panasonic cd stereo system sa-ak25 cd changer wont open help!!

I've seen these models - no way a non-technical person could even begin to fix it - these models challenge even experienced techs.

Sorry...

Mark Z.

I'd rather peel onions for a whole year than get into one of those stackable tray mechanisms. I'd open it once and look for a broken belt (since you can hear it whirring) though i'm not sure this model uses a belt drive anywhere. Jango

"Mark D. Zacharias" wrote in message news:gnPih.2017$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr17.news.prodigy.net...

Mark

The AK25 uses the rear stacking mech rather than the 5 tray nightmare. You know, the one with the 5 flying saucers in the back, and a single tray that takes discs in, and then passes them back to the stacker ?? That mech is very straightforward to align, requiring only that the reason for the jam, if any is resolved, followed by withdrawing the tray by hand, using the free gear wheel moulded into the top of the mech if necessary. When the tray reaches its stops, the latch at either side needs to be pushed out, and the tray withdrawn further until it comes right out. The basic mech operation is then checked by using the gear wheel fixed on the end of a jeweller's screwdriver, and finally wound until the deck is down, and the gear at the side is turning in the direction to drive the tray out. You then have to make sure that the sliding tray is correctly located and locked in the drawer, then that the white rack under the right side of the tray, is pushed as far away from yourself towards the back of the tray as possible, and then held there with the index finger of your right hand. The tray should then be offered into the locating grooves either side, and slid forward until it touches the drive gear. Then, making sure that you keep the white rack pushed fully forward ( very important, DONT LET IT MOVE ), push the tray in until it clicks past the latches, after which the rack will start to move back, and that's it. Confirm that all is ok, by winding the mech using the free gear tool that you have made up. If it sticks with the tray fully back in, then goes with a loud crack, don't worry, it just means that you let the rack move as you pushed it in. Just take the tray back out, and do it again. It really is a lot easier to do than describe. Very occasionally, you will find that something on the sliding white rack section is damaged, causing the initial problem, but it's pretty rare, if the mech hasn't been abused.

On the nightmare mech, my son has become pretty adept at these now, and can do one in about 10 minutes. He recently filmed one, with sound, in its test cycle, which he now uses as a screensaver. It's fascinating to watch. Quite mesmerising in fact. When it's working right, it really is a very elegant piece of engineering. If you want a copy, or anyone else, mail me off-group and I'll send it to you.

Arfa