CED VideoDisc and Player Discussion

[jehomme]

Hi guys.

I have an SJT 400 that is in in really nice cosmetic condition, probably almost never used, but it doesn't work. I've owned it for about 10 years, and I'm pretty sure it was working back when I first got it, but the belt broke. It didn't turn to goo, it had just dried out and had broken into pieces. I wasn't really playing my CEDs, so I let the unit sit unused for years before I finally got around to replacing the belt and then found out it was no longer working. Not sure what happened there..

I'm currently in the process of fixing some of my defective vintage equipment, so I've been troubleshooting and trying all kinds of things all day now, but can't seem to find out what's wrong with this thing.

Here's what I do know:

The unit powers up, but it doesn't open the disc door or do anything. The display shows a flashing 'L'. I know the loading motor is ok, the belt is ok, but there is no voltage present when there should be, so nothing is happening.

If I turn the gears manually I can get the door to open, I can insert a caddy, release the disc, and get the caddy back out, leaving the disc inside, and it will drop to the platter. But nothing more happens.

If I turn the pickup carriage movement gears with the unit powered up, there is some resistance there so I'm not able to move the carriage. If I turn the unit off, I can move the carriage all the way in, but when I turn the unit back on, the carriage will just move all the way back out and stop. Nothing more happens.

If I mess around with the gears with no disc inside, the platter will occasionally start juddering slightly back and forth.

I have 2 donor machines, one 400 and one 300, both with different problems that make them less interesting to try to fix, but hopefully I can get this cherry 400 up and running with some help from my donor machines and maybe some help from you guys. But I don't really know where to start..

Like I mentioned earlier, there doesn't seem to be any voltage present at the loading motor, so that would probably be a good place to start. But I do know the motor is ok.

Any suggestions?

I can add that this is a very late unit, manufactured in March 1984. All my other players are from mid 1983

[Daxi Don]

We can probably help you with this electronic problem. Do you have the Service Manual for the sj400 player ? Don

[SelectaVision420]

i have a j-400 service manual if there is any way i can help Don

i have been reading this topic a few times now and im still thinking lol
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[jehomme]

[Daxi Don]

John. Send me an e-mail message at : cedatum@ccrtc.com and then I can give you detailed info on what to try. Don