dBX DX3 (or Yamaha CD-X1) service manual

[lucpes]

One of my friends has a dBX DX3 cdplayer (old stuff, circa 1986). It skips like hell on some cds, I think because the laser unit is dying. Does anyone have the service manual or at least the Yamaha CD-X1 or X2 (hoping that it's similar but without the dynamic expander) service manual?

[jean-paul]

Please check the number on the laser, I have some NIB spare lasers for old Yamaha cdplayers.

[lucpes]

Many thanks but I found the culprit: solid core wires used to connect the laser unit... grr. These break very easy with time.

[jean-paul]

Nevertheless check the laser, I can send you a brand new one ( when I have that particular type ) if you have some audio parts for me.

[lucpes]

Originally posted by jean-paul
Nevertheless check the laser, I can send you a brand new one ( when I have that particular type ) if you have some audio parts for me.

I'll go these days and check the laser S/N (have to pass some exams... grrr...), though I seriously doubt that I may find what you're looking for in my neck of the woods - what can I get you in exchange?

[chrismarino]

I garbage picked one of these babies a few years ago, it plays beautifully, but on occasion it skips. A light tap ususally gets it going again. Do you think it is the same issue with the solid core wires?

[lucpes]

Well, it seemed to have fixed it but now it skips again... who knows, it ain't worth the bother

[ANGELOinNY]

The culprit on that model for this symptom (skipping and or poor tracking from track to track) is usually a bad stepper motor for the laser carriage assuming it isn't a bad laser. The DC motor runs a small 4.2? inch(I.D) belt and pulley that advances the laser carriage as it plays or searches tracks and I have seen the DX3 skip for some time before it finally craps out and doesn't advance at all. Many people are fooled into thinking it is a slipping belt or something else and after servicing the mysterious skips re-occur. Eventually when the motor doesn't work at all you will receive a "NO DISC" message on the display and you will note that the CD doesn't get read properly upon CD draw load and attempting to play, etc.(it fails CD Load self-test). Last one I worked on in Oct. 2010 had a belt meltdown in that assy and the gooey bad belt juice contaminated the bearing after being wrapped around the motor pulley shaft. Upon cleaning the goo residue off the pulley and shaft the motor immediately failed. I suppose some cleaner and belt goo got into the motor? Another dead patient - I thought modern belts post 1980 never chemically meltdown????- this one did)! It is somewhat easy to remove the entire CD Drive unit from the DX3 but when you get to the lower side you will find it difficult to easily remove and replace the motor. lt is soldered and screwed into a circuit board sandwich and would require a bit of dis-assembly that probably isn't worth it unless you have a good replacement motor on hand. I did like the way this unit sounded before it **** the bed for good. Also, these units start to get a bit of crackle in the audio output when the Ambiance and Dynamic control circuits are selected with the front panel "IN" switch. Spraying the IN/OUT switch with DeOxit ID did the trick after removing the front panel and around 6 or 7 screws to access the selector switch which is soldered to a front panel PCB as well as the two control pots nearby. Good luck and safety first!

-Angelo in NY