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The Daily Insight

How do you keep a CD from sticking?

Author

Andrew Ramirez

Published May 06, 2026

How do you keep a CD from sticking?

Apply a very thin coat of Vaseline, chap-stick, liquid car wax, neutral shoe polish, or furniture wax to the CD’s playing surface. Let the wax sit in the scratches for a few minutes—remember, the idea is for the wax to fill in the scratch so it can be read again. Wipe away the excess wax.

What causes a CD to stick?

A stuck CD may be caused by a non-functioning or weakened motor that doesn’t have enough power to push the CD out of the player. The additional assistance from pliers or tweezers may create enough force to eject the CD. Step 1: Insert the tweezers to grab the CD. Carefully insert your tweezers to grasp the CD.

Why is the tray on my CD player not opening?

A typical problem occurs when you press the “Open” button to open the tray of the CD player. There is often a whirring noise of the loading motor and the tray gear wheels; however, the tray will not open.

How do you get a CD tray out of a CD player?

Turning the CD mechanism over, there is usually a lever that one must push to the side in order to unlock the latch. Simply pushing the white lever to the RHS will unlock the latch so the tray can pull out. There are other variations of this mechanism where a plastic tab/claw stops the tray from pulling out.

What to do if your CD is stuck in the drawer?

If the unit is dead/unrepairable then breaking it apart carefully is the only option to retrieve the CD. Can you see any of the disc with the top off? If so, try manoeuvring it with something like a wooden kebab skewer to see if it’s slipped out of the tray.

Why is the tray on a CD player made of plastic?

This part has to match with the outside design of the case, and therefore manufacturers made this bit changeable, so that their mechanism could be compatible with a wide number of brands and models. As you can see in this plan view, the CD transport mechanism is usually made of plastic.

Why is the tray on my CD player stuck?

Sliding the tray does not usually require much torque; however, the CD loading mechanism requires additional torque when the inner platform raises the spindle motor to engage with the CD. When the drive belt slips, and the friction caused can heat the rubber until it becomes hard and shiny.

Why does my compact disc player not work?

When CD and DVD players stop working, it’s usually because of the drawer not opening and/or shutting. For this CD player, the problem turned out to be a broken belt between the motor and the wheel that has the gear that opens the drawer.

How does a Marantz CD player tray work?

The Marantz CD6000 OSE has a mechanism like that. Have a look at that article for more information. Although on the surface it appears simple, it is actually complicated as there are many variations of this mechanism. After removing the tray, one has full access to the drive belt and pulley.

What to do if your CD player won’t play?

For this CD player, the problem turned out to be a broken belt between the motor and the wheel that has the gear that opens the drawer. Look at these two video tutorials to see how easy it can be to fix, by replacing one belt with a rubber band. If playback doesn’t begin shortly, try restarting your device.