Removing a CD jammed in its player - help please.

Thu 14 Jul 2022, 12:09 (last edited on Thu 14 Jul 2022, 12:12)

The ejection hole and a straightened paper clip really is the easiest option. Try and picture what you are doing inside.

There is a small peg the end of which you are trying to push with the end of the paperclip probe’s end-one needs to fiddle about a few times until you feel the ends touch. It takes a bit of patience and getting the feel of it but first time I tried it took only a few goes to engage the rod. You know you have missed the end of the ejection rod if the paper clip just goes all the way in without resistance.

When you get the rod press the paperclip gently but firmly. You will feel the mechanism beginning to move and what you are doing is simply pushing the mechanism the way that the electric drive motor does. Gentle but definite pressure be applied while the gears and levers do their function and just keep on going as you press the paperclip further down. If you wobble and slip off the ejection rod just pull back and press in again and  fish about for rod inside again- at least now you now know what to feel for just inside the release mechanism hole. The mechanism may stay part way moved so you won’t engage the plug near the opening; or the mechanism may have run back to start position so that the rod will once again be by the hole.

The distances are small although can vary between designs. About a centimetre of feeling the mechanism being turned by paperclip being pushed in should reach a sort of gentle “clunk” feeling as the ejection point is reached, and now just continue to push the pine and the drive tray should be visibly moving by then or in the case of a tray less player the optical disk begin to visibly move or  will with a bit more pushing.

It’s easy really to do - yes, really. The annoying part is trying to get the very narrow diameter end of the paperclip onto the end of the release ejection button inside. Some are a bit wider than others and some designers more helpful at lining up the entrance hole with the release catch so the clip just meets up neatly with the paperclip and then just push in further and feel and hear the mechanism machinate.

Plus it’s not that easy to break! You’ll know when you are pressing hard enough to break plastic and besides the paperclip will distort. A few ounces of gentle but persistent force to keep it moving is all that is needed. You’ll feel the release of the lock that holds the cd tray and indeed as soon as the edge of the cd/dvd/Blu-ray tray appears you can just hurry it along by pulling it out with the fingers.

Have a go.