Sony MZ-R900 Minidisc Recorder Repair (Fixing Old Junk)

[@RMCRetro]

MsMadLemons retweet sent me here! It always amazes me just how intricate music players got before they went to solid state memory methods, a delicate hand is needed! Well saved sir.

[@vext01]

RetroManCave Why thank you :) And a fine youtube channel you have by the way!

[@sjm4306]

Started collecting md portables the past year and I absolutely love the format. I've done one or two videos on repairs for fairly severe battery leakage on three of the units I have that use the gumstick batteries. I've since amassed something like 10 units ranging from sp, lp and even a super nice hi-md which unfortunately likely has either a dead laser or needs recalibration via the service menu.

[@TheRetroFuture]

sjm4306 hi

[@MsMadLemon]

Nice job in fixing this one, i'm always nervious with portable minidisc players/recorders, most i've seen are fragile like this. 1:40 Lovely walkman*ahem* personal stereo by the way! And thanks for the mention :o)

[@garthhowe297]

Helpful video! Did you ever find an appropriate lubricant?

[@monen]

Got a dirt-cheap MZ-R900 a few days back and it also had some playback issues. On top of that, the disc would not "click in" properly. I dismantled the whole thing following your video and actually found a loose small piece of plastic similar to yours (that "rock" you mention) so I'm guessing it must be a common issue with this model and that piece just snaps off somewhere and starts causing trouble. Thank you so much for posting this! :)

[@theslatepipebanjodraggers8980]

Thanks for this. Great stuff to learn from

[@CBitsTech]

Great to see another KZbinr doing minidisc videos and learning as you go. I'm on a similar journey on my channel. I had a player where the magneto-optical carriage wouldn't move. I think I sent it to recycling though. Did you ever find out what lubricant to use?

[@vext01]

I've been using one called "Labelle 106", which claims to be plastic compatible: labelle-lubricants.com/shop/labelle-106-grease-with-ptfe/

[@stephenmaneleys6983]

Hi, excellent video. I have a Sony MZ-N710 MD that is not recording via inline or NetMD. I’ve cleaned the optical heads, but still not recording. Thoughts on repair and/or where this could be repaired?

[@prauny]

I know this is a few years ago, but I just fixed my N710 yesterday. Mine had the same issue as yours. It was caused by a lose contact on the ribbon cable for the write head. Where the cable meets the PCB. I just had to reflow that contact, and now it works again.

[@PCUser1024]

What's with the clicking sound in the left channel of the video?

[@vext01]

The camera on the old phone I used makes that noise. Super annoying isn't it?

[@Steelo144]

So what lube did you end up using ?

[@vext01]

I actually don't remember. But I'd probably use something like Labelle 106 if you are doing a similar repair. Something plastic compatible.

[@vladimirk8238]

Hi, can you show us where and how do you lubricate that device? And which liquid do you use for? Thx bro 😉

[@claytonpozzer]

Soetimes the disc are defective. i have a MZ-N707, that i was buyed for usd 10 with no read , i clean the optical unit, include internal lenses, with a self made earcotton (i put a cotton around a rigid coper computer network cable), and works! I have another one, with display broken and optical unit competely destroyed (MZ-R500), where cai i foun this optical units for sale?

[@Roger_Maxell]

Tengo ese mismo modelo, y la bateria de goma de mascar no funciona, probare tu metodo para hacer la reparacion

[@Eli-kj3sg]

Hey, does someone know how exactly to move the laser and the magnet head? I cant figure it out

[@wleon4068]

I have a Sharp Minidisc, which I have had for years. It works great apart from one issue. The metal connector that connects to the base unit on my player, is causing the player [when I am playing tracks] to produce intermittent sound. Could this be something to do with the metal connector on my remote? And, if so, how do I go about fixing it?

[@ByteSizeThoughts]

Great video - did you ever go back and lubricate it? Did you buy a specific brand? I have my old MD here but I think it has similar issues to yours. Cheers!

[@vext01]

I think I used model train lubricant, but I don't completely remember I'm afraid!

[@olafpayne]

I think you are my voice twin. I got confused at one point whether I made this video or someone else.

[@don12inchaltone51]

I would need a tip for a Sony MZ-R 909! Device Works, unfortunately the sound is distorted and without dynamic !! In the menu already line switching changed! what could be a defect? Can it be due to leaking battery? PCB maybe with battery acid? A tip would be great !! Thank you

[@cosmolv]

Exelent Walkman. Love formfactor, drawback are sound quality. Sticked rail system or laser head spring that pushes to wormgear become lose or dirty laser inside reflective mirror are comon problem, but easy fixable. chance that laser are dead are near to "0" in most cases dirt inside the laser head, rail system stick. :)

[@eman59461]

the magnetic head is only used for recording the laser is used to read back from disc.

[@stockholm1752]

Hi, I’m looking for clues as to why my made in England Maxell discs won’t work at all with my Sony MZ-R700. No TOC error, no blank disc message, just a spinning disc icon and nothing. All the Sony and Fuji discs I have work fine. Any suggestions? Cheers.

[@vext01]

stockholm17 That's odd. Perhaps they don't have an as long shelf life as the other brands. Not hi-md are they?

[@motofingo]

hi! my md recorder model 909.. play mode not problem but record system have problems. the recording process looks normal, but when i end the recording the toc deletes it. when the recording is finished, i have an empty blank md disk

[@prauny]

@motofingo I just fixed my N710 yesterday. Mine had the same issue as yours. It was caused by a loose contact on the ribbon cable for the write head. Where the cable meets the PCB. I just had to reflow that contact, and now it works again.

[@NoMoneyG]

Great Video!! Yeah most problems are dust/dirt on the Laser Lens? Lense? Yeah the top heats the disc and bottom reads like a CD player does. I collect portable MD's, but none of the ones that use the "Gumstick Batteries" (as they are expensive to replace and most people end up getting the "Plastic Adapter for the AA Battery" anyways, which makes it not very portable anymore!). There are so many that use 1 AA battery out there. Thanks/Cheers for making this!

[@vext01]

Greg Taylor, glad you liked it. More old tech videos to come once I find some time!

[@NoMoneyG]

I hear you on TIME!! On the MD's, I too didn't know anything on how they worked, but coming across all of my old MD's that were packed away for so many years & no way to play/listen to them, I decided to check on eBay & bought A portable unit (and then the collecting of portables started). I then got hooked back into MD's. I guess nostalgia brought me back & what music I was listening to in the past. I purchased 2 Stereo Deck units that were sold as "Parts Only" for $65 US w/free shipping so I went for it. I now have more money than I did in my early 20's in the mid 90's. So now it's my new hobby. Buying Junk & trying to fix it. Sorry if I seem to ramble on, but glad people like you make YT videos for people like me to watch and learn as they go along. Keep up the great work (when you have time) & enjoy it. Cheers!

[@the3boys2s74]

You greased the plastic gears right

[@doctorspicer1042]

U remined me of my mate vince grate vid tho 😊😊

[@100davies]

where did you get that mat.. do u know its name

[@vext01]

Search for "soldering mat" on eBay.

[@vadflo]

Magnetic head is user only for recording, is not use for reading . Laser head is use for reading disc and for recording also, by heating recording area to the Curie point (temparature ) . WIKI : Recordable MiniDiscs use a magneto-optical system to record data. A laser heats one side of the disc to its Curie point, making the material in the disc susceptible to a magnetic field. A magnetic head on the other side of the disc alters the polarity of the heated area, recording the digital data onto the disk. Playback is accomplished with the laser alone: taking advantage of the Faraday effect; the player senses the polarisation of the reflected light and thus interprets a 1 or a 0.

[@vext01]

Florentin Vaduva Yah I said it wrong. I think I corrected myself later with a text overlay.

[@vadflo]

Yes,sorry about that i have been seen later . Be very careful with ribbon cables, with time they become very fragile.

[@MexicalBoris]

Changed your video editing software?

[@vext01]

Martin Ellis Nah. Just got better at it maybe (?) :)

[@MexicalBoris]

Your overlays look a lot better than before.

[@vext01]

Martin Ellis Just used a different font.

[@MexicalBoris]

And I don' think I saw any 4:3! :p

[@ThiagoMedeirosGeo]

Hi there! I have an MZ-N707 which I loved, but it has the dreaded BLANKDISC error of the NetMD players of the 2002-2004 era, there's something odd with the ribbon cables and stuff. Would you please fix it for me? I can send you the unit, parts and cash :) It was one of the last gifts I've got from my late father, and it means a lot to me...

[@vext01]

Hi Thiago. To be honest I'm not a hotshot repair guy and I'd hate to make the player worse than it already is. It clearly has sentimental value. My advice would be to find a professional. Best of luck! I hope it goes well!

[@bangaloretrailrider2472]

Use some white vinegar to remove the alkaline deposits from the battery. Once it is neutralized, then clean with IPA

[@davidbolha]

Hi, Try adjusting that trimmer potenciometer on the laser head to increase power coming to the laser diode & thus reaching that Curie point. 🤔😉 Best Regards,

[@0079cool]

I think I would have added some silicone lubricant to the gears of the laser

[@jesikebiking]

Wouldn't it be nice if all could be that easy to repair :-Q had a camera the battery terminal were bad and had to use some solder to repair it

[@aaronfitzgerald9109]

The head is only for RECORDING, while the lasers is for play back

[@aaronfitzgerald9109]

Sled motor is flogged