Sony MDS-501 skip/pause problem

[mandolink]

I need help with my Sony MDS-501 deck. I know this has probably been covered sometime back, but here's the problem - the deck is playing nicely when suddenly, it pauses - not actually in pause mode - but it just stops playing for a few seconds - and then resumes. Sometimes the sound cuts in and out like its trying to play, sometimes it's just silent for a few moments then comes back on. Oddly, the "skip" - if you want to call it that - ends up being in the same place on the disc when I play it. If I play the same disc on my portable, it doesn't do this in the same spot. So, the disc doesn't seem to be the problem.

Is my MDS-501 just in need of lens cleaning? Please help me. This problem really hurts when I have a priceless live recording that I'm trying to transfer to CD.

If it is just a cleaning issue, what cleaner do you recommend?

Thanks so much for your help!

[KJ_Palmer]

A cleaner might help. I have a TDK lens and head cleaner, which I've used once or twice on a portable, though not on a deck as yet. The laser read head on your deck might be getting weak or simply dirty, so a slight imperfection on the disk which might pass unnoticed on a newer machine could be picked up on the deck.

Anyway, a cleaner is worth a try, it seems to have done the trick for my portