the top cover. Instead of separating, it just
hangs up. It's not the belt, the motor stops dead in its tracks.

Would be nice not to have to send these perfectly reading/writing
drives to the landfill.

Ideas?


Something else to consider is stress-releiving distortion of plastic
over time. I've only found it with the main user accessible drawer
jamming in the guides and the motor , complete with new drive band,
cannot overcome the friction/twisting/jamming (ie not a failed band). As
most of the up/down mechanisms are also plastic running in plastic,
perhaps the same could be occuring there. Remove the drive system and
run the cycle through by hand, to see if there is a constricting point

On 5/25/2014 5:13 PM, wrote:

Friday's Fry's ad had a 24x DVD drive for $16. Is it worth repairing the old one?

G²

Electronics is my hobby.
Fixing stuff is my hobby.
Getting free stuff from garage sales is my hobby.
My definition of hobby is doing stuff that no financial justification.
I derive far more joy from fixing something and keeping it out of
the landfill than driving to Fry's.
So, yes, I'm gonna try to fix it.

The ratio of $16/free is a big number. If you applied that logic
to
all your activities, You'd be rich.

I've been behaving that way for half a century...and it works.

Yesterday, I picked up a $2 junker PC... mostly because it had a win7
license.
Unfortunately, the damn thing works. I spent all day cleaning it up.
I'm now the proud owner of a $5 investment computer that I could take to
a swapmeet
and get almost a buck for it. Makes me smile. Hobby, indeed...

Thanks, everybody for the inputs.
I've tried putting a spacer between the bottom of the magnetic puck and
the disk. Couldn't get enough reduction in magnetic force
without losing friction on the disk.
The link suggested putting the spacer at the magnet INSIDE the plastic
puck. That way you get reduced magnetic force without losing the
friction on the disk.
I modified the worst offender.
I have some sticky-backed plastic sheet 0.013" thick. Stuck it on the
magnet, trimmed the excess, stuck it back together.
Preliminary tests suggest that it's FIXED!!

I've got three of these...I just saved $48.
And got an hour of orgasmic fixing joy.
Another two bucks and I can celebrate at Starbucks with a small coffee. ;-)

On Sun, 25 May 2014 14:50:44 -0700, mike wrote:

I have several computer CD/DVD drives with sticking trays.
Problem happens right at the start when it can't separate
the spindle from the disk.
Usually works with a disk inserted, but always sticks
when empty.

There's a powerful magnet holding the disk down on the spindle.
I tried shimming it so it would be further away from the spindle
when no disk is installed
and exert less force. By the time the sticking problem is
reduced, there isn't enough force to keep the disk held down
on speed variations.

I tried a mag tape demagnetizer on the magnetic top clamp with
no effect.

I've seen several of these. They all say "super multi" somewhere
in the name. Mechanisms look pretty much the same.

This particular one is a HP GH40L.
LGE-DMGH22LS40(B)

I've taken 'em apart, cleaned/lubed/checked for rough surfaces etc.
The ramp on the opening mechanism is steep right where the disk
clamp separates. The carriage moves down a fraction until the magnetic
clamp on the top hits the top cover. Instead of separating, it just
hangs up. It's not the belt, the motor stops dead in its tracks.

Would be nice not to have to send these perfectly reading/writing
drives to the landfill.

Ideas?

Replace the motor or beef up the motor drive?

?-)

Buy a new motor instead.

Hell lot of hobbies!!....But they are always useful...