How to Replace a CD32 Laser

[Charlie]

Part One

You love your CD32, you want to use it forever, but...
...The Laser isn't going to last forever.
...The standard Laser struggles reading those nice CD-R compilations.

Let's replace it with a newer / better one!

List of ingredients:
-A CD32
-A Soldering iron
-Some Screwdrivers (jeweller's too)
-Needle-nosed Pliers
oh, and:
-A shiny new CD Laser - Known-working model number: KSS-210ARP

Time for some piccies.

The Laser:

On the left is the box, on the right is KG's
Uncle modelling the laser itself.

Notice the 'zit'..?
It's a close-up of the 'antistatic lock'. From the factory these pads are linked by a blob of solder - officially the idea is to protect the sensitive electronics from jolts...
...My belief is it's an evil plot to cause Charlie much confusion.

-Remove the solder blob so the pads are separated as in the photo above-
-For God's sake make sure you earth yourself & don't touch the lens-

The CD32:

-Remove all the screws from the underside-

-KG's Uncle says don't forget to remove the expansion port plate-

The Guts:

-Open by hinging to the left-
-You don't want to strain the highlighted connectors-
-Carefully unplug said connectors-

-You'll notice the RF-Shielding in mine has already gone*-

The Mechanism:

-A bit more explanation required here-

Left image:
Unscrew the whole thing from the lid. This is done by the four small screws - Grey arrow. Leave the big ones alone! - Red arrow.
Right image:
(1) Turning it over, unscrew the metal shield, x3 screws.
(2) Remove the white plastic cog by squeezing it's end (a-hem).
(3) Spread the legs (oo-er) highlighted and using a pair of needle-nosed pliers slide the metal shaft between them. (fnar-fnar)
You should then be able to remove the old laser from the CD mechanism once you've undone the two plugs attached to it.

The Old Laser:

-I can see clearly now-

As the man says, 'Reassembly is the reverse of disassembly...'

End of part one...

*Charlie says 'Miaw, meeow, mioew, mew, brrreow, miaow...'

[Charlie]

Part Two

Ta-Da!:

-It Lives!-

So, everything in the garden is lovely..? Don't tell me you were daft enough the screw it all back together... ...oh-dear.
You see, you'll be lucky if at this point all is working properly without adjustment. If nothing else you will likely need to do some tweaks to the mechanism to get the trickier CD-R's to work well - from my POV the reason I did this mod...

The Adjusters:

-On the end of the CD Mechanism-

Now, I thought about plagiarising Ian Stedman's
CD32 Laser Adjustment Guide...
...but I'm too lazy.

So here's a link:

Ian Stedman's CD32 Laser Adjustment Guide

That should just about do it.*

End of part two...

*Charlie says 'Miaw, meeow, mioew, mew, brrreow, miaow...'

[Dizzy]

Nice job Charlie

next the CDTV

[TheCorfiot]

Nice One Charlie

And of course thanks for the pr0n

TC

[Zetr0]

Awesome!

I just LOVE "HOW TO"'s !!!!!!!

[Dizzy]

Originally Posted by Zetr0

Awesome!

I just LOVE "HOW TO"'s !!!!!!!

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?p=449015#post449015

[Charlie]

Thanks for the kind words...

...without JonSick's research onto compatible lasers & Ian Steadman's guide to adjusting said laser I'd have been pretty stuffed - My thanks in turn to them.

P.S.
So, is anyone interested in giving me a CDTV to update..?

[JACK98]

great guide.always wondered could you replace the laser with off the shelf parts.how long does the laser last in the cd32 anyway? (my 32 reads cdrs no problem)

[FOL]

Originally Posted by JACK98

great guide,always wondered could you replace the laser with off the shelf parts,how long does the laser last in the cd32 anyway? (my 32 reads cdrs no problem)

Sony KSS lasers are very reliable. In my job, I have found 95% of laser faults are due to dust build up on the lens.

Yes you can get the lasers "off the shelf", but they are going to become rare, as sony dumped the mechanism about 5 years ago.

