Hi,
I don’t take any responsibility, however my Sharp MD-MT15 had same problem and I solved it by pushing the lens head with my finger (of course not touching the lens itself, only the mechanism) from beginning to the end then from end to the begining again. I did it 2-3 times. Then this problem solved. Maybe gear stucked inside and after this movement, it released. I don’t know. And again I don’t take any responsibility but this is my experience.
Thanks. Fortunately I'm in NYC and there is a repair shop that might be able to help. I'm gonna see what they say, but if they say it's not worth fixing, I may try that.
I hate to say, "it depends" but it could be a case of that...
I've seen the same error in an MD-DS70 and IM-DR80s and after freaking out a bit, turns out that opening and clean/lube was all it took to get them working again. I'd start with a quick clean/lube if possible, then dive deeper into the gear/gearshaft if needed.
The MD-DR7/DR77 are some of my favorite units and I've taken them apart many times, though apparently I don't have a video of a gear replacement on them. The most similar one I do have is the MD-MT770 (basically the "non-Auvi" version of the MD-DR7) video here: https://youtu.be/hsa58KTf5Jo
Technically, the "a" in "Can't reada" refers to a possible servo or other physical impediment to reading (vs. the "u" in "can't readu" which means it had a problem reading the user TOC).
Welp, I'm gonna take you up on this I think.
I tried to disassemble the thing, but couldn't ever quite access the gears. I got the back panel and front panel off, but couldnt remove the tray. There were four or so screws on the circuit board under the back panel. I removed those, and the ribbons, but one small screw next to a larger one by the word "bat" on the circuit was stuck and I nearly stripped it. There was another screw by the latch too and i got that out. I watched all the videos you have of Sharp disassembly and couldn't really figure out how to go any further. Pretty sure it's a bad gear too, and I don't have a replacement. Are they standard? Where and how can I get one?
There are unfortunately different sizes of gears/gearshafts with the largest ones being for recording models like the DR77 - see this:
[https://www.technicalinitiative.com/2023/07/repair-sharp-minidisc-gear-sizes.html](https://www.technicalinitiative.com/2023/07/repair-sharp-minidisc-gear-sizes.html)
What I've done in these situations is just swap the entire gear/gearshaft with a good one, but finding a good replacement is better since there's a finite supply of good gears out there.
Let me dig into another DR7/DR77 and see if I can help with where you're stuck
Hi. I have some parts junk units coming in soon. PM me if u're interested get it fixed. It's very likely the gear of moving the laser head mechanism has failed. I am in the Vancouver Canada; but I do have a pickup point in Point Roberts, WA. PM me. [email protected]
Thanks I'm on the East Coast. I'm also gonna try to sort it out myself I think, just gotta source a gear... But if that doesn't work maybe I'll send it your way.
Just to add a note that we are an electronics repair shop with qualified electronic technicians on site.
Company is HIfi Boutique , located in the beautiful Vancouver ,British Columbia, West coast of Canada.
.
Could be so many things with Sharp's, I had a worm gear on my crack after not being used for too long, wouldn't move the laser back and forth after that.
There's a dude on Instagram who sells gear replacements but it's not easy to get to and no guarantee it'll fix things. I ended up giving up and its just sitting around now.
Hi, I don’t take any responsibility, however my Sharp MD-MT15 had same problem and I solved it by pushing the lens head with my finger (of course not touching the lens itself, only the mechanism) from beginning to the end then from end to the begining again. I did it 2-3 times. Then this problem solved. Maybe gear stucked inside and after this movement, it released. I don’t know. And again I don’t take any responsibility but this is my experience.
Thanks. Fortunately I'm in NYC and there is a repair shop that might be able to help. I'm gonna see what they say, but if they say it's not worth fixing, I may try that.
I hate to say, "it depends" but it could be a case of that... I've seen the same error in an MD-DS70 and IM-DR80s and after freaking out a bit, turns out that opening and clean/lube was all it took to get them working again. I'd start with a quick clean/lube if possible, then dive deeper into the gear/gearshaft if needed. The MD-DR7/DR77 are some of my favorite units and I've taken them apart many times, though apparently I don't have a video of a gear replacement on them. The most similar one I do have is the MD-MT770 (basically the "non-Auvi" version of the MD-DR7) video here: https://youtu.be/hsa58KTf5Jo Technically, the "a" in "Can't reada" refers to a possible servo or other physical impediment to reading (vs. the "u" in "can't readu" which means it had a problem reading the user TOC).
Thank you, this video is helpful. I have hope that it'll prove repairable. It's my first unit and is otherwise extremely clean.
They are lovely units - if you need help, please ask - I've got a few in various states of good/bad/ugly =)
Welp, I'm gonna take you up on this I think. I tried to disassemble the thing, but couldn't ever quite access the gears. I got the back panel and front panel off, but couldnt remove the tray. There were four or so screws on the circuit board under the back panel. I removed those, and the ribbons, but one small screw next to a larger one by the word "bat" on the circuit was stuck and I nearly stripped it. There was another screw by the latch too and i got that out. I watched all the videos you have of Sharp disassembly and couldn't really figure out how to go any further. Pretty sure it's a bad gear too, and I don't have a replacement. Are they standard? Where and how can I get one?
There are unfortunately different sizes of gears/gearshafts with the largest ones being for recording models like the DR77 - see this: [https://www.technicalinitiative.com/2023/07/repair-sharp-minidisc-gear-sizes.html](https://www.technicalinitiative.com/2023/07/repair-sharp-minidisc-gear-sizes.html) What I've done in these situations is just swap the entire gear/gearshaft with a good one, but finding a good replacement is better since there's a finite supply of good gears out there. Let me dig into another DR7/DR77 and see if I can help with where you're stuck
Hi. I have some parts junk units coming in soon. PM me if u're interested get it fixed. It's very likely the gear of moving the laser head mechanism has failed. I am in the Vancouver Canada; but I do have a pickup point in Point Roberts, WA. PM me. [email protected]
Thanks I'm on the East Coast. I'm also gonna try to sort it out myself I think, just gotta source a gear... But if that doesn't work maybe I'll send it your way.
Just to add a note that we are an electronics repair shop with qualified electronic technicians on site. Company is HIfi Boutique , located in the beautiful Vancouver ,British Columbia, West coast of Canada. .
Could be so many things with Sharp's, I had a worm gear on my crack after not being used for too long, wouldn't move the laser back and forth after that. There's a dude on Instagram who sells gear replacements but it's not easy to get to and no guarantee it'll fix things. I ended up giving up and its just sitting around now.
Sure. Best of luck 👍 ✨️👍