Greased poles now won't read discs

[the smrf]

Hello all,
I'm looking for a little help on a non disc reading dreamcast. (I've read all the posts on the pot nut- but I'm asking if it's the same fix for this specific situation)
Bought a DC from the swap meet. I came home and plugged it in. As I figured, the T&D battery was dead so I swapped it out. I started it back up, worked like a charm, played some Zombie Revenge but damn if it wasn't loud, so I cracked it back open and added some Silicone grease. Still started up loud but whatever I'm sure once it spreads itself out it while quiet down... except now I get the white sega Splash screen and then it goes back to the start up screen with the play, file, music, settings screen. I select play game, the white sega splash screen comes up again, and them I'm redirected back to that same start up screen. WTF happened? because I greased the poles does that mean I have to adjust the laser? Did I get grease on something I shouldn't have gotten grease on? Some help would be much appreciated.

BTW: I used Oatey Silicone grease
Thanks ,
The Smrf

[dark]

The only thing I can think of is that you might have unintentionally gotten some grease on the laser lense. That would certainly throw it out of focus, you could try cleaning with isoprophyl alcohol if you haven't already. Another thing is perhaps there is a blob of grease on the rails that is too much and is preventing the laser sled from moving up and down? A final thought - does the disk spin at all when the door closes, or does it stay still? Perhaps your taking the top shell off and putting it back on somehow damaged the mechanism for the DC to understand that the disc door is closed?

[krssn]

Silicone grease for the pole is good. Shouldn't be a problem if you don't use a ton of it. When I do it I manually turn the whole pole through the lens piece so the grease spreads evenly before reinstalling it. I don't let the Dreamcast do the spreading. Maybe that's the problem? Maybe there's too much on one spot and the lens doesn't get over it?...

Did some grease get on the lens perhaps?...

You shouldn't need to readjust the lens after greasing...

Damn dark, guess you were faster. But I'll post my reply anyway...

[the smrf]

You gents are fast. Thank you.

I actually just got back from the auto store. Picked up some PlastX. (I saw in another thread this would work excellently)
I cleaned the lense with that stuff, put Zombie Revenge back in and the same thing happened. I tried another game and it booted right into the game!!! success. So, I put zombie revenge back in but the same thing happened. I pulled Zombie Revenge out and looked at the disc and there were little droplets of grease on the outer edge of the disc. I cleaned that off and the game started right up.

When I grease I do a thin coat (well as thin as I can get it) of it on the length of both rails, as well as the little sprockets that move the assembly up and down the pole.
Thank you very much for the help.


Here's another issue you good sirs may be able to help with



I have another DC where the disc spins but won't read games. I've played with the pot nut (I've since learned I probably burned the laser with how much I've cranked it. I had no idea you could ruin the hardware fiddling with it) and sometimes the disc spins sometimes it doesn't depending on where I've moved the pot nut. Is there anyway to tell If I've burned out the laser?

Thanks again

[krssn]

I think the laser goes really dim once it's burnt out.

Use a mulitmeter and check the resistance. Let me know what reading you get.

[TacT]

DO NOT ANYONE EVER USE ALCOHOL OR ANY HARSH SOLVENTS TO CLEAN THE LENS IT DAMAGES PLASTICS
I keep telling people
Use a microfiber on a cotton swab to wipe away any grease if you got any on the lens and clean it properly with a product like this
http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/p ... er-polish/
It can help fill scratches and renews optic quality of the plastic as well as degradation and oxidation.
Also can help to clean under the lens the mirror can also get a fine film of dusts only way i could think would help is use some compressed air GENTLY blow under the lens (IF USING A CAN AIR DO NOT TILT OR SHAKE THE CAN OR SPRAY THE LIQUID OUT! IT CAN FREEZE AND CRACK THE LENS!)

Many people have reported fixing dozens of dreamcasts Simply by cleaning the lens properly with this product. It can also be used on sunglasses.

[the smrf]

TacT. I saw your post on the PlastX. I went and got some. I used it it seems to be well. Thank you.


I'm Sorry KRSSN, but I'm brand new to fixing consoles, I saw other posts about using multimeters but I wouldn't know where to touch the poles to get a reading. could you point me in the direction of a video?

[krssn]

Left and right of the pot screw. Two tiny blobs.

There's actually three blobs if I'm not mistaken. But two of them are the same IIRC, so you can choose either.

[Wrath of Khan]

Hmm... I have a problem too.
Last hope and neo xyx load to the boot screen and then reset and reboot on an infiite loop.
The games never load. But gunlord loads which is also a cdr game, rush rush rally racing loads and shenmue which is a gdrom game.
Is it coincidence that both discs started behaving like this at the same time? Or what?
Is it a laser recalibration issue or maybe both discs just died?

Obviously it's not the reseting hardware flaw as certain discs work just fine.
Any thoughts?

[the smrf]

Left and right of the pot screw. Two tiny blobs.

There's actually three blobs if I'm not mistaken. But two of them are the same IIRC, so you can choose either.

Alright, I'll give it a looksee tomorrow and report back. the potscrew is really jacked up. Someone tried to fix it before I came along. Thanks everyone for the help.