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my fz1 died

Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 6:37 am
by Beef Supreme
today right in the middle of a good game of twisted . i opened it up and noticed that the laser doesn't move back and fourth anymore , took it apart and tested the motor and it still seems to work , so i'm not sure why the laser doesn't move back and fourth any more . has anyone had and solved this problem ? or should i just see if anyone is parting out a system ? i already placed an ad in the wanted section , but it would be cool if this is something i can just fix .

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 3:05 am
by Beef Supreme
...no one ?

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 4:19 am
by bonefish
I would try reseating all the connectors in the drive. I'm not adept to troubleshooting the ol'3do as my Goldstar has yet to break in over 13 years of ownership... ::Knocks on nearest wood surface:: You should try a search because I think I read of this same problem before!

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 4:37 am
by 3DO Experience
If your system is kaput don't toss it in the trash, I've been looking for a dead system so I can play with it. (more so the case than anything else.)

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:30 am
by Beef Supreme
well i'd like to fix it if i can , bought it new in 95 if i remember right . i checked all the connections , and i even took the motor out , didn't know what voltage it was but i got it to spin with a 9 volt battery so the motor isn't fried out . i did notice the gear on the end of the shaft that moves the laser has a crack down the side of it , but it didn't seem to turn without actually turning the shaft so i'm assuming that even while cracked it should still be doing it's job , all i can think of is that that motor isn't getting a signal from the cd board anymore so i'm guessing i need a new drive ...or just another 3do .

i still have my goldstar , but it doesn't like more than half of my original disks and 99% of my backups . i did just get freedo working so that will play most of the games , but i liked it alot better when i could just fire up the old fz1 and play whatever i felt like playing .

has anyone successfully hacked another brand of cd drive into their 3do before ?

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 8:38 am
by Vance
I think you might be the first to attempt it.

Personally, I don't think such a project would end well unless you replaced it with an identical model, or least a comparable speed drive... the 3DO used a 2x, if I remember correctly, but I could be wrong.

But then again, I honestly have no idea. That's what I love about working with electronics, no matter how many years you spend replacing PS1 controller ports there's always a problem that makes you scratch your head and inform them of the handy dandy 800 number.

But if the motor is working, replacing the thing might be a bit of an extreme step before more diagnostics take place. Perhaps an electrical signal is not reaching the proper part?

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 5:48 pm
by Beef Supreme
well i tested the motor from the connector , and it spun , so the wires aren't dead , it connects directly to the board and the solders were not broken where it clips on , nothing looked burned out . when i put it all back together the first time i watched the laser , it moved on the track about 2mm and stopped , so power can get to the motor when the board feels like doing it randomly . thats why i was thinking board failure .

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 8:17 pm
by Beef Supreme
ok , well i did more testing today and with the motor completely removed from the system but still plugged in it does spin , i hooked it back up and it adjusted the laser on the track a few times , but it still wouldn't read the cd and eventually spit it back out , something else has to be up with this thing , i may just keep it for parts and try to track down another 3do .

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 8:28 pm
by Beef Supreme
oh yeah , while i was searching for info i came across these sites , maybe someone will find them helpful

http://tigerdirect.partsearch.com/Model ... c/FZ1.aspx

and this on the panasonic web site , they still have all their old 3do stuff listed , but they're all invalid part numbers to them now , i called and checked . shame too , look at that list .....they even list mortal kombat 3 , and assorted 3do clothing on there .

http://www.pstc.panasonic.com/epartr/Pa ... hoice.asp?

under model number just put fz1 and it'll bring up the list

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 11:04 pm
by 3DOKid
Wow. They even list ISIS. :shock:

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 11:30 pm
by Vance
I should try to make a warehouse trip. Sometimes you luck out and a company will let you check the dustbin and you'll come up with some rare stuff. For instance, Rare still has copies of Final Fantasy Tactics and the Bouncer brand new, but they're only shelling them out to employees... for dirt cheap prices.

Places like Capcom won't even talk to you with such inquiries, so it's hard, but sometimes you can score a good contact and find some esoteric stuff.

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:21 pm
by mattyg
[quote]Goldstar has yet to break in over 13 years of ownership.

Bonefish you should enshrine that thing - somebody must have actually been working in QA that day ! :lol:

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:43 pm
by Beef Supreme
my goldstar still works ...sometimes . doesn't like loading some of my games tho . i'm still on the hunt for another fz1

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:49 pm
by Trev
The Goldstar machine is stubborn ... took mine forever to finally keel over! Everytime I thought it was gone for sure, it would spring back for a game or two. Very nerve racking as I was trying to beat Guardian War at the time ... thankfully it held on till I did. Good ol Goldstar ...

RIP