Sticky DVD player spindle motors.
 

HI ALL!:thmbsp:

I have seen this a few times on different makes of DVD player. The latest one I have just cured is an LG DVX492H which I got yesterday along with a pile of DVD's from our local tip. The fault was the spindle motor not getting up to speed and then the laser getting totally confused. I lubed the motor....same result! Then I had a bonkers idea!

I decided to free the motor by hitting it with a slightly higher voltage and letting it run. So I removed the drive from the machine and by using a REGULATED multi-voltage (1.5 to 12v) DC PSU I ran the motor at 3V then at 4.5V for a minute or two. The crazy thing about this is... it worked! The drive starts better than it did before. The disc now spins the moment the drawer closes. Why this worked I don't know, maybe the motor shaft was clogged with dirt on the inside of the motor itself.

Either way...it's fixed! Now to multi-region it! :) Just wanted to share this with you.

Loosened up dry lubrication? Good deal it worked for you!

Well, I did put a drop of sewing machine oil into the motor but only from the underside of the deck. I could not get any into the top of the motor. It might be the lube worked its way up....I really don't know and that's being honest. But it's working (and now multi-regioned) so just waiting for the new remote to arrive. :)

I have just today picked up another one of these decks with exactly the same problem - the motor not getting up to speed - confusing the laser. So it's going to get the same treatment as the last one. A shot of sewing machine oil into the bottom of the motor and then a 4.5 volt run for a few minutes.

I put this problem down to the type of lube used in the motors that LG fitted. Shame really as they are a nice DVD player! How many more of these were scrapped off because of the same problem? Probably loads. This fault appears after 2-3 years of use.

Who made the motors?

Not really sure on that one. But one thing is for certain they were made in China (just like on most DVD players today).

I've replaced dozens of PS caps in DVD players that were made in the past ten years.
Most all of them were made in China and with Chinese sourced parts. Bulging caps seems to be common in many of them and many of them don't make it past their first year of life without failure. A few years ago I purchased a cheapo Memorex that had a nice Sony transport in it, but a horrid PS. I replaced the PS caps before they had a chance of blowing up and its given perfect service ever since.

http://videokarma.org/attachment.php...1&d=1360529468
http://videokarma.org/attachment.php...1&d=1360529468
http://videokarma.org/attachment.php...1&d=1360529468

The power supplies look pretty good in the LG players. I have yet to get one with bulging caps. No problems on the PSU's. :)

UPDATE: Gave the spindle motor my "treatment" and it is working again. Must be the lube inside the motor itself not being up to the job!