RCA Selectavision VideoDisc

System Repair Procedures & Disc Cleaning

Do you have an RCA Player that wants to work but simply won't after years of being in storage?  How about videodisc movies that are problematic by skipping large portions of certain spots?  Well, this guide will take you step-by-step some procedures that you can perform at your own home, in your own spare time, to eliminate some or all of these problems. 

The players if not played for long periods of time can wear out prematurely because the parts in them depend on being used to stay functional.  ALL videodisc players (or CED Players) have belts in one form or another.  Most will dry rot from age while others will turn into goop. 

The J/K line of players, like the one pictured, have only one belt.  It has these responsibilities:

• Opens/Closes the Loading Bay Door
• Loads/Unloads VideoDiscs
• Raises/Lowers the disc from turntable

As you can see, this belt is responsible for the entire major functions of a J/K line player.

The F/G line of players are belt-driven meaning the turntable, tracking control and automatic loading mechanism (SGT-250 ONLY) are controlled by individual belts.  All F/G model players have 2 belts with the SGT-250 having a third belt for the automatic loading mechanism.   

(This is a SGT-200 belt-driven unit.  All F/G model will look similar to this design except the SGT-250 which is auto loading and will NOT have the function control on the right-side of player.)

The reason I tell you about the belts before beginning any repair procedures is so you will know what is involved.  You don't have to be a rocket scientist to perform these steps...just some patients and spare time.  Also...be sure to have any discs in the player removed and the player unplugged prior to taking the top off.

Let's start by cleaning the belts!

For F/G Players

• Remove the 3 philips-head screws at the back of the player
• Gently turn the player over so the bottom faces you
• Remove the 7 screws on the bottom.  You can a socket set if you have one.
• Turn the player back over
• Switch the player to the LOAD position.  The top is easier to remove with the player in this position.
• To remove the top, begin by lifting the rear portion of the top first.  At about a 45 degree angle, start working the cover towards you until it frees itself.
• Set the top aside out of the way. (Note the schematic/parts diagram labels on the underside of the top.  Use this if you need to find replacement parts.)

For J/K Line Players

• Remove the screw on the rear of the player
• Raise the top from the rear first.
• Simply remove the top.

The F/G line of players (excluding the 250) have only one belt that you can remove easily.  This belt spins the turntable.  To remove it, you will have to feel for the belt under the turntable and work a section of it over the top of the turntable. Once you've done this, you will have to spin the turntable to free the belt, usually one complete turn. NOTE:  The belt that controls the tracking mechanism cannot be removed without completely disassembling the tracking mechanism.  This belt generally doesn't wear out so it is not cleaned in this guide. 

The J/K line of players have only one belt.  It is located on the left-rear side of the player.  You will have to remove the plastic retainer cover to remove the belt.

To refresh these belts, wash them!  Here's how:

• Get the belt wet by running it under hot water (as hot as you can stand it!).
• Apply a small amount of Dawn dish detergent on your hand.
• Place the belt in your hand and in a way that you are almost wearing it like a bracelet.
• Keep a firm, but gentle, grip while you pull on one end of the belt.  You are trying to get the belt to run a path like it would in the player.  This will remove any stuck on dirt and will allow the suds to work into the belt.
• When you've ran the belt a few times in your hands and it is completely suds up (no dry spots), rinse the belt off in hot water again being sure to get all soap off.
• Dry the belt in the same manner you cleaned it, make it run a course.
• Return the belt back to its place in the player in the same manner you took it off.

Now...let's check the stylus cartridge!

The stylus cartridge the most vital part of the player.  It is what retrieves the signal from the disc.  This part also happens to be the most delicate part of the system.  However, the smallest amount of dust or foriegn particle can stick to the diamond tip preventing it from playing a disc.  Here's how you can clean the stylus:

F/G Players

• The cartridge is contained in the pick-up arm assembly.  There is a latched door that can be opened to easily access it.  Using the black lever (or white on some models), release and lift the door.
• The white plastic cartridge you see is the stylus cartridge.  These have a little plastic handle you can use to raise the cartridge out of its home.  Do so now.
• Turn the cartridge over and inspect the tip.
• To clean the tip, use a q-tip and some rubbing alcohol.  Dip one end of the q-tip in the alcohol and gently scrub the tip.
• Dry the tip with the other end of the q-tip.
• Return the cartridge back to its home and close the access door.

