Sega CD Rubbing Noise

[VideoGameCritic]

I've gotten used to repairing my retro systems and I like to pass on some tips here and there.

Today my Sega CD Model 1 was making a rubbing sound when the disc was spinning. Obviously you don't want friction in there as it can lead to other problems like scratching the disc or burning out the motor.

I looked up video for Sega CD "rubbing" or "grinding" and didn't really find a good video. Still, a lot of the forums recommended adjusting the "spindle" so the disc has more room to spin. That makes sense, but the spindle mechanism is made up of a lot of parts so it was frustrating when they just tell you to "slightly adjust it".

Anyway opened the Sega CD to expose the disc area. I actually put a disc in there and spun in with my fingers and could hear some rubbing. So I toyed around with the part that clamps the disk down (it takes two screws) and suddenly the disc was spinning freely again. I suppose I could "raise it up if necessary with a piece of cardboard or something.

But in my experience just taking the thing apart and putting it back together is enough to "fix" it. At least temporarily. I think my most valuable piece of advice is to keep the screws loose when you put it back together. Partly so you don't strip them, but mainly because you're probably gonna have to go back in there again sometime soon!

[Gentlegamer]

Get a Mega Everdrive Pro and save your Sega CD hardware

[Retro STrife]

There’s a scary sound. I still have nightmares from a similar issue with a Model 2. It was the first Sega CD that I ever owned. Bought it on ebay, and it was making a scraping sound right off the bat. Big problem, because I only owned one game at the time — Snatcher — and it left a ring of scratches around the disc.

Thankfully the game still worked, despite the unsightly scratch ring. I returned that garbage system and bought a Model 1. That was 2011 and it’s still going strong.