Broken PCE CD

[Menegx]

Hi. I'm trying to get into PC Engine collecting and a fellow Racketboy member (known as Firebomber7 here) pointed me in this direction.
I got a broken PC Engine CD-ROM², 2 system cards (2.1+3), AC adaptor and the interface unit for a decent price so I decided to go for it. I'm buying a PC Engine later on, but at the moment I'd like to know what exactly is wrong with my CD unit and if it's possible to repair it.

I don't know if the CD-ROM² unit is supposed to be able to read discs if there's no PC engine with a system card attached to it. I tried playing a normal audio CD with mine and the disc wouldn't spin. Although I didn't try connecting audio cables to get any sound out of it.
Other than that, everything seems to be fine. The lights are on and it reacts if I push play/pause/stop/repeat. The guy who sold it to me said that besides not being able to read discs, the system also some times thinks that the CD lid is open when it's closed.

I carefully opened up the system and took some pictures. I'm sorry about the poor picture quality, but can any of you guys pinpoint where the problem is just by looking at these pictures?

http://tinypic.com/r/2irad00/6
http://tinypic.com/r/2gw8h93/6
http://tinypic.com/r/2inhch/6
http://tinypic.com/r/2mgr0yf/6

[Frank_fjs]

The CDROM unit is fully able to play audio CD's on its own, no need to have a console/system card hooked up.

The most common fault with these is a plastic gear that deteriorates, can't really see the gears all that well in the photos you've provided though.

[Menegx]

I've heard about the broken gears. I tried online looking for a PC Engine guide that would help identify different problems but I didn't have any luck finding one. Could you mark the spot in MS paint for me? I can try to take new more accurate pictures if I know where to focus.

[Lost Monkey]

This thread:

http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=10224.0

..should help you determine if the gear is your problem... likely if the original gear is still in it, it is dying....