Unfortunately the machine quickly failed. It started with some clicks during playback - then it took a long time to read a loaded disc, and there were more unwelcome nosies as the disc played. Finally it refused to play any disc at all. This is usually a problem with the laser (either dirty or simply worn out). I'd grown to like the player and replacement lasers are cheap so I ordered a new one from ebay.
The laser that fits the Arcam 62 is a Sony KSS-213B. I'd read elsewhere that it's a KSS-213C so that's what I ordered but the two are interchangeable. I actually ordered the complete mechanism KSS-213CDM just in case I could replace the whole thing but this wasn't the same size so I just used the laser. Here's how it's done.
You'll need Torx T20 and T10 screwdrivers, a soldering iron (and ideally a solder pump), and about an hour.
Unplug the CD player and if you're wearing an anti-static wrist strap so much the better (otherwise touch a radiator pipe from time to time to earth yourself).
Firstly remove the four T20 screws, two from each side of the unit. Then the three T10 screws at the back (at the top). The cover will then slide off easily.
You then need to remove the three T10 screws holding in the main transport mechanism, there's one on each side (one shown below) and one at the rear.
The transport is connected to the main board by two ribbon cables. You'll need to gently unplug the smaller, white cable at the main board end. The grey cable needs to come out at the other end (the transport mechanism) and you just very gently pull the cable straight out. Take care not to kink it.
Uplug the smaller cable as marked above
Simply pull out the larger cable. To refit it push it gently back in.
The transport consists of three pieces: the top, the drawer and the main drive. The top is held in place on each side by a couple of triangular prongs - squeeze these together gently and you'll be able to lift the top - and drawer - off. It's likely at this point that one or more of the cogs that open the drawer will fall off, don't worry too much so long as you reassemble them correctly when you put everything back together - see the picture below.
On to the laser replacement. All that keeps the laser in place is the metal rod
This can be eased out by pressing at the white tab at the left end
Carefully feed the rod out until it is fully removed, you can then just gently take out the laser. Disconnect the ribbon cable (like the grey cable earlier this is a pull-out, push-in job). Before fitting the new laser it's very likely that it will need a bit of soldering. Most lasers come with a protective "short circuit", I don't know why (perhaps to stop them shooting down spacecraft in transit?). Anyway this needs to be removed. Below I have the two lasers side by side, the old one on the left and on the right the new one with the protective short-circuit in place. With a soldering iron and (if you have one) a pump remove as much solder as possible until there's a clear break between the two halves.
With that done, you can fit the new laser. From here on everything is - as the Haynes Manuals used to say - the reverse of removal. Connect the ribbon cable to the new laser and feed the small metal rod back through until it's fully in place.
Carefully reassemble the transport mechanism, starting with the drawer and then the top. If it doesn't feel like it's coming together double-check that all the cogs fit together and that the white one is the right way up.
Screw the transport back into the main body of the CD player, refit the cover and you should - with luck - have a player that's as good as ne
I plucked up the courage to do all of this after reading this post from www.hifigear.co.uk about replacing the laser on a similar model. In the end about the only part that was the same was the steps to remove the front cover - but anyway, I found that post helpful and I hope you find my write-up is too.
