OMG, I don't ****ing believe it!

Many swearwords have issued forth.

First indication that something was wrong was that my RCD-991 skipped a few times on a bob dylan CD. I thought little of it, thinking that perhaps the laser rail needed lubing again.

Then, later I put a Nitin Sawhney CD in. Told the player to skip to track 9. Click. Click click click. Click. etc. No go

No go with any CD beyond the first few tracks, and even then it wouldn't track skip. Off with the lid.

No immediately obvious problem, so I put a disc in to see where the problem might lie. Fairly quickly I had my answer. There was something wrong with the laser tracking mechanism.

Hmm, what are these bits of white stuff? They're the teeth off the nylon cog that runs the laser along its rail.

This is terminal I fear.

 

I had a similar problem with an old cd player. You need to contact rotels service department to get the replacement part.

I carefully dismantled the cd transport noting where everything went, until i got to the faulty gear. Placed the new gear in with a dab of the correct electrical oil. Fitted everything back and everything worked fine.

 

Youch!

First thing to do is to check if it's under warranty. If so contact dealer/rotel first and have a word. Even if it's not this may be the best way to go about fixing, or just ordering replacent parts.

If you do go for the fix it yourself route, as Mandeep says, make sure you note where everything goes. Chances are you'll get half way through it and something will pop up causing you to leave it for a while. Only to return and find you've got a few extras after reassembling it

 

MO!'s right - I find digital photos a help for this kind of work.

 

Iassc, take a trip into Cheltenham, and see 'Tony' at Sevenoaks, he has a large box of Rotel bits upstairs, he maybe be able to help you. WM

 

Tony is on holiday.

I've taken the transport out and looked at it and it seems almost impossible to get into it at all. I think it might be easiest to try and get an entirely new transport mechanism, as it is a fairly generic sony one.

 

Do you suspect that this is a genetic disorder doctor?

 

Nightmare !

I never was a big fan of the transport/drawer setup on the 991 (especially for the cost). It was one of the things that put me off buying it.

Shame though as it's a pretty decent player and you've just sorted your rack out.

The joys of hifi .

 

Dino - I sent you an email about it. It's when the transport makes that uncomfortable "clonk" noise that it did once at the bake-off, and I remarked that mine did the same. That's pretty much all mine will do now.

 

thought so - wonder if there are any preventative measures which could be employed while mine is still functioning. It has only made that noise very occasionally. Might whip the lid off - see what the state of this cog is - would have thought that was easily replaceable?

 

If the teeth on the cog on your one are OK, maybe you can put it in upside down so that it gets worn evenly?

Isaak - what a bummer dude - sympathies here

 

It may be possible to swap it with Mr Birkett for his rotel! MOst of what he listens to is "clonk", so if it's possible to get a few rhytmic clonks out of it he may be interested!

BIG CLONK little clonk bangin' man!!!

 

£104 for new transport.

 

Is that including fitting or do you have to fit it yourself?

 

That is fitting it myself.