DVD Drive Squeals/Squeaks/Whistles

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DVD Drive Squeals/Squeaks/Whistles

Hi guys. So I have an iMac G3 DV 500mhz with a DVD drive. However, the drive has some issues. First, when I put in a CD or DVD, the drive squeals very obnoxiously. It is almost like a whistle. If I begin playing an audio CD the squeaking will stop, which leads me to think that it happens only at higher spinning speeds. But regardless, is there something I can oil inside the physical drive to stop this? I read a post with a guy that had a similar problem and fixed it by oiling the "gear cogs". I have no idea what this is so if someone could point it out in the picture below that would be great.

Here is the original post: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1791392&tstart=0
And here is the link to a picture of the inside of the drive: http://tinyurl.com/59yns9

lots of macs favorite being - ibook 500mhz and emac 1.33, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Feb 10, 2010 12:46 PM

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Answer 1

spudnuty

Level 5

7,128 points

Feb 10, 2010 2:37 PM in response to beezur

the,
Is this like a long continuous squeal? or squeak?

had a similar problem and fixed it by oiling the "gear cogs".

Don't think that would help since the only gears in there drive a belt that drives the pinch roller that pulls the disk in. In the picture I referenced that is to the left of the roller. You can see the belt. If it was that it would stop once the disk is inside.

What it could be is the motor itself. To tell that you'd have to take the top off the drive also removing the ATA power adapter board on the back of the drive. (that green thing). Then plug that board back into the drive now sans it's top. You'd plug that back in and you'd then have to run it with both the hard drive and the optical drive out of the mass store cage that holds them. That's probably going to be easier to do w/ the iMac upside down.
If it is the drive motor it can be oiled but the entire assembly will have to come out.
Richard

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Answer 2

beezur Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 10, 2010 3:17 PM in response to spudnuty

It is continuous. It is after I put the disk in and it starts to spin, which is why I think it is related to the disk spinning. It is not related to the rollers etc in that picture, that was just a good picture to show the inside of the disk. It is hard to explain. Perhaps a video of the exact noise would be better? If so, I could take a quick video and throw it on youtube.

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Answer 3

spudnuty

Level 5

7,128 points

Feb 10, 2010 4:24 PM in response to beezur

The,
Yes do that. That would help a lot.
Richard

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Answer 4

beezur Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 11, 2010 5:45 PM in response to beezur

Ok I have uploaded the video to youtube. Don't mind the horrible video quality, it was taken with my digital camera. The noise is what is important. Thanks for the help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ694uY2Yyc

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Answer 5

spudnuty

Level 5

7,128 points

Feb 11, 2010 7:11 PM in response to beezur

Yes that has to be the actual spindle drive. Here's a pic:
http://s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll306/spudnuty/?action=view&current=DVD.jpg
To oil this you'd have to remove the movement from the lower case. That's one of the mounting screws you see there at the lower right. The broad headed one that's mounts over a rubber bumper (shock mount) There are 3? more like that. Once you can see the underside of the spindle motor you'll see the shaft come through a sintered bronze bearing. It's held in place w/ a c-clip. Like here:
http://tackletog.com/superttuning/files/2009/11/Braking-Schematic.jpg
I use a high speed turbine oil or Lubit-8 nice spout from the hobby shop.
Just takes a drop.
If it's been that way a long time that bearing might be shot.
There are a lot of these drives around for cheap.
Richard

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Answer 6

beezur Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 12, 2010 9:27 AM in response to spudnuty

Awesome. Thanks a million. Would some conventional WD-40 work? If I am only going to use a drop of this stuff, I would like to avoid the trip for buying it. If nothing else will do, I will go and get it though.

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Answer 7

spudnuty

Level 5

7,128 points

Feb 12, 2010 10:04 AM in response to beezur

The,

Would some conventional WD-40 work?

I hear a lot of bad raps on WD-40. The locksmith I use raps it because he says it's wax based and clogs locks over time.. However given the expected life of your machine it's probably OK.
Richard

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Answer 8

beezur Author

Level 1

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Feb 12, 2010 10:29 AM in response to spudnuty

Ok. Thank you again.

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