Is this possible?

[NorthStar]

Is this possible that a CD player (or DVD, or Blu-ray player) can stop reading properly the disc if the set of railings for the laser lens assembly is not properly lubricated?

Look at these two pictures here below, and you can see the metal tubular railings from the loading tray mechanism.
What exactly is the right lube to use for these?

 

[amirm]

I doubt it. To be sure, touch the lubricant that is left there. Is it sticky? Then it should be replaced. Wipe what is there with a paper towel and get it nice and shiny.

As to replacement, you need something that is not petroleum based as that eats the plastic parts over time. Go to a hobby shop and see what they have for RC cars and such which also use plastic gears. Probably special version of lithium grease.

Failing that, I have heard some people use this from radio shack: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102643

If you get spray type lubricant, be sure to spray it on a paper towel and then rub that on the rail. Do not spray directly on it or you will get oil where it shouldn't go....

 

[NorthStar]

Cool, thanks Amir!

 

[microstrip]

Is this possible that a CD player (or DVD, or Blu-ray player) can stop reading properly the disc if the set of railings for the laser lens assembly is not properly lubricated?

Surely. One of the most famous problems with CD mechanisms was with the Philips CDM12.4 used by Micromega and some other brands.Apparently in some batches they have used the wrong lubricant at the factory and after a short period it dried and the CD started skipping. Micromega distributed a repair kit with instructions describing how to clean the rails and two small plastic boxs with a brown lubricant for plastic/plastic parts and a white one for plastic/metal parts. Only a very small amount of white lubricant was needed, and if the old lubricant had been completely removed and carefully cleaned the problem was definitively solved. I did it for several friend's players that are still playing today. I have also been told that some lithium greases are good for this purpose, but I have not tested them.

 

[NorthStar]

Well, to update the latest developments here's some inside news!

* I talked to a Panasonic technician in Canada about a week ago or so (Rodolfo), and he said to me to never manually clean a Blu-ray laser lens! Only use a lens cleaner disc! A Blu-ray laser lens is much more sensitive than a CD/DVD one!
It has to be manipulated very gently with a very specific and unique way!
And he also told me that Blu-ray lenses eventually degrade (over time) in their ability to read Blu-ray discs!
...Because that is exactly what's happening with my particular BD player!
{I will get more info from here as I have to call him back in about a week or so.}

Meanwhile yesterday I brought my Panasonic DMP-BD55 Blu-ray player to an electronic technician here in Victoria, on Vancouver Island where I live. He will assess it and he'll tell me the cause of it's failed operation when trying to play Blu-ray discs.

Stay tuned there is much more to come; not only about this specific player but others as well...