Fixing A CD Player With Sticky Draws - Shrinking Disc Tray Drive Belts With Hot Water - Repair Guide

In this video I repair a faulty CD player with trays that stick and only open intermittently. This is caused by the drive tray belts stretching over time and you can normally get away with doing this little trick to fix the problem. All you require to try this is a few screwdrivers, some boiling hot water and around half an hour of your time.
You will sometimes find the trays will only stick when there is no CD left in the player and that you can get them to open by tapping the top or front of the draw. Almost all issues with the tray opening/closing is usually caused by this rubber drive belt.
Most CD player mechanisms are identical so this guide should cover most cases.
In this video I show you the repair on a KAM KCD 960 Twin Professional Rack-Mounted Unit.
It should be a very similar process for a DVD player or any other device with a disc mechanism/tray.
This repair will usually last a good few years, providing you use boiling hot water and the belts are not overly perished, brittle and worn-out. In this case you would need to look for a replacement belt.
I have also made a quick video guide on adjusting the laser when the player won't read discs or takes a long time to read. You can find that video here: • Fixing A CD Player Tha...
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Recorded using an iPhone 6S in 4K Ultra-HD.

[@johnchapterthree5307]

I have a Rotel RCD 855 - a jewel of a player. Could not get the stuck drive sorted out, until this! The hot/cold water treatment worked perfectly. Thank you so much.

[@TheRealD4]

Wish I'd seen your excellent video 2 months ago to see 5:30 as I didn't know how to fully remove the CD tray!! Instead I just removed the 6:15 top piece and managed with great difficulty to fit a new belt through the tiny gap behind with tray still fitted... 😅 You should tag this video as CD deck belt replacement / tray disassembly too because you show how to properly dismantle the CD mech which is identical to that used in my Denon deck and probably many other 90s stacker systems!! It's very useful 👌👌👌

[@jrcoffeyII]

Very nice presentation.

[@seangough4884]

Thank you Nathan. I've just been able to resurrect a 30 year old Ariston deck thanks to your advice. Another electronic device saved from landfill 🙂

[@paulmarsland7058]

Many thanks for this. Just fixed a Yamaha CD-S300 with this very issue.

[@flycamDFW]

Great information. I ordered a batch of several sizes of belts off of amazon. With your detailed video I was able to fix my American DJ dual deck. I've been using them for over 15 years and I guess it was time. Just followed your video along and repair went great. Thank you. Keep up the great work. A++

[@anthonyricco8624]

This was fabulous advice. Although I have a Dynaco CDV Pro Vacuum Tube HDCD Compact Disc Player, I could carefully followed along with the instructions on the machine used by Nathan. I was able to disengage the tray, and remove the rubber belt. I placed the belt in a small tub with hot water for 2 minutes, allowed it to cool for 5 mins (as directed), re-installed with the now slightly shrunken belt, and it worked fine. That's for the advice, it worked to a "T."

[@shvideo1]

Great detailed information. Very useful on how the tray mechanism works and an ingenious fix for the problem. Enjoyed it very much. Thank you for sharing your insight.

[@sebastienleclerc8772]

Awesome tip, the boiling water! I fixed my 15 years old Denon RCDM33 in 10 minutes with this. Kudos.

[@calebwright6151]

Thanks for this tip. I have a similar set up Citronic Dual CD player. This was a forgotten project the unit started playing up about 5 years ago had a look but didn’t think it was a simple drive belt so it was put in storage. After moving house I rebuilt my radio studio and dragged out this unit for another look saw your video and it’s now working fine. Thanks again

[@Enpassantful]

Brilliant, just saved me from buying a new belt. I suppose there must come a time when shrinking belt no longer works.

[@NathanPH]

Indeed the belts will eventually degrade and need replacement but this is a great way of extending the life in the meantime while a replacement is sourced. 😀 I've actually got a player of my own which I shrunk the belt on almost 2 years ago and it's still working ok since though! So mileage can really vary. Glad you found it helpful! --Nathan

[@Dominic-st4gb]

Good stuff! Thanks. Nice and simple. I have meaty fingers and couldn't be bothered dismantling that internal cover. So just used a hair dryer to shrink the belt. Smelt a bit burny at one point, but seems to have done the trick.

[@user-eo3du4hd5r]

Brilliant video. Thank you so much

[@palalonde]

Great tip thanks. Left belt is probably more used then right. Could label belts to rotate and get even wear like car tires.

[@Mentaspex]

Thanks for this great clip. Helped me to revive my sony cd player. (seen this malfunction more often with Sony CD players, must be a material flaw in its belt production). Its drive design is slightly different but not hard to sort out and it works flawlessly once more. So thanks!

[@OllyDawson]

Worked a treat! Thank you. You get a sub

[@user-wn1yv3jl5e]

very helpful, thank you.

[@edgaravelar2750]

Thank you much. Going to fix mine now

[@tobytwirl04]

Hi Nathan...GREAT tutorials...Clear and concise. My 'belt' has snapped completely! Where I live, there are NO supply shops...Any alternative way of fixing it? Also, I'm having problems with an audio cassette deck, I've cleaned the head and capstans with no result! Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated...Ta muchly...🅱️.

[@lemans150181]

How long does boiled belt work ? What size is new belt ?

[@JenuineAirbrushTan]

This is a great video. I have a Quick question I dissembled a Panasonic CD player that the tray worked a few times, read the disc but then the tray got stuck in a halfway out position. It was dirty so I cleaned it and took off the lid but the scary label about radiation and electrocution made me stop going further. I couldn’t move the tray with my hands so I’m wondering if that is likely the cog is off. Does that make sense? I might do the boiling water thing too as it is from late 80’s early 90’s. I feel more confident opening it up again watching this video.

[@cadmantheaviator]

I’m going to give this a try.

[@TerribleFire]

I've a similar drive that seems to think its closed all the time. The tray opens and the belt is tight but it refuses to close.

[@IOOIIIV]

Are replacement pins available if the pin gets damaged?

[@skyhill4279]

I have a Numark CDN77USB player with left deck opens and attempts to read disc but won't play. Right deck won't open at all but screen says open when eject button is pressed and says closed when button is pressed again. Any ideas please? Thanks for all your videos

[@syedmahdi8947]

Sir I have a Denon DCD2000ae cd player with no disc display, I replaced the Lens but still the same where you think the problem is.