J/K Players

These players are a little trickier in retrieving the stylus cartridge as the pick-up arm assembly is tucked away under the front of the player.  You will have to manually move the pick-up arm forward by rotating a gear on the tracking mechanism located on the right-side of the player just next to the turntable.  Move the pick-up arm forward until you can access the stylus housing (you should see the turntable on both sides of the pick-up arm assembly).  The stylus housing door is held in place with a wire retainer instead of a latch like on the F/G players.  Using a small flat-head screwdriver, pry the wire to the left of the player to free the door.  Open the door and retrieve the cartridge.  Follow the steps in the F/G section above to clean the cartridge.  Replace the cartridge when you are done and re-latch the wire retainer.

The stylus cartridge has been cleaned and the belts by now are a little refreshed.  If you wish, connect the player to your TV and check out its operation.  If it works to your satisfaction, you are done!  Replace the top and enjoy!

Adjusting the Turntable Ride Height (J/K Only)

On the J/K line of players, if you hear a loud thud or popping sound only when the turntable is spinning up, then you need to make a small adjustment.  The likely cause of this is the ride height of the turntable and it needs to be reset.  This is not uncommon and occassionally does plague these players.

The sound is coming from a metal arm that raises and lowers the disc from and to the turntable.  When a disc is inserted and the caddy removed, the disc is lowered onto the turntable by a metal rod with a rubber tip.  The rod is supposed to stay under the turntable during playback.  However, the turntable ride height can sometimes drop itself over time and the sound you hear is the rod hitting the 4 slots in the turntable.  If you should ever hear this sound, immediately remove the disc and turn the player off!  You will damage the player and disc!  Here's how to adjust the ride height:

• With any discs removed and the player off, turn the player upside down.
• In the middle of the bottom cover, you should see a big brass nut.  This nut is what adjusts the ride height of the turntable.  It is usually very stubborn to move and will feel like you are going to strip it when you tighten it.  This is normal.
• With a socket set, tighten the nut, a quarter turn at a time.
• Try playing the disc again.  If the sound continues, remove the disc and try again.
• When the sound stops, turn it another eighth of a turn.

The player has now gone through a repair procedure and should be back in tip top shape.  The belts, should they need to be replaced, can be found at local and well known electronic repair shops for only a few dollars.  Be sure to take the old one with you for measurements.

The stylus cartridges can be replaced with rebuilt units or you may find some on ebay occassionally.  Buying another player for parts is not uncommon and is usually your best bet as it can be cheaper.

Now that your player is working, let's clean your discs!

Cleaning Your VideoDiscs

I've discovered a method that you can do to keep your discs working at their best.  Be advised that the discs were NOT meant to be handled by anything other than the player.  But they collect dust that can only be removed by washing them.  If you continue to play them when they have dust, you will ruin the stylus cartridge.  The washing methog I do is safe, preserves BOTH the disc and the oils on the disc and usually removes most of the skipping problems.  Here's how I do it:

• Remove the disc from the caddy (or jacket cover).  To do this, insert either a pencil or a small screwdriver in the latch slots to unlatch the spine (the plastic part the player extracts) while pulling on it.
• When it is free, pull it out enough that you can grab the disc by its outer edge and center hole.  Try not to grab the disc by its grooved surface.
• To wash the disc, use lukewarm water and any dish detergent other than Dawn!  Dawn will remove the oil that RCA sprayed on the disc. 
• Using a soft rag, lather the disc.  Try to follow the grooves...going against them can result in more scratches.  Be sure to wash both sides of the disc.
• Rinse the disc.  So you will know when all of the soap is off, the water will bead on the disc when all the soap has been removed.  Water will coat the disc when soap remains.
• After all the soap has been removed, completely dry the disc using a soft towel, again, following the grooves.  Dry both sides of the disc.  Make sure the disc is completely dry before you return the disc to the caddy.
• To properly return the disc to the caddy, see the side indicator on the caddy's spine that says Side 1?  Now look at the disc itself, see the bar code like grooves close to the center hole?  Only side one of the disc will have the bar code grooved on it, side two will not.  Match the bar code side of the disc with Side 1 of the spine.
• Return the disc and spine to the caddy making sure that they latch.
• Try out the movie.

I share this information to help those keep this technology going.  It is rewarding to get a non-functional player or disc off ebay, spending a little time (and sometimes a little money) doing repairs yourself and seeing the player start to play again.  There is no greater reward!

Final Thoughts

I hope that you find this guide useful and I hope I kept it as simple as possible.  These players and videodiscs are great to have around and keeping them going is part of owning them.  The players will breakdown and the movies will skip.  This should not take the enjoyment of owning them from you. 

Incidentally, some parts are still available while other parts are no longer available.  This guide was written to help you refresh exsisting parts in hopes that it would help.  Thank you for reading it!