Sega CDX problem. Yes, I know problems are common.

[Schiggidyd]

Hey guys, back again with some questions about my CDX I got recently.
Powers on, plays carts fine.
The problem is with the CD's of course, they don't read well.
They DO read sometimes, and I've noticed that the laser can start playing music CD's occasionally when I flip the console upside down. Does this give any clue as to what I should to do repair it?

After flipped back up to it's normal position, the CD will play for another 10-20 seconds and then stop completely again, as if the laser lost it.

What do you guys think? Is the laser housing too far away from the discs? should I place something small below the disc housing to raise it slightly?

[raylydiard]

You will need a new sanyo sf-c93 10pin.

But if you never took these apart i could offer a repair?

Laser replacement is around £25.

I could add switchless region on them two.

So you could play all region games.

[Schiggidyd]

I already ordered the new Sanyo 10pin, and I'm pretty comfortable inside the system. I'm gonna give the repairs a shot and hope for the best when it arrives.

[ifkz]

Good luck with the new laser, only one of mine actually needed it.

[raylydiard]

Please don't adjust the pots on the cd board there factory done and never need messing around with,

i fixed a Sega cdx and multi mega with new laser never needed to adjust these.


Good luck with the new laser, only one of mine actually needed it. If this doesn't fix it, your real problem will be with all of the pots on the top of the laser control board. Be sure to mark their exact positions before attempting any adjustment. The pot functions are described on this page dealing with older CD players:
http://www.ralph-toman.de/cd_player_eng/cd_player_eng.htm

T OFF (Track offset) was my culprit. Since the adjustment, it's been very solid. I even used it as a portable CD player last night, if you could believe it. It's an early CD player though, the kind that only likes to sit on solid non-moving surface (so don't turn it over while playing).

I'm on my second CDX bought broken to repair (for my personal enjoyment). Anyhow, this 2nd broken unit had lots of issues. Since you are new at this, be sure NOT to lose the small spring that pushes the laser track into the motor gears. Also, be prepared to replace a power cap or two. A lot of times people do not know any better and use and under-rated Gen 2 AC adapter with it until it burns things out. If any caps are vented, swap them out while you are in there.

And...round of applause...for trying to save another one of these rare systems. I have a particular soft spot for them. If I buy a third, though, I think I have some sort of weird Sega CDX repair obsession :)

[Schiggidyd]

Thanks for the link about Lasers, I was looking for something like that.
I'm not sure if I should pop it open and find the POT or just wait for the new laser. I've read that replacing the laser doesn't help sometimes, so It could be the caps like you said. It will be a running project if it's more complicated than laser replacement.

[ifkz]

Good luck, take it slow, and be careful.

[Schiggidyd]

I got my new AC power adjuster to (almost) meet the requirements of the CDX. It adjusts to 9.5v and 1.5 A, but the AC adapter that feeds it can only hit 1.2A, will this harm my CDX? I will still look around for one with .3 more amps.

[ifkz]

The most I can say is that I was using a cheap PS2 slim AC adapter for testing purposes and it did no long term harm to my system.

If I buy another unit to repair for my personal enjoyment, I think I'll officially be insane.

[Schiggidyd]

That's great that you got it going! What kind of grease should be used for that? I wondered about it. Should still be a few days until my laser arrives.

[ApolloBoy]

The most I can say is that I was using a cheap PS2 slim AC adapter for testing purposes and it did no long term harm to my system.
Actually a PS2 PSU might be better than the original; no big brick to plug in and it puts out plenty of amperage. The voltage is a little lower than the original (8.5V versus the 9.5V of the original) but it gets stepped down to 5V inside the CDX anyway.

[ifkz]

Not better than the original, unfortunately. Sure, it will put out 8.5V under the load of amps it is expecting. When plugged into the CDX and measured at the solder point, I found it was putting out 9.32V, pretty close though. This was a $6 knock-off PS2 adapter....better than using a Genesis 2 adapter, but I'd take Retrogamecave's or an original any day.

[Schiggidyd]

Right now I'm running a 12V 1.2A adapter, through an adjuster which is supposed to bring it to 9.5V 1.5A. I can probably find any AC adaptor which has that last .3 amps I'm missing and hopefully that will be safe for it.

[raylydiard]

Guys beware of ebay sellers selling faulty sf-c93 10pin.

[Schiggidyd]

Oh god, like who?

[raylydiard]

like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-SANYO-CAR-CD-LASER-LENS-model-SF-C93-/360315591222?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e47b9a36

i got two from this guy not one would work i made sure antistatic points were removed all esd stuff was used.

laser did not do anything light up that's about it.

i tryed a working laser worked first time there lasers are not tested or checked out.

the dreamcast laser replacements was driving me crazy lol not one replacement would work?

[FABombjoy]

i tryed a working laser worked first time there lasers are not tested or checked out.
Quality replacement lasers are getting hard to find. I have boxes of "new" SFC93, HOPM3, and a few others that are all totally non-functional. I was able to recover some of my lost money, but not all.

As much as I'd like to offer lasers for sale, I haven't been able to locate a trustworthy distributor.

[Schiggidyd]

I got my Laser today, but I'm about to leave and won't be able to try it out until tomorrow very late. It seems legitimate, the solder gob is still there, looks untouched. Will report back.

[Schiggidyd]

I found some time and successfully dissassembled, replaced the laser, and reassembled in 25 mins. IT WORKS!

Dalbani Corporation on Ebay is legit, the laser works first try.

[raylydiard]

oh thanks mate for letting me know has anyone got a dreamcast laser from him? and did it work?

[ifkz]

I found some time and successfully dissassembled, replaced the laser, and reassembled in 25 mins. IT WORKS!

Dalbani Corporation on Ebay is legit, the laser works first try.

That's great news!!!!

[Schiggidyd]

NOTE: Anyone who is looking for a CDX replacement, there are TWO models of that laser. CDX uses the 10-pin model. This may eliminate confusion when people buy the 8-pin and claim it didn't fix it. I have very little experience with lasers and was able to fix it first try with very little trial.

THIS IS THE CORRECT LASER FOR CDX!
SFC93AQ, NOT SFC93.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120845728240?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Hope this helps someone else out there.

[raylydiard]

Thanks guys i will use Dalbani for future repairs thanks.

[segasonicfan]

great news about Dalbani, just ordered a laser from them. I think Im gonna make a video on how to do this since no one seems to have done that yet.