Slim PS2 laser realignment

[Yukima]

I have a (modded) slim PS2 that has a tendency to scratch game discs in a perfect concentric circle, with the scratching becoming especially terrible the longer a disc stays inside the console. I'm suspecting that the scratching occurs due to part of the laser being slightly misaligned when the system was modded - the metal part is raised just enough for it to come into contact with the disc and scratch it. Can anyone confirm this? And if that IS the problem, does anyone know how to open the PS2 up and re-align the laser?

Thanks in advance!

[zerexerez]

Info from here

Here are some things I've seen that can scratch discs in a slim PS2:

* Debris in the disc cavity or on spindle.
* Bent spindle.
* Metal laser assembly cover not seated properly.
* Traverse rail not seated properly.
* Spindle forced too far down on spindle motor.
* Ribbon cable to the laser assembly not adhered to metal frame as it should be (it’s stuck down with double-sided tape).
* Bent traverse motor worm gear shaft.
* Unit had been taken apart and someone put a screw that was too long into the metal traverse frame, causing the assembly to be pushed up at an angle. This, in turn, caused the plastic in the cavity to contact the disc.

May be try dismantling the laser assembly and reassembling it?

[hailrazer]

When the top half of the PS2 was put on it wasn't aligned properly. Take out the screws on the back and pop the top half off. Then make sure the PS@ motherboard is sitting properly in the bottom half. Put the top half back on carefully making sure everything is aligned properly. Put screws back in. Problem solved

[Anapan]

May be try dismantling the laser assembly and reassembling it?

Do not adjust any of the small screws in the laser assembly that have locktite/threadlock on them. The laser will most likely never read a disc again if you do.

[vlame]

locktite/threadlock .

what is this?

[gtmtnbiker]

locktite/threadlock .

what is this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loctite

[Yukima]

Thanks for all the info! I'll see if I can try this some time next weekend or so - I haven't had time lately to pull the PS2 out of storage and look at it!

[Yukima]

*revives thread*

Well... I've finally gotten a chance to open up my slim PS2, and tried multiple times to re-seat the laser assembly, but it didn't seem to work - the PS2 still scratches discs. I read through the possible causes for the scratching (re-quoted for convenience):

* Debris in the disc cavity or on spindle.
* Bent spindle.
* Metal laser assembly cover not seated properly.
* Traverse rail not seated properly.
* Spindle forced too far down on spindle motor.
* Ribbon cable to the laser assembly not adhered to metal frame as it should be (it’s stuck down with double-sided tape).
* Bent traverse motor worm gear shaft.
* Unit had been taken apart and someone put a screw that was too long into the metal traverse frame, causing the assembly to be pushed up at an angle. This, in turn, caused the plastic in the cavity to contact the disc.

Unfortunately, I don't understand much of what the post is talking about, and to lessen the risk of me breaking my PS2, I have come to the conclusion that I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT I AM DOING.

Does anyone else know, and has experience with fixing slim PS2s, and would be willing to fix this for me?

[master]

where u put your console?

try avoid put your ps2 on non-solid surface like on the bed, because the disc sometimes spin so fast that can "swing around" if the console not on solid surface.

if you sure your console on solid surface, then u need to check the laser grip.there are 4 screw that hold the laser, check them if any loose.

if its tight,then u need to calibrate your laser,wrong calibrating the laser can cause the lens "climb" too high that can scracth your disc. the adjustment can be found below the lens, u need to remove 4 lens screw and (at least) unplug the spindle connector. and search for 2 things like "tiny screw(+)" with 'cd' and 'dvd' label near it. please note ! that adjusting the lens to extremee can cause the lens broke! (or faster broke). u need to tuning (spin) those thing clockwise or counterclockwise. but first u need to mark the original position just in case u need to reset. sorry i can't explain well this,but there are many guides and reference to do this, just search, and read them carefully before u act! it's AT YOUR OWN RISK.

[zerexerez]

*revives thread*

Well... I've finally gotten a chance to open up my slim PS2, and tried multiple times to re-seat the laser assembly, but it didn't seem to work - the PS2 still scratches discs. I read through the possible causes for the scratching (re-quoted for convenience):

Unfortunately, I don't understand much of what the post is talking about, and to lessen the risk of me breaking my PS2, I have come to the conclusion that I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT I AM DOING.

Does anyone else know, and has experience with fixing slim PS2s, and would be willing to fix this for me?

Don't own a slim so don't really understand what's in the quote , but this is another suggestion I found. If it's not expensive, you may wish to try...

http://www.psx-scene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63514

And I personally would advise against calibrating the laser as the problem seems mechanical. My understanding is you calibrate the laser only when the console has problem reading media.

Or maybe...just change the entire laser assembly

Edit:
More updated information

Oooh, a new slim. May I ask how well it holds the disc?

Reason being is that my old slim used to scratch my games, I think it was the laser's fault.

The orange flat cable got bent incorrectly because you turned it off with the laser positioned on the center and then stored it. The cable then "learned" that position.

There's a reason why the PS2 Slim pulls the laser to the edge of the tracking rail when you power it off with the power button:
To keep the flat cable parked in a good position.

So if you don't want it to scratch your discs, aways power it off with the power button then remove the power plug while it is on the standby mode.