PlayStation SCPH-5501 Motor Speed Adjustment (KSM-440ADM/AEM+)

ID: 47857

Description: Is your PlayStation SCPH-550x having trouble...

Toolkit change note: Due to the EET missing several bits present in the Pro Tech Go and only being $20 cheaper, the EET has been removed. The EET has everything needed to complete this guide if you already own one, but if you are shopping for a new toolkit to complete this for the first time, the Pro Tech Go or refurbished Pro Tech is the current recommended kit.
Before starting, make sure you have a die cast laser. Plastic lasers are not repairable.
If your laser is plastic: You must replace the laser due to uneven wear.
If you have a Die cast laser, this fix may improve the read rate. However, this is an age based failure. Note: In some cases, the laser resistance will need to be adjusted.

EET owners: Your kit has this bit. No purchase needed.
Remove the 6 screws from the bottom of the PlayStation. Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver.
Lift the top cover off.

EET owners: Your kit has this bit. No purchase needed.
With the laser removed from the system, remove the 2 Phillips PH1 screws. Check if the laser is plastic.
If the laser is plastic, it cannot be repaired and must be replaced. The example shown can be adjusted.

EET owners: Your kit has this bit. No purchase needed.
Only adjust this enough to reliably read games and music CDs again. If the speed is too slow, the laser may physically "burn" your games, albeit very unlikely unless you adjust the laser trimpot on the mainboard.
Consider anything less then a 80-90% read rate a failure. These are hard to recover reliably.
Before starting, mark the original adjustment point and write down the factory setting as tested. It will be difficult to take it back to stock without this information.
Adjust the trimpot incrementally using a Phillips PH1 or other compatible bit. Do this until the laser is reading games more consistently.

If possible, test on a known good system first.
Improving the read percentage: If you are not happy with the results, keep adjusting the motor. Repeat until you are happy with the passing read rate, or the motor doesn't spin.
If you see the Insert PlayStation CD-ROM screen, the motor is running slow. Adjust the speed to be faster.
Partially reassemble the system and test it. If it is sufficient, reassemble the system.
To test the read percentage, get a few known good games and see which ones load. A minimum of 5 test games is recommended. Only adjust the laser again after each full test is done.
If the game loads, test play the system for a few minutes to check the stability. Important: Some early revisions have FMV issues - THIS IS EXPECTED.

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