Astonishing how many things end up in landfills over simple repairs like this, CD drives used to get thrown out all the time because people would bump them when the tray was open and assume it was broken. Nope, just open it up and carefully put it back on the tracks and thank you for the free drive.

Thanks Mat. My friend Robin has a machine like yours. He has not used it in years because the same Madonna MiniDisc is stuck in it. I will email him the link to the video. Best wishes.

- warm narration - simple problem solution - very nice camerawork and a good look at the insides, including fun dynamic rotations that still manage to stay in focus (5:12) This video is great and I think I am not the only one that would welcome more of its sort.

Simple fix and excellent demonstration of the steps involved! I'm betting this will help a lot of people and very cool of you to share this tip!

A PERFECTLY timed video, I literally just bought a stand alone MD player to match the rest of my SONY Hifi, when I went to test it at first it wouldn’t load the MD, then it finally went in and wouldn’t come back out, it played perfectly but wouldn’t eject so I got it at a reduced price and bought a belt off eBay as soon as I got it home. Belt hasn’t arrived yet but when it does I’ll know exactly what to do.

My machine has been laying dormant for 2 years, because of this very issue. I did take it apart, but didn't know what the exact issue was. Belt just ordered. Thank you for another great video.

I love how this channel has slowly progressed from interesting mini-docos of lesser-known tech to in-depth reviews of a wide variety of interesting things, to fixing unserviceable pieces of classic tech whilst proclaiming "I'm no expert, please don't follow my example" to now, with "here is an instructional video on how to make your broken tech work again in step-by-step detail from start to finish".

I hope this video will help keep more of these irreplaceable machines out of E-waste.

I just love a good Techmoan video, very addictive to watch channel. About 12 years ago, one of my Denon DNS 3000 CD decks suddenly stopped ejecting a CD. I was going to use my decks that night, so needed it badly. Upon opening up the disc drive, I found out the drive eject belt was snapped. No time to order one, so creative thinking was required. I found that a rubber tyre on one of my child's toy was the same size, so used that and it worked perfectly. I never got round to putting a replacement belt in and still works today, with that rubber tyre. 😁

I've got a very old MD deck that started doing that, it was relegated to my basement because I had no idea what to try. Thanks for this! Now I can pull out my box of 100+ discs and enjoy the nostalgia.

I used to work for The Sony Centre in Brighton (RIP). I see you've got the "UK Tuned" model as I noticed the red badge on the front of the machine. We were told by higher-ups that certain models of HiFi components came with a filtered power unit, like your one, which probably explains the wonky positioning of the power supply as it was an afterthought. I believe this was part of Sony's QS range judging by the brushed aluminium front panel (also available in black). The ES range was shockingly expensive and easily identified by the slightly golden looking front panels. Most other retailers, including Richer Sounds got the "bog standard" European version of this which didn't have the upgraded components inside, even though the model number was identical. I'm sure Audiophiles will shoot me down in flames over this, but when I was working people generally wanted to pay the extra for the UK Tuned model. Anyway, keep up the good work, I look forward to your videos every week!

Absolutely delighted this video was posted. I was just testing my MDS-JB980 to sell it online, when my heart sank as it showed the C13 Read Error. It was trying very hard but it simply didn’t have the torque to physically accept the disc into its tray. Followed the instructions in this video with the exact £4 belt from eBay, and now it’s working perfectly. I’m elated, I actually fixed it! Thank you so much.

I do not own this mini disk player, or any other mini disk player, and I probably never will. But techmoan always makes videos so interesting that it doesn't matter, i know I'm still going to enjoy watching it. 🙂

Another machine saved today in less than 15 minutes. Thank you Matt! Machine for those interested was MDS-480.

Great video. I've found myself working on a lot of MD players recently and all of them had this exact fault. Careful using pliers to grab the belt; most of them have gripping teeth on the gripping faces, which can cut into the belts and cause them to weaken or even break. If you're careful, you don't have to remove the spring. you can unclip the rear catch, and carefully flip the top over to the side. That is only possible however if you remove the drive from the unit. It's also worth pointing out that you must take care to avoid touching the record head (the plastic part hovering over the laser with spikey wires sticking out from it) as it is easily damaged if you bend the contacts with a stray finger or tool.

The benefit of this video is in how well it models how to do how-to videos more than what it's demonstrating how to do (fix a product most people have never seen or need to repair). 1. Friendly and reassuring (the biggest obstacle to self-repair of tech is fear, I've found) 2. Correct in all the steps (nothing worse than a video that tells you how to fix the thing you're not actually trying to fix) 3. Clear and concise (people are here because they need to fix their [insert thing], not because the video guy is super entertaining) 4. Good camera work (gotta see the thing I'm going to repair, or else I'll stuff it up) 5. Doesn't skip anything (oh I did this bit off camera cause its so easy and boring…ohh that's the bit you stuffed up, well sorry must be your fault)

Dear Matt I can’t thank you enough for this didactic demo on how to fix this problem I had put my Sony MDS-JB940 away because of this Fir the non handy man I am it only took me 8 minutes to fix the problem following your instructions step by step You are my hero

One of your shortest videos ever, but straight and to the point. Thank you!

It's more difficult getting a decent camera angle than it is replacing the belt! Thanks, and we'll done, Mat!

I have two Sony machines with this exact problem. Thanks for showing the easy fix.

Well after watching your brilliant tutorial a few times to get to understand what's involved in sorting this issue out today i decided to go ahead and give it a go. I own the MDS JB940 machine which to be honest looks more or less identical inside to the 980. So following your step by step guide to the book off i went and whilst yes it is a bit fiddly and you definitely need a steady hand hey presto i was in business! Old belt off, new replacement belt fitted, spring back in place. Obviously before putting the lid back on i tested it out, disc ejects every time...result. All thanks to you kind Sir. P. S: the belt cost me £3.50 off Ebay inc postage so well pleased at that, a very cheap fix indeed. Again i cannot thank you enough, keep up your great work 👌👏

This worked for me albeit I unscrewed the copper screws and not the spring, and used postage stamp ‘spade-end ‘ tweezers to remove the old rubber band and put the new one in…it cost £4. To those nervous who will take this to a specialist and want their trapped mini disc back first, turn the MD deck upside down then press ‘eject’ and the disc should come out of the slot.

I too have managed this repair. In my case it was on a "Lissa" minidisk player from 2000. I took the whole mechanism out and then used a bent paperclip to 'hook' the belt around the pulleys, I went in through the disk loading slot while the mech was in an upright position. It was very easy and satisfying to do.

I have a 20-year-old bookshelf unit with a 3 CD changer in it that has decided it doesn't want to open anymore, and videos like this boost my confidence that I'll be able to figure it out once I open the case.

Funnily enough, had to do the exact same thing, to the exact same deck a couple weeks ago. Really is a simple job, glad you are demonstrating it.

All I wish for is this quality of repair tutorial for literally every electronic. Would be so much less E-Waste in the world.

Your videos are amazing. I was the only one within a 1,000 mile radius that was into minidiscs back in the day. Still have my MZ-RH50. Your videos reignited that fire for MD's. Thanks for all you do for vintage audio stuff.

Good video. I had to do this fix on my unit, about 9 months ago. Nice easy repair. I did unscrew the deck though, and lifted it up slightly. Good tip leaving it in and just unclipping it though.

Good well explained video, good to see you are active in the minidisc world again! I have a 980 as well, very good machine. Normally I remove the drive mechanism from the unit as it also gives an opportunity to clean and re-grease some components but the need for that depends on how the machine has been used and stored over the years. Same belt for 470/480/980/D40 series machines at least.

Great refurbishment video. When I think of the number of machines I've bid farewell to over the years that could be repaired today I'm almost heartbroken. Luckily I have more confidence thanks to sites like yours and other local sites where I have found competent repair people.

I did this with mine a few years ago and was amazed how simple it was. Now I'd like a video on sourcing and replacing a new display! 😘

if you need a somewhat temporary fix, a rubber band with similar size will do the job. I fixed mine with it but rubber band was tad bit bigger hence I cut it down and super glued it together 😂. didn't expect to work at all, but it's been 3 years still working great.

