CED VideoDisc and Player Discussion

as007 · Joined: 30 Aug 2015 Posts: 5

Hi

I have just got hold of a GEC V5000H player which isn't working. I'm new to this format and have only just come across this forum and registered with a hope that someone can help me.

I plugged it in and nothing happens and no lights appear (is this supposed to happen?) but when I insert a disc all the lights come on. I take the cartridge out and I can hear a kind of whirling, mechanical noise but no what button I press nothing happens. There is a red light which appears to be in the standby position.

I have tried pressing play, forward and reverse but nothing happens other than this noise. If I press reset then the disc tried to come up but stops half way and I cannot put the cartridge back in to take the disc out.

I unscrewed the case and then switch it on to see if I can work out what happening. I have noticed that the stylus bit is just in the same position and hasn't moved. If I nudge the cartridge slot slightly then I can get the disc to move up fully so that I can insert the cartridge and take the disc out.

From what I have described is there anyone that could please help me figure out how to fix this? Could it be belts and if so where in the UK can I get these? Is there a service manual available anywhere? Does anyone repair these players?

Please can anyone help?

Thanks

SelectaVision420 · Joined: 25 Mar 2012 Posts: 1204 Location: Hartford

sounds like the belts went bad. these players are known for poor turntable belt design as well, and there is a mod to fix the belt falling off, but its hard to get... the drive pulley for the turntable belt needs to have a groove cut into it so a round belt can ride in the groove instead of a flat belt.
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as007 · Joined: 30 Aug 2015 Posts: 5

SelectaVision420 · Joined: 25 Mar 2012 Posts: 1204 Location: Hartford

sadly this is the best i can do for you

http://www.cedmagic.com/tech-info/belt-replacement-guide/belt-specs.html#toshiba-belt-note

also i realized i made an error, i misread what you wrote, because im so used to hearing about american players, you actually have a direct drive turn table, but the loading mech is belt driven.

sorry about that! the toshiba style players with the belt drive turntable is different than your model, was thinking elmo VEC, not hitachi GEC lol!
_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

as007 · Joined: 30 Aug 2015 Posts: 5

Thank you once again for your help. Yes mine is a UK player. I have taken the lid off the player to see whats happening. The I put the cartridge in and then take it out and then the disc lowers and a motor noise is heard but nothing else. The arm doesnt move at all and none of the buttons do anything. If I press the reset button then the disc tray goes up but not fully so I then pull it all the way up with my finger so that I can take the disc out.

I have uploaded some images so hope they help

None of the belts look broken but not sure if they are worn out (how do you know if they are?). From what I can see the orange coloured belt is what moves the arm and the belt has some white marks on it which might be mould. If the belts are ok then could it be the gears? I can't figure out what makes the arm move and I'm just thinking if perhaps the problem lies there somewhere.

I did a quick look on ebay.com to see if I can find any US sellers for belts. I have found some belts that match the codes which are on the link you mentioned but the ones I found didn't say they were particularly for CED players but the codes matched. Would they still work?

Thanks

cedwaechter · Joined: 10 Dec 2012 Posts: 41

The orange belt is very seldom the problem from what I have found in tearing Sears players apart. I would try replacing the other to belts since they are more than likely stretched out. Do you have a stylus in the machine? The model you have is a later Hitachi clone. There are an early version and a late version. The one you have is much lighter and a 1st generation and operates more simply. Stylus first, belts second (orange one is more than likely ok) The while marks on the belt are for where it attaches to the piece that pulls across the rod it is on. That one controls fast forward, reverse, etc. The smaller belt back there controls the timing of the stylus on the disc. The third belt up on the front side by the turntable controls the loading up the disc up and down. Player won't turn on until you insert a disc. Thirdly, there is an optical sensor facing downward that has a small black metal angle that moves across it. It is slotted and controls disc advance and where the disc ends and the stylus arm returns. This optical sensor has to be aligned so it can "see" thru that small black angle. That is where nearly every problem I have had with Hitachi close players have been. When you order belts, order them for the later version. There is a difference between one of them. Hope this helps.

SelectaVision420 · Joined: 25 Mar 2012 Posts: 1204 Location: Hartford

if possible, i would run a vacuum cleaner over the chassis real quick, those dusty bits will fly around when the turntable spins up and it might get caught in the stylus
_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

as007 · Joined: 30 Aug 2015 Posts: 5

Thanks for the advice. I've vacuumed as best as I can but its still not working. Any suggestions on what could be stopping the arm from moving? O have seen a video of these players on YouTube and it shows that when the disc is inserted the light moves from standby to 0 but mine is just staying on standby.

Is it possible to replace the belts with elastic bands on similar size just to test if the belts are the problem? How do you replace the belt under the stylus arm? I can't lift it fully to get to the belt

Thanks

SelectaVision420 · Joined: 25 Mar 2012 Posts: 1204 Location: Hartford

an elastic band will work, but its not a recommended replacement, the disc has to go down before the arm will go to zero. so you have to replace the load belt to get the disc to load and then the arm should move forward. should.
_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

as007 · Joined: 30 Aug 2015 Posts: 5

Thanks for your help. I will try and find some elastic bands to try replacing the belts. Is the load belt the one which is attached to a motor that turns a white cog which makes the disc tray go up and down? When i put the disc in the tray does go down and i see the disc resting on what looks like a turntable platter but it doesnt spin and the arm is at standby. Is the this supposed to spin before the arm moves or does the arm move to 0 first and then it spins? Are there any indicators to know that the disc has gone down fully?

Sorry to ask so many questions but I really am new to all this but am keen to learn and get it working because it is a really interesting format. I'm really into vinyl music and to think that what looks like vinyl can also be used to play video is quite astonishing!

Thanks