Gamecube (permanent) fix

[Shadow-R]

Terve!

I have an addiction for a certain console - the NGC.

I had is since a decade or so, but it started to fail more and more, because the electric motor of the disk did not speed up anymore.

I took the thing apart (with the guide of iFixit) and lubed the engine. I also blew off the dust and pulled the hairs out of the spinning parts.

Now the engine spins again, but the games do not get recognized. Has someone an idea what I could do about it?

Clean the lens? Get the lube out of the engine? get an other cube?

Thanks for helping already.

Sayonara!
 

[EarthboundHero]

Lens cleaning on a Gamecube is easy, do that if you haven't.

[The Toaster]

I did the same with my PS2. If the way they read discs are the same.. Did you touch the lens?

[Tro]

Sounds like a lens problem, Try moving the lens around a bit and make sure it's clean.

[Shadow-R]

Terve!
I'll do the replys in one post.

Lens cleaning on a Gamecube is easy, do that if you haven't.

I will, do you recommend Isopropyl alcohol and microfiber cloth?

I do not want to kill the lens.

 

I did the same with my PS2. If the way they read discs are the same.. Did you touch the lens?

 

No, I have not touched it directly. When I was putting lube on the engine I might have pressed it to the desk though.

 

Sounds like a lens problem, Try moving the lens around a bit and make sure it's clean.

 

I'll do. i know that the lens is not at the same spot as I started the disasembly.

Thank you all for the help, have a nice weekend.

Sayonara!

[watts300]

Maybe your engine needs moar horsepower.  Have you tried a turbo or dual exhaust? 

[RuecanOnRails]

Disassemble it again, ensure all ribbon cables are securely connected, and check that the gears are clear from debris and can effortlessly move the laser assembly (grease the slide rails as well.)

It's likely a connection issue with a cable not seated properly, something is blocking clean movement of the optical laser/alignment, or the lens has become physically damaged.

Clean the lens with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab by gently rolling it across the surface applying as little pressure as possible.

 

If the issues aren't from cables or physical damage/alignment changes you can try to incrementally increase the lasers voltage to reduce read errors if a weak laser is the issue (risks permanent damage if adjusted too much.) On the back side of the laser assembly is a pot (potentiometer) which can be used to increase or decrease resistance by slightly turning it.

[Shadow-R]

Maybe your engine needs moar horsepower.  Have you tried a turbo or dual exhaust? 

 

Terve!

Well, I work on a brand called Volkswagen. They have Turbo and supercharged engines.

The first five years the engine died with the oil after about 30 000km.

But tell me: What has a dual exhaust to do with the horsepower?

 

 

Disassemble it again, ensure all ribbon cables are securely connected, and check that the gears are clear from debris and can effortlessly move the laser assembly (grease the slide rails as well.)

It's likely a connection issue with a cable not seated properly, something is blocking clean movement of the optical laser/alignment, or the lens has become physically damaged.

Clean the lens with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab by gently rolling it across the surface applying as little pressure as possible.

 

If the issues aren't from cables or physical damage/alignment changes you can try to incrementally increase the lasers voltage to reduce read errors if a weak laser is the issue (risks permanent damage if adjusted too much.) On the back side of the laser assembly is a pot (potentiometer) which can be used to increase or decrease resistance by slightly turning it.

 

I will do that then. I hope that I did not kill that poor little lens. It's a defininte possibility though.

Oh, and I have of course put some finishline extreme fluoro greese (the stuff for air plains and mechanical keyboards) at the rails of the sensor.

Thank you for the help.

Sayonara!

[Shadow-R]

Terve!
I have cleaned the lens and rechecked all the cables. Unfortuately the cables were not the issue and the cleaning of the lens did not make a difference eighter.

I assume that the potentiometer is under the "don't mess with it torx screws"?

I'll try to turn it a little bit on both sides (should I find no label) and if there is no success, I'll try to put in a new one.

http://www.amazon.com/Optical-Replacement-Repair-Nintendo-GameCube/dp/B00IP8C2AK

Do you think that lens would just fit, or are there different types of lenses?

Thank you all again so far.

Sayonara!