It's always a pleasure watching you fix stuff. That was a fast repair for something one would assume to be difficult to do. Never had a mini disc over here in America. Watching your videos makes me think we missed out on some great tech. Your channel is really something special, thanks for posting.

And there I was just about to tackle this job on my Sony Minidisc Recorder unit. Brilliant timing 👍

Haha, have had a Sony MD deck sitting unusable on my shelf for years with exactly this prob, and now thanks to you I can fix it! All power to your needle-nosed pliers!

Hi Mat, thanks for posting this, I had done this before for one of my MD players but thought I'd check all 4 of my units and sure enough one refused to eject. As I had a pack of belts from last time I did this, I started to dismantle the unit, ejected the MD and as I took the plastic back 'holding part', it snapped in my hand, it was quite brittle. I then carefully located the spring and 'ping' it shot off into no where - I thought well this is going well so far. I then got the old belt off and put a new one on. Then used the old belt, instead of the spring by tieing it in knot secured with a tiny clip. Worked great. Then put it all back together - to then discover the spring - so again took it all apart and then fitted the spring instead of my awkward fix. All back together - works a treat. Phew.

A few years ago I managed to get a Sony MDS-JE780 for a really good price cause the eject mechanism was broken. I did the exact same fix with a new 5£ belt and it's been working flawlessly ever since!

A Techmoan Public Service announcement? Very helpful.

Well I wish I had this knowledge 17-18 years ago when this fault happened to my Sony MiniDisc. Thank you for educating us.

My slot-loading JE-780 was developing this problem. Ordered the replacement and dropped it in just now. Worked perfectly and the video was a tremendous help. Thanks!

Thank you for showing the world how to save such a wonderful machine!

Hi There I’ve been watching your videos and I’m enjoying all of them; this one is very pertinent to me as my Sony MDS-JB940 has been sitting on my music rack for some years with this problem and I’ve been reluctant to get rid of it or even send it to a repairers; but with your help I’ve ordered the offending belt and hope it will be back in working order very soon. Many Thanks Tony

Perfect! I would not have thought that one problem, for which my MD deck was in the workshop twice, could be solved so easily. Thank you for the usual well-made guide.

I have one of these MD decks that has this problem, and there is also one at my local hospital radio stations that has the same. I have already ordered the drive belts and will fix the MD decks as soon as I can once they arrive. Thank you so much, Matt. The Usual course of action would have been replacement of the MD deck at the Radio Station - Very expensive to do. Brilliant!

Nice one, done a few of these and similar decks. Thanks Mat, nice one emphasising the UNPLUG and don't touch the CAPS. 😊

I have an older Sony MD recorder with the same problem. You've given me a solution. Thanks. Now I have to find out how to fix my professional Panasonic Portable DAT recorder from the 90's.

Use the needle-nosed pliers to bend the tip of a straightened paper clip into a hook, use that to pull it over the larger pulley wheel after placing it over the small one first. Just in case someone finds the pliers a bit tricky to use for attachment in the confined space.😊

I don't ever plan on owning one of these things, yet I still watched the entire video, enthralled.

Actually really helpful - I bought an MD deck from Japan a while back that was listed as working, but the first time I tried it the disc got stuck and I had to open the machine up and get it out. I'm pretty sure it's got some other problems too but this is definitely one of them and I just never knew how to fix it before, so the machine's just been sitting in my garage. May as well get a new belt and see where it takes me. Thanks for the video!

Oh gosh this couldn't have come at a better time, this is exactly what I needed

Hi In 2009 i put my Sony minidisk in a agreed Sony Service from my area. After 2 month I ended calling Sony, because the service guys didn't repair it, because it didn't give them any error code. After Sony got involved in this job the service guys changed the whole mecanism in the deck and it wasn't cheap. And now I see that it was a simple belt that it should have been changed. I still have the deck, I do not use it right now but I think that will need just a new belt now, not the whole mecanism. Thank you for showing this.

Today I was able to repair one of my MD/CD Sony units thanks to your great video. One was too damaged to fix, and one I couldn''t open because of stripped screws. Thanks again!

Why am I even watching this? I don't own nor intend to own a single minidisc ever. I guess there's something relaxing about your voice that makes weekend afternoon tea better.

