Marantz CD Player Replacement Belt Issues, going bad in a few years.

[Spectral Morn]

Curious if anyone else has had issues with replacement belts for Marantz CD players not lasting.

So few years ago my Marantz CD7 had door opening and closing issues, the belts. The belts were replaced by an engineer I know and trust. He ordered belts, fitted them and everything worked. I had a Marantz CD94 mk2 serviced in the same way before the CD7 was.

So yesterday I fancied using the CD7 and it has the early stages of belt issues, drawer not opening fully and needing a hand to close and a few times it will open again. It plays CDs perfectly. Slightly frustrated I got out my CD94 and it has complete belt failure.

I am amazed that with minimal use, careful storage that the replacement belts have gone bad in such a short period of time.

Anyone had these issues? Is it because I am not using the CD players very often. Any ideas?

[Light Dependant Resistor]

I recall replacing a belt in a CD52Mk2 , it is still OK. i think it is other factors that are causing belts to wear . The draw opening relies on as little friction as possible on all the moving parts
which need to be inspected at the same time, Sort of suggests if your belts are wearing then the belt is doing too much work carrying other frictions, its not designed for.
Lithium white grease is usually used to assist plastic to plastic interfaces.

An aside, but related ( sort of ) I recently repaired a distressed Philips DVD player, the mechanism was stuck on what was a poorly manufactured part with regard to movement and
tolerances caused by that movement. it necessitated a pair of small side cutters to cut a jamming plastic piece out, which fixed it. It now works perfectly

[Spectral Morn]

I recall replacing a belt in a CD52Mk2 , it is still OK. i think it is other factors that are causing belts to wear . The draw opening relies on as little friction as possible on all the moving parts
which need to be inspected at the same time, Sort of suggests if your belts are wearing then the belt is doing too much work carrying other frictions, its not designed for.
Lithium white grease is usually used to assist plastic to plastic interfaces.

An aside, but related ( sort of ) I recently repaired a distressed Philips DVD player, the mechanism was stuck on what was a poorly manufactured part with regard to movement and
tolerances caused by that movement. it necessitated a pair of small side cutters to cut a jamming plastic piece out, which fixed it. It now works perfectly

The players are kept in storage (in an equipment rack), so not been used much at all, thats why I am surprised they have both failed within a few years of being replaced.

[Bencat]

I have the same CD Drive in my Theta Data Basic Transport and have had issues in the past with the door opening and closing . Firstly and I think this will apply with all Marantz and Phillips players never push the door closed alwasy use the remote or the close button on the player . Even gentle pressure pushing the drawer closed can cause issues so try and advoid.

Now I know this will apply to your CD94 not too sure if the same will apply to your CD7 ,if you have been closing the drawer by pushing it then there is a plastic cog wheel that often gets damaged as well as streching the belts . Originals are not available anymore but if you search for CDM9 Cog Wheel there are replacements from China that you can use. You ay find that this being replaced along with the belts solves any issues my Theta Data Basic works fine and does not get too much use but also does not stick . I am very careful that no one hwo uses it closes the drawer with anything but the close button .

[Spectral Morn]

I have the same CD Drive in my Theta Data Basic Transport and have had issues in the past with the door opening and closing . Firstly and I think this will apply with all Marantz and Phillips players never push the door closed alwasy use the remote or the close button on the player . Even gentle pressure pushing the drawer closed can cause issues so try and advoid.

Now I know this will apply to your CD94 not too sure if the same will apply to your CD7 ,if you have been closing the drawer by pushing it then there is a plastic cog wheel that often gets damaged as well as streching the belts . Originals are not available anymore but if you search for CDM9 Cog Wheel there are replacements from China that you can use. You ay find that this being replaced along with the belts solves any issues my Theta Data Basic works fine and does not get too much use but also does not stick . I am very careful that no one hwo uses it closes the drawer with anything but the close button .

I haven’t pushed the door closed on the CD 94 except briefly today when it would not open on its own via the open button/close button. I helped it very gently, this is how I knew the belts were bad, because there was no traction via them - I had the side and top off and could see the main belt assembly. The point is they were put in 2 years ago, the player barely used and have gone bad. Surely this can’t be normal.

The CD7 the drawer is opening, but not fully, almost fully and will close and play a cd but every so often it won’t and the drawer opens on its own. This is also down to belts. I found this out today as well. It too had not been used in awhile, but when last use worked perfectly.

[Pharos]

I'm worried about my own, but I molysliped the mechanics, and made sure that the belt was very clean. I suspect that atmospheric conditions are largely to blame, ozone and oxidation, and UV light to an extent.

[Lawrence001]

Phillips had that issue with belt grease a few years ago, the one that nearly sent Micromega under. I wonder if it's something to do with that.

[Haselsh1]

Very interesting thread. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I was not aware of such issues.

[Spectral Morn]

Phillips had that issue with belt grease a few years ago, the one that nearly sent Micromega under. I wonder if it's something to do with that.

Lubrication of parts could be an issue. I was watching a video earlier today, repair of a DAT player and it wasn’t the belts it was lube of the parts having gone goopy or dried out.

I will need to get these looked at and see what the issue is, belts or lube, or both.

[Spectral Morn]

Very interesting thread. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I was not aware of such issues.


It could be poor quality, cheap, nasty belts, or another issue. I am pretty sure the guy who fixed these before did attend to lubrication etc. So I will keep everyone posted when these get looked at.

[StanleyB]

There is actually a modification for the original belt that I carried out many times in the eighties.
1. Get some rough sandpaper or something similarly rough.
2. Sandpaper the outer side of the belt at 90 degrees of the direction of rotation of the belt. You are basically trying to get the belt feel and look rough at the outside.
3. Now fit the belt back with the outer roughened up side ending on the inside instead. So you need to basically turn it inside out.
4. Now try it and the drawer will work as good as new.

[baguadao]

The tray opening and closing is a problem typical of this vinatge. Its a quirk and such temperament requires a heavy dose of patience by the owner.

I have 2 of the 92mkII a Black and Champagne. The Black set was sold 3 weeks ago .

The tray needs a gentle nudge to close or a credit card placed in the slot under the tray and a gentle pull while the OPEN button is pressed sometimes help. It can be so stubborn that I switch off completely and do it over agin the next day. But whenever it reads it will not fail to play and the reward is worth the patiance and loyalty.

Somtimes I use it as a transport by digital into a Marantz NA11s1. About a week back I tried digital into the Marantz SA11s3. Very rewarding Marantz sound that I have second thought of parting with this Champagne set and buy a Marantz SA10.

Will be looking forward to Spectral Mon post on the outcome or causes of the tray problem.

Cheers.

[hornucopia]

Useful post! My much modded PS1 has gone kaput and was wondering if I should get a new/2nd H replacement. Or an Oppo....?

[disarmamant]

The point is they were put in 2 years ago, the player barely used and have gone bad. Surely this can’t be normal.
.

That’s partly the problem, little use of the player. The CD tray drive belt sits in the same position on the small diameter motor pulley for an extended period and the rubber hardens very slightly.

After a while the tension on the belt causes it to form to the radius of the small motor pulley, then it slips on the drive pulley.

I’ve changed quite a few CD player tray drive belts with this problem, as soon as the belt is removed you can see the where the belt has distorted. Sometimes it can be rescued by boiling it in hot water for a few minutes to soften in up a bit.


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[Ninanina]

Neil.. don't know if this is relevant :doh:

But car tyres are designed to have a 'shelf life', unused, of between 1-5 years if properly stored...

So I'm guessing cd drive belts, also being rubber, might have a similar life... apparently rubber lasts longer when it's actually being used...