Problems with Motorized Disc Tray of Panasonic 3DO FZ-1

[EmperorIng]

Any 3DO/hardware experts out there?

I recently was able to pick up a Panasonic 3DO FZ-1* for cheap. Since the hardware is interesting, and it wasn't a big expenditure, I decided to go with it. Nonetheless, we're not here to decide whether or not that was a good use of my time or money!

I was able to test the game disc that came bundled with the thing and it appears that the laser is reading discs without problems (I haven't tried backups on it yet).

However, the motorized tray is very touchy. When I eject the tray, sometimes it wants to immediately snap back in. Sometimes when I begin to lay the disc onto the tray, it begins to automatically close due to the lightest touch. Sometimes I have had to physically hold the tray in place to prevent it from closing shut.

Now this does not seem to be a problem with random ejecting the disc: it's only with the opening/closing function of the 3DO.

Does anyone have an idea of what to check or look out for? Ideally, has someone had experience with this issue? I have read that the CD tray issues might be related to disconnected ribbons or limit switches, but I don't know what the latter looks like. Maybe some type of oil for the gears as well?

Given the fact that the machine seems to work despite this error, I hope this can be a simple mechanical fix and I be left with a normal and fully-functioning machine.

*per board rules, there *are* shooters for it! They're just either rail shooters or FMV shooters Oh, and the fixed vertical shooter game in Flopon World!

[CkRtech]

Hey there, EmperorIng.

Congrats on your 3DO!

I would recommend you not hold the tray in place to prevent it from closing. I know that you want to put a game into it, but it is best to figure out what is causing it to want to shut rather than risk breaking something else.

You can remove the screws from the bottom and lift the top off the unit. It comes off and the drive stays in. From there, you can remove the metal shield from the top of the drive and see the tray. This will allow you to check the tray travel. I believe the eject mechanism runs on a belt system on the underside of the front of the drive. If that belt is slipping or causing problems, that could be causing it to want to shut. Also, if the tray is at an off angle - doesn't line up well with the track/gears - or has any foreign particles blocking the travel, that may also cause it to be a bit fussy.

Apologies that my hands-on experience inside an FZ-1 doesn't include working with the CD unit directly (knock on wood), so I don't have a lot of firsthand knowledge to share in that area. Dive it. It is roomy and bulky.

I wouldn't be surprised if a previous owner liked to shut the tray by pushing on it instead of using eject to close it.

[EmperorIng]

Thank you for the advice! I will try over the next few days to remove the shell and examine the cd tray for the belt or obstruction on the gears/path itself (and likely take some pictures while I am at it. Hopefully the belt does not need to be replaced, as I wouldn't know where to look (unless it is as simple as a sturdy rubber-band). I imagine some slight misalignment is also at play based off of some rudimentary observations of the tray traveling out of the FZ-1 unit.

At the least the discs work! I was having a great deal of fun with Shockwave last night, but that's for another topic.

I likewise suspect that the previous owner was not as anal about console protection as I am. Though that being said, you noted how "roomy and bulky" the console is. The 3DO FZ-1 is definitely built like a fortress. It even puts the Saturn to shame, which I considered built somewhat like a muscle truck!

[Hoagtech]

This basic tear down should help:

http://diyparadise.com/cd46/cd46repair.html

I especially like the part near the bottom of page that instructs you to use "lithium grease" on the rotors (plastic cogs).

Those are usually the obstruction imo

[neorichieb1971]

Last time I plugged mine in it seemed to vibrate when the disc was spinning. Is this a motor issue on the CD drive or something? I think I bought it September 94 so its getting old. Technically speaking all works fine but I would hazard a guess that vibrating isn't going to go away by itself.

[mvsfan]

It sounds like your limit switches are worn out or bent and not telling the tray to stay open.

they might be pushbuttons, but

If it anything like sega cd model 1, they are leaf switches. bend them back to where they should be and it will work again. you can also try (Carefully. they break easy.) pulling the clear plastic piece off of the switch and cleaning the contacts, sometimes that works too.

btw, An FZ-1 is the next system i was planning on buying. good find.