A/S recorder DS-8637. Stops playing.

[CHEESEHIPS]

I am having a problem with an Acoustic Solutions dvd recorder , model ds-8637. It has been ok ( 13 months old ) but has began to give me a bit of bother. I play movies on dvd-r which are burnt at x2 speed on my laptop and it stops playing after 30-35 mins and goes back to the menu screen. Even trying to fast forward it does the same at the same places. I have tried original dvd's and it also stops or cant even locate the menu. You can hear some alarming sounds coming from it when it is trying to retreive the data to start the disc. I have a dvd-rw disc which i recorded on long play (4 hours) and when i played this disc it played for 2 hours 50 mins and then stopped and when back to the menu. I am no expert but it is as though the laser/eye is not able to read the whole disc and is sticking around halfway along its track. Any help or solutions appreciated.

p.s The warranty ran out last month. Grrrrr!

[JayCee]

Originally Posted by CHEESEHIPS

I am no expert but it is as though the laser/eye is not able to read the whole disc and is sticking around halfway along its track.

That's entirely possible...all CD/DVD disc mechanisms work on the same principle...the optical block assembly (laser) is mounted on two chromed poles called a "Sled" and is driven by a motor which moves the laser reading from the inner to the outer tracks of the discs...the poles are lightly greased when manufactured but over time this grease hardens and impedes the laser which then sticks at that point...this is the most likely cause of it sticking at the same point...of course it could also be the sled motor at fault or even the electronics.
If you are able to get access to the DVD mechanism you could try cleaning the sled poles with a cotton bud soaked in Isopropyl Alcohol and then lightly regreasing it...Maplins possibly stock the alcohol.

[CHEESEHIPS]

Originally Posted by JayCee

That's entirely possible...all CD/DVD disc mechanisms work on the same principle...the optical block assembly (laser) is mounted on two chromed poles called a "Sled" and is driven by a motor which moves the laser reading from the inner to the outer tracks of the discs...the poles are lightly greased when manufactured but over time this grease hardens and impedes the laser which then sticks at that point...this is the most likely cause of it sticking at the same point...of course it could also be the sled motor at fault or even the electronics.
If you are able to get access to the DVD mechanism you could try cleaning the sled poles with a cotton bud soaked in Isopropyl Alcohol and then lightly regreasing it...Maplins possibly stock the alcohol.

I'll do that and let you know what happens. Wont be til next week though. Just setting off on my hols. Had the same problem with my old ps2. Cleaned the poles and the plastic guide , which was clogged with dust so didn't sit on the grooves of the poles properly and that worked everytime. The dvd is my stepdads. Sick of telling him you get what you pay for. Should change their brand name at Argos to Acoustic problems not solutions. This is the 5th A/s product they have bought and all had problems. Thanks anyway.

[CHEESEHIPS]

Tried a dvd in the player which i had already played on my own player and i knew that the faulty one had played a few weeks ago and it stopped at 35 mins and returned to the title. Took apart and checked everything. All seemed o.k. and clean. Put it back together and put the same disc in which hadn't played before and it was making a scratchy noise , then i noticed the tray had not fully closed ( black , so hard to tell unless it catches the light ) . pushed it closed til it clicked in place and it played normally without any noise. Problem solved. Well thats what i thought but tried another disc and checked the tray was closed and this one stopped at 34 mins. Tried the original disc i was using and it was o.k. Totally baffled. All i can imagine is that it has some kind of intermittent fault. Help.