Great fix Matt! This is actually a common fault on other brands of MD players too - Mine is a Technics model and the belt is positioned more in the centre of the deck rather than off to one side. It's also a good bit smaller too - I didn't have the right size belt on hand so I used a loom band instead :) That was a few years ago (pre covid) and it's still working fine now. Like you I do wonder how many perfectly good units end up getting junked because of a tiny bit of rubber...

Thank You! I was about to dump my Sony MD deck... and so simple. Can't thank you enough!!!!

Finally! After all that easy reviewing and unboxing a true Techmoan vid.

I might have thrown out a Sony with this problem, it was years ago, it’s hard to remember the exact problem. Thanks for a great tip. And thanks for being a Mini Disk fan, it’s a terrific format. I am an “audiophile” and I detect no audible difference when I copy from CD to MD. I have a Japanese Marantz unit with both CD and MD and it’s a great unit. I bought a 100 V transformer yo keep it happy.

I'm a "fixer" at this regular event called the Repair Cafe. People can bring in broken devices/appliances/whatever (also clothing) to try and get repaired, for free. About half the stuff people bring gets fixed, and it's usually pretty simple. Last week someone brought a "broken" microwave they were going to throw out. Turns out you just had to set the time for it to work at all. Ridiculous design, I know, but it goes to show you...

I love all techmoan videos, but this one hit me in my nostalgia sweet spot. Peak 2015 vibes when camera reviews and how-to videos were the beating heart of the channel. Times have changed, but this was a fun reminder.

Done this on my MDS-780 - easy job, great sense of achievement - and on it goes for more happy playing.

I’ve been watching Techmoan since his early dash cam days and I really don’t know why the only tech I have is a phone just like the way he puts his video’s together relaxing to watch…keep them coming

Wow that's got to be nearly the easiest belt swap ever! Nice tip on keeping the mechanism in the machine, I'd have started taking it out.

This happened to my Sony MDS-S50 around 3 years ago. Cheap, relatively easy fix. Your video should help a lot of people.

I wonder how many thousands (millions?) of electronic devices are in cellars and lofts because something simple and repairable like this has happened and the owner just assumed it was unrepairable? Confession time - I have a 30 year-old Denon cassette tape unit in the cellar because it (long ago) stopped loading and ejecting tapes. It was (is) actually a superb cassette player - even crap tapes sounded really good in it, so I miss it. Your channel is gradually persuading me to find it and try repairing it. But I haven't quite got there yet!

I'm so glad you have uploaded this explanation. I still have (and use) three MD players. One has gone like this, and it can't be long for the others given the age and heavy use.

Very encouraging! We need more repair videos like this one.

Watching that belt almost slip off before you spotted it was the most tense thing I've seen on YT in a long while.

I wish this video would have been made 3 years ago. I trashed my old MD player as the repair shop told me it would be over $100.00 to fix. I just found a used one and use that. Now I know what to do! Thanks for a great video!

Works well for most , other than the early 510's where the issue is usually a microswitch. Again videos on how to simply fix that eject issue

How dare you give away the simplest way to change that belt! Seriously though, it is such an easy fix, and you did it the absolute easiest way. You probably helped a lot of people. I've seen so many videos where people don't even realize that the whole assembly lifts open and change it through the tiny gaps.

One aspect of your videos I’ve always liked is the end credits. I know the music is YT music library because I’ve heard it elsewhere, but your use has a different feel. I has a certain air of melancholy or something. I dunno, waffle waffle, just works for me. Well done.

Good video for what is a simple job but, until you've done it, actually looks difficult. I did mine about 3 weeks ago. Its almost if there is an whole batch of Sony's failing about now? I did it the hard way and removed the drive but your method is so much simpler. Keep up the good work!

Watched this and the next day my MD-JB980 wouldn't eject! belt replaced - easy. Thanks @Techmoan!

I had this problem with my JE-480 Minidisc player two or three years ago. It took me a while to figure out what the issue was and this would've been uber helpful at the time. But nevertheless, an excellent video to help others!

Belt arrived today, installed it however the sping is now orbiting Jupiter as it flew of in to the ether. Fortunately the mechanism works and ejects the MDs with no issue. Thank you again for a great video.

