NAD C521 Tray Problem

[isticism]

Hi there,

My NAD C521 CD source started acting up on me a while back. I've opened up the player and checked it out, and it appears to be very clearly a poorly designed tray open-closing mechanism.

Is it possible to replace the whole "CD Mechanism" (as the service manual refers to it) with a new one that will open and close all right?

Any tips on where I could buy a replacement tray system?

Thanks,

Tim

[sangram]

You don't need to change the tray mechanism. There is one belt toward the front, a very small one, that needs a change. Once that is done, the player behaves.

Mine basically wouldn't read any CDs, I traced it to the fact the loader wasn't pulling the CD tray all the way back, so the spindle wasn't clutching the disc properly. The belt was the reason, strange as it sounds.

I got a replacement belt for a few rupees two years ago (the player had already seen two years of service). The 521 is still in active service with a friend.

[isticism]

Thanks for the tip, sangram.

In my case, what appears to be happening is that as the tray closes, the internal loading mechanism is sliding ever so slightly too far right and then catching. Then when I press eject, the motor kicks in but the tray is locked in until I jar it so it un-catches.

ALSO the spindle mechanism that moves upwards to engage the disc as the tray closes is not getting all the way up--this sounds like it may be the same problem you had.

This whole mechanism seems pretty poorly designed to me--I hear it was re-designed on the 541 and even later updates on the 521. It's a shame to have a whole CD player fail on account of some cheap little plastic mechanical failure.

In any case, where did you buy that little replacement belt? If I could buy minor plastic replacement parts, I could avoid replacing the whole CD mechanism.

Thanks for your help!

[sangram]

I got that little belt at a shop that sells parts for CD and tape player repairs. We have a very large industry that specialises in rescuing collapsing electronic equipment for very little money, to avoid the capital expense of new equipment.

I don't know if you have equivalents for those kinds of services in the US.

In any case, a shop that sells repair parts (radio shack maybe?) should have a few belts of different sizes in stock.

As for the problem, the second problem you describe was exactly my issue.

You may have better luck replacing the entire mechanism, on second thought. I'm at a loss to tell you where you could get it though. It's a Sony mechanism (!) and there was a thread around here about replacing it. I can't remember where, but a search should throw up something.

[isticism]

Thanks, I'll look into your suggestions.

And no, in the U.S. we have no industry for rescuing broken electronics. We just throw everything away.

These days it's hard to find a stereo shop, much less a technician who can do repairs on stereo equipment.

[Rodmunch]

If you just need a replacement belt, there are electronics parts stores that will have them. Even Radio Shack might have something. Just take your old one with you to compare sizes.

I would also check on ebay. Overseas sellers often list these parts. Do a search for your cd player, you'd be surprised what comes up.