This is 1 company we deal with, http://www.chsinteractive.co.uk/sear...l?query=KSS210 , We obviously get them cheaper when logged into site.
Another is farnell, http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/displayPr...UK-CPC-GEN-SKU , thats about the average price, but with farnell you need to spend £50 for free shipping.

Oh, heres a tip, stay well away from KSN versions of these lasers. Alot of the spares dealers, got these in 1 year and they cost like £3 each trade. Every 1 we fitted went faulty within a few hours.

I also seriously DONT advice messing with the bios, tracking, focus pots on the main board. If its not reading disc's, its the laser that needs cleaning, boosting (via pot on back of laser) or replacing.

[humble worm]

Originally Posted by Charlie

-A shiny new CD Laser - Known-working model number: KSS-210ARP

I thought that it cant be replaced
thank you for opening my eyes, Charlie

[Paul_s]

Originally Posted by FOL

In my job, I have found 95% of laser faults are due to dust build up on the lens.

You just saved me £180 with that sentence

My Teac CD player was skipping like a kangaroo for the last few weeks badly, decided to open her up tonight and swab the lens with a damp cotton bud. Works like new now... and there I was ready to throw her out (£200 worth) and just buy a new one

I had tried those CD cleaning lens cleaners - big load of crap that was!

[taunusanden]

Originally Posted by Paul_s

I had tried those CD cleaning lens cleaners - big load of crap that was!

You are right about that!

KSS-210ARP
Can I buy this from aswo?
I can't seem to find it in theis web shop.
At my work, we buy a lot frem them, I hope they sell this.
It would sure be a good thing to have, if/when my CD32 need it.

I'm an electronic technician, but have never changed/bought a cd-laser
Cleaned a lot of lasers with isopropyl alcohol though.

[FOL]

Originally Posted by taunusanden

You are right about that!

KSS-210ARP
Can I buy this from aswo?
I can't seem to find it in theis web shop.
At my work, we buy a lot frem them, I hope they sell this.
It would sure be a good thing to have, if/when my CD32 need it.

I'm an electronic technician, but have never changed/bought a cd-laser
Cleaned a lot of lasers with isopropyl alcohol though.

Enter the Charles Hyde part no: into aswo's site. If it gives a result, then yes they do.

If not, then no.

[FOL]

Originally Posted by Paul_s

You just saved me £180 with that sentence

My Teac CD player was skipping like a kangaroo for the last few weeks badly, decided to open her up tonight and swab the lens with a damp cotton bud. Works like new now... and there I was ready to throw her out (£200 worth) and just buy a new one

I had tried those CD cleaning lens cleaners - big load of crap that was!

CD lens cleaners only work if they are used regularly and they are the 1's with 2 brushes and IPA (Fluid). So it wets and drys the lens as it spins.

People normally try cleaners once their equipment plays up, its to late then. The build up of dust is to great.

[taunusanden]

Charles Hyde part no:

I can't seem to find any cd-lasers at their web-shop..
Pick-ups for record players and a lot of replacement components for tv, car hifi etc..

[OddbOd]

I assume FOL means to get the part number from Charles Hyde Interactive and use that to search ASWO's shop.

[AmigaFriend]

Very nice tutorial Charlie. There is hope after all for our beloved CD32

[FOL]

Originally Posted by OddbOd

I assume FOL means to get the part number from Charles Hyde Interactive and use that to search ASWO's shop.

Spot on,

Try this; https://ishop.aswo.com/aswoShop/api/...rform%3A_idcl=

Only thing is, it list its as a philips part, thats incorrect.

Scratch that, Aswo is quoting a philips laser. So no they dont sell em.

[taunusanden]

Too bad for me.
Good thing that I have an extra CD32

I did not know what charles hyde was, sorry.
I feel a bit stupid right now

[FOL]

Originally Posted by taunusanden

I did not know what charles hyde was, sorry.
I feel a bit stupid right now

Dont feel stupid, was my fault, got so used to calling them charles hyde. I should have explained better.

You could try phoning aswo, they might sell them and it may be a mistake on their site.