Really stupid Mega CD 1 questions

[108 Stars]

So, here I am, brand new owner of a japanese Mega CD 1 as well as a japanese MD 1.

I have never owned imported hardware, so my first question: Can I use my PAL-Mega Drive-1-power adaptors on the nipponese stuff? I know MD 2-stuff does not fit etc, so no need to tell me that, but do I have to fear my newly aquired Mega CD will be fried to death when using my German power-adaptor?

Second question: Since I am such a poor lad, I bought the Mega CD with a little defect: The CD-lid is not coming out. Laser etc work fine. Must be something with tiny plastic cogwheels I guess. But since I am a complete retard when it comes to mechanics, do you know of a manual on how to fix malfunctioning Mega CD-1-CD-lids?

*counts the minutes until evildragon answers*

[mick_aka]

I would assume you need a stepdown adaptor to lower the voltage, what voltage do your mains run on in Germany, 230v or 110v?

[playgen]

The voltage conversion from mains is done in the power supply, a Japanese megadrive and a european megadrive console both require the same voltage. So you can just use euro megadrive power supplies.

[108 Stars]

Thx for the answer! Now wish me luck for fixing the lid...or else I´ll have to take apart the Mega CD whenever I want to change the disc!^^

[lordofduct]

the converter should do fine (check the info on the back of it just to make 100% sure, output voltage, amperage and tip pole)

As for the CD tray

You are talking about a Mega CD version 1 and the tray won't come out when you push the reset button (to open it)? I've seen this problem a LOT and usually it's the mechanism for opening the tray has slide out of allignment so it is stuck in open position.

The mechanism is kinda weird, it's like the ones in most other CD-Roms I've seen, but 4 times the size. I usually take the system apart, take out the whole CD-Rom drive itself. I then manually turn the gear that opens the CD-Rom with my finger, and firmly push out on the tray with my other hand. Once it gets to a certain point it should get really firm and pop out of the gear itself and float loose.

Now I bring it all the way back in, making sure the cylinder that does the lifting stays in the down position(you'll see it towards the front on the underside, it's covered in grease). Just before you get the tray back to close position, pop the turning gear back into place so it lines up correctly. And then it should work.


...
Do at your own risk though, I figured this out a LONG time ago (probably 1995) and have done it several times for several different people. Don't force anything if you think it's gonna brake or that you won't be able to get it back to the original position. Oh yeah, and of course make sure that this IS your issue first.

[108 Stars]

Wow, thank you for the tip. I´ll try to do it as you say. I´ll tell you guys when I had time to do it!

[108 Stars]

Praise master lordofduct!

Thanks to him I am now proud owner of a functioning japanese Mega CD 1...well, almost, since now it does not read CDs, so I´ll have to adjust the lens I guess.!

However, the incredible power blew me away! As they said in the commercials, Mega CD is the key to Sega TV! And I can say this although I have only seen the Browser....

[108 Stars]

Okay, so now I think I now the problem: although I managed once to get the CD tray to open and close as it should, it seems the cylinder does not raise the lens when the tray is inside. So, the Mega CD doesn´t even try to read the disc.

I am no mechanic, but I guess when I turn the cogwheel, the cylinder should turn too, leading the lens up through the rail (don´t know the correct word).

Well, I turn the wheel, the CD tray moves, but the cylinder stays still.

To explain the problem, here´s a few pics.

First, here is my butchered Mega CD:



Now, here you see the problematic area:



Can anyone confirm that the cylinder has to turn as the cogwheel does?
I would like to take the drive further apart to take a closer look, but so far I have been unable to do so. I can´t get the tray out, and the tray makes it impossible to get out the cogwheels etc.

At the moment I can´t even get into the CD player menue, don´t know why, maybe because the tray is not sliding in correctly anymore since I tried to fix the disc reading problem.

Is there hope for this device?

[lordofduct]

OK... it's all about allignment... You are EXACTLY where the root of the issue is located.

Fiddle around with it, you can actually pull the tray out completely (removing it from the whole assembly, it goes in fairly easily, but snug, once done). Once you get it out you should fiddle with the large gear and the cylinder bit to get it to line up properly. You can learn exactly how it works by doing this...

Now once you get it in line you should spin it allllll the way to the out position. Push it just a slight few more clicks past that. Then take the tray and start sliding it back in (have the laser assembly waiting right under neath to be slid into spot as well). Now start pushing the tray back in and holding the gear so that once the tray catches it is in the correct notch (this thing has to be exact... expect to do this a few times to get it right).

Now slowly start bringing it in and attaching the Laser assembly at the same time... the knob on the front of the laser assembly should rest in the divet of that cylinder and start lifting after the tray has come in about 1/4 of the way. Then keep sliding all the way to the back and assisting the Laser assembly up with it.

Once it's all the way closed the gear should be at the end of it's cog (notice the larger cog area has a 1/2 cm section of cogs missing... that's the beginning and end of the closing gear).

If it isn't at the end, take a small screwdriver or something and force the gear a couple cogs over to line it up perfect. If you have to force more the 2 or 3 cogs, pull it all apart and start over. That's to many to be forcing and you risk breaking the little bugger.


Best of luck bro!

[edit]
oh sorry, what I meant with the screwdriver is to loosen up the screw holding the large gear down just a little so you can give play to it and slide it. DON'T take the screw out completely. The little bastard is a bitch to screw back in when the whole assembly is put together... and you'll just have to take the bitch apart again making the whole job futile in the first place!

[108 Stars]

Thanks again for the help; I´ll try again tomorrow!
You seem to have quite some knowledge about fixing such things! Might be worth a Sega-16-feature, think about it!

[lordofduct]

Most of the forums I hang at I'm in the tech section.

I've been repairing consoles/TVs/Computers/and a marriad of other electronic crap for years now (since 1990). My skill though isn't of a technical nature, it's of a practice nature.

I ain't afraid to just yank things apart and attempt to put them back together. See what does this and what else does that. If it breaks... I mean come on, it's just a Sega CD... you can pick them up fairly cheap now a days. That and breaking just gives you one more new thing to attempt to fix! MORE LEARNING... YEY!

[TmEE]

Trial and Error is the best way to learn things because you'll never do bad stuff again... its so nice when you're doing live tests and a capacitor explodes into your face just becasue you though up something new....

[mick_aka]

its so nice when you're doing live tests and a capacitor explodes into your face

Talk about dodgy electrical advice j/k

Yea ok its perfectly ok with a Mega CD, I used to work on Commodore PETs and a common problem was the power supply capacitor exploding!
These capacitors were about the size of the neck of a wine bottle and used to send shards of metal, scilicon and cardboard flying all over the office

Ah, good old days I will never forget (as I still have the scars)