Beogram CD-50 restoration

18 replies

Hello fellow beo lovers. I am finally getting around to tackling this cd-50. I completed the BM 5000 months ago and have been enjoying its tuner and streaming from phone. The cd-50 powered up but the cd tray didn't function properly. I completely disassembled the unit to its chassis and received a new belt and also replaced all caps. The caps I used were all nichicons (PW,KT,FG & KS series) and some of my selections were based on guessing which type to use lol. I've read a few threads from this forum on working on this unit (thanks...big help!). Cant remember all you guys names but im sure you know who you are. I performed the cd drive motor tear down/clean/lube. Not easy but again having the forum thread to consult helped. All pc boards were washed in iso alchohol then followed up with mean green then rinse. The former owner smoked so almost every part was washed. I do have a bunch of pictures that I uploaded from my phone to photobucket so after this post I will try and post them....boring thread w/o pics lol.

So this is were I'm at. Late last night I powered the cd-50 up and the tray opened without a hitch. Loaded cd upside down then pressed drawer.  The tray closed and cd attatched to spindle but nothing else happened. Started to panic! I repeated the load step and bingo..the cd started spinning.  forgot to mention that I didn't have the outputs connected to a receiver at this point. so the cd was spinning but then the motor stared to slow down. Took motor apart and loosened the brass pressure ring. Bingo running smooth. Wired rca's to rotel stereo and beautiful music played!

Now here is the problem...every cd I've played/tried will start skipping every so often. Some more than others. Some of these cd's have almost no scratches. So were do I go from here?? thanks

here it is after cover removed for first time. Think I got the picture upload thing working![View:http://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/themes/hawaii/utility/link:800:0]

I disassembled almost the entire unit. Then I had to find space to store and keep up with all the parts.[View:http://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/themes/hawaii/utility/link:800:0]

Back to the skipping/repeating issue...while listening to cd I could hear the music speeding up. It then started repeating/skipping again. I put my finger against the carrier motor to slow it down...seemed to help. I will tighten up the brass ring on carrier motor in the morning to see if that helps.

Don Oser wrote:
I will tighten up the brass ring on carrier motor in the morning to see if that helps.

By all means, don't do that!

 

Thanks for the reply chartz but can you please elaborate? I thought that disc motor had to have correct spacing on that brass ring. I know I had it too tight the first time after cleaning. 

Did you bring back the nylon and copper washers back in the right place, check my thread here

Location: Mexico city

Retired
Printing machine technician
Restored various 1960-70 items
Rock and Roll music
Collecting Vinyl
Restored Jukebox Wurlitzer 1050

Thanks for your thread Soren Mexico. I did refer to it a lot.  My unit had two clear washers lower and one brass washer on top. I thought it was just one clear washer until it separated into two separate pieces. Here is what confused me upon reassembly of the motor. The measurement I took before removing the 1.3mm screw was 51/2 mm. The brass cd pickup assembly fell between 5 & 6 mm.  After reassembly I couldn't get it back to that measurement. Final measurement was barely 5mm? Just got done testing the player since readjusting the brass ring a tad tighter and I thought all was good until the dreaded skip. Now I'm wondering if the worm gear plate movement motor needs attention....cleaning? 

So I was referring to the wrong motors. The disc drive motor is what I pulled apart with the washers. I decided to remove the carrier motor and clean it. I did the same procedure with load motor by soaking in isopropyl alcohol for several hours then lightly lubing it. Made a huge difference running it from a power supply. Sounded smoother after. So the carrier motor is soaking all by itself at the moment. I'm hoping there was problems with it moving the lazer tray correctly and that a good cleaning will help. I will test the carrier motor with 5v from a old computer power supply. I did run it earlier before the soak. 

I've got some GREAT news.....played 16 min from Rush 2112 cd with no issues! Just loaded a. 2nd cd and it's running fine. I am so nervous sitting here waiting for it to mess up. I am REALLY impressed by the sound from this CD player.  

So what I did earlier was remove the carrier motor assembly. Removed motor and unsoldered of board. Soaked motor in a small cup of isopropyl alcohol. Shook the cup a little and worked the shaft by hand. Blew out motor with air comp then lubed the shaft near bushing with synthetic RC bearing oil. Then removed the two plastic gears and washed the assembly in mean green then rinsed. I buffed the two gear shafts then lubed with silicon spray. Assembled the carrier motor to the mechanism then used white lithium grease on the plastic gears. Oh it's 3 songs into the 2nd cd right now! Never made it this far w/out skipping. I did find residue in bottom of cup I used to soak the motor. Pics to follow. 

Good job!

The bearings in both motors are sintered bronze.
The oil sits inside the bronze material, - it's pressed in using heat and vacuum.
Adding oil to the "outside" of the material won't work for very long and if you don't use
oil with the right additives, it will only work today and perhaps tomorrow.

Martin

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