CD16 (CDM4 pro) skipping problem

[Isaac Sibson]

I have a CD16, which I've modified with a Trichord DOB.

However, for the past year or so, it has been skipping when reading CDs, and has been getting worse and worse. It's not scratches or dirty discs, but it just skips at random. It affects the DOB outputs, the on-board digital outputs and the analogue outputs.

Any clues? The previous owner said that the lasers on them died quickly because they were powered up the whole time that the player was. Is this so, or is it just something gone out of whack? If so, what and how can it be sorted?

Thanks in advance!

[tubenut]

If indeed it is a version of the CDM4 mech, there probably is a little white plastic pressure plate that the ball bearing for the disc clamp spins against. It eventually gets pitted and this is often the cause of skipping on CDM4. Check this before you check or adjust anything else. Sanding it down with fine grit sandpaper untill smooth often works, otherwise you may need to try and get it as a spare from philips.

[Isaac Sibson]

That's a good bit of info... how do I get to this part of the mech? Does anybody have a manual?

[Cobra2]

No need to worry, laser is OFF when in STOP - mode (Power-on).

It is a fairly simple job to replace laser, from a "cheap" CDM-4 unit, there are several stories here if you search!

Arne K

[jean-paul]

When in need for cdm4 please send me a PM.