PCE Duo Laser Track Problems?

[GiantRobot1985]

I have a PCE Duo that has been Re-Capped and RGB modded. About a month ago it started doing this thing where it would play CD's and games fine, but while playing games the laser would move to the outside track and then stay there. Turning the system off and on again at that point doesn't reset the lasers position, and the disk doesn't spin, etc. I am assuming the laser doesn't see the CD...putting a music CD in doesn't fix it.

To fix this I had to open the system up and physically unscrew the rail then lift and slide the laser back to the start. Then it read CD's again. I tried lubing the rails up... still does it. And I can't tell if the drive is even trying to move back into position and just can't. (meaning i'm not sure it's mechanical)

Any idea what's going on and how to fix it? Is it a pot adjustment that I need to make (Music plays on the outside track) so I thought it was good... I'm just confused and would like to know how to get this working so I can actually enjoy some games without them crashing.

Hope someone can help.

[Keith Courage]

This happens a lot with some DUOs if CDR discs are used. Causes the lens to move to far to the end of the track causing the gearing and motor to get stuck. Some lens adjustments might help but if this is being caused by CDR discs then I would try another brand of CDR media first.

[Sarge]

This is what I've been fighting with on CD-Rs, although mine hasn't stuck in quite a while.  It did happen to me, though, and the best way to unstick it is to jostle that white gear you can see through the hole just a bit.  Maybe move it with a toothpick or something.  Doesn't take a whole lot to get it unstuck, usually just a little bump will get it moving again.

[ClodBusted]

One thing that came up to my mind when I had my Duo opened up last time is that the wire harness between the moving laser and the main PCB might be able to get stuck on the PCB-attached plastic shield that it is traveling on back and forth.

[GiantRobot1985]

I am almost 100% sure it's not mechanical because I put in a cd with 23 tracks and it had no problem then...

I'll invest in better CD's for now. But I think I'll keep attempting to adjust the pots for my laser. I'm having a hard time getting ohm readings that compare to anything posted in the threads I saw on VR105... but I don't know that that is the main issue.

[GiantRobot1985]

Just wanted to let everyone know that the combination of higher quality CD's + tuning the pots a bit more has appeared to solve this problem. Still really weird behavior that it would get stuck and not reset with a CD System Reboot.