This video came in so handy for my own MD component player and I was easily able to replace that little belt. Mine fortunately hadn't disintegrated, but was just stretched out. Ordered a new belt from Ebay for about $10 and installed it today. Worked perfectly. Now if I could only find the cover panel screws that I took off before I ordered the belt. :)

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with your mini disc videos, I still own and love the Sony I bought in the Edgware rd , keep them coming please

Can’t thank you enough for this very helpful I set aside a similar model for the same problem and now I need to rescue it Hopefully I will be as successful as you were

Back in the day 25% of all repairs were something as simple as this. We had a set minimum charge. In those days most belts requiring replacement were in cassette machines and we always cleaned and de-magnetised the tape path, capstan and pinch roller and tested all operations and cleaned the casework too so tried to give full value. Most decent professionals will go the extra yard. Not sure there is any further you can go with this one... . I'm saving stuff all the time from skips and doorsteps and from people who know I'm on the lookout, anything interesting will get a new lease of life.

Many thanks for this video. I followed your video to change the loading belt on my Sony mds-Jb940. Retrieved my stuck disc and all working correctly again now. Many thanks 😊

As a general rule if any front-loading players suddenly stop ejecting or opening the tray then the first thing to check is what state the belt is in. I had to do this repair on my CD player not too long back after the belt snapped.

as another person said it boggles my mind how many people throw out these things because of simple aging issues like this lot of the time its just, replace 1-2 belts, it works perfectly again educational as always matt

Imagine if all tech was this service friendly :o Great video as usual!

Always useful to remind how some high probability failures can sometimes be easily fixed. Never owned a mini disk and probably never will but this philosophy is applicable to many situations. What I find most difficult is to find reliable sources for spare parts.

Bought a JB940 a couple of years ago and it developed this fault about the same time as the video was posted. Great tutorial, worked perfectly, thanks 👍

bought a v nice one s/h.started doing this almost straight away.sellers said workin perfect when they sold it.used an o ring from my tractor dealer to fix.great recording formatt

Talk about right on time. I have 2 minidisc decks that need belts and you have delivered.

A similar issue occurred with my Sony CDP-X7ESD recently and was resolved by replacing the 2 original rubber drive belts. Easy fix and good for another 30 years!

My deck has this exact problem. Thanks for showing how easy the fix is! Cheers!

I don't own a mini disc player and don't imagine I ever will, but I watched and enjoyed this all the same.

Thank you so much for this video! I have 4 Sony MD/CD decks that have this issue. I watched another fix it video and ended up destroying one deck trying to take the mechanism out!! I will try your way and see if I have more success! Thanks again.

Great description of how to fix this problem. My MDS-JE440 failed to eject discs too. In my case I found that the loading drive belt had gone stiff rather than loose. I took it off and boiled it in a pan of water for a few minutes to soften the rubber up, and it works fine now. I don't know how long it will last but it's a quick fix if you don't have the spare belt.

I have the same Minidisc deck, nice to know it's a nice easy fix when it needs it, hard to believe these are now 20 years old!

Thanks for this! Just fixed my JE480 after years of not using it.😁

No word of a lie mine stopped this week. Very helpful.

Wow! When you said this was a short video, you actually meant it!!! 😂 I was looking forward to my usual Saturday morning 30 minute distraction!

I had a Sony MD midi system in 1997. I could record onto MD from CD or radio. I was king. Until the day after the warranty ended and it did this. Comet took it back and sent it for repair (several times) but it always did it again, often as soon as I took it home. It’s the reason I ditched MD as a format. Being 17 at the time I didn’t know any better and just assumed it was terminal. It didn’t get binned but I never used it again. If only I had your videos back then 😢 I moved onto mp3 and got myself a player with - wait for it- 64 MEGABYTES of storage 😂

I have the identical model in black...of course i purchased it after watching your video on the fact you could use a plug in keyboard with it 👍😎 Thanks for a great how to video it will come in super handy 😀

Nice simple repair video, a lot of Sony MD players use this mechanism but not all. Btw also other brands like i.e. JVC sometimes use a belt than can wear out.

I have a sony md deck thats been waiting years for me to finally look this up and do the repair. I was dreading it was more complex and held off on it, oh how wrong I was!