Fixing/replacing a Saturn disc drive

[Xen]

So, my disc drive on my American MK1 saturn is acting up - it's not reading anything... you put the disc in, and you get a "drive empty" massage.

How do I fix that? Or better yet, how do I replace the disc drive? Would any CD drive work? Only Saturn ones? Specific 3rd party ones? Thank you.

[mick_aka]

The only replacement for a Saturn drive is another Saturn drive.

You might have been able to source new replacement components for it 10 years ago but certainly not now.

You should try adjusting the laser voltage pot underneath the upper drive assembley (bright orange screw) in small increments then testing it again.
This is a temporary fix but has perlonged the life of a couple of my consoles for a year or two.

The problem with the Saturn, as with allot of other CD based retro-consoles is that finding replacement drives is so costly and time consuming it's currently easier and cheaper in the long run to just buy another console.

Very sad really as it means people are actively throwing consoles away

[andrewds]

Hi, just thought I'd add that cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360213259580&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en#ht_2058wt_939

That auction is for an OPTIMA-6S laser lens which I think is the laser used in the Saturn (correct me if I'm wrong)

[mick_aka]

Would like to know what the S is for, all my docs just list the Saturn's laser as OPTIMA-6...

Worth a buy I suppose, but installing and calibrating will be a nightmare, tried to do it with my MegaCD a few years back and just gave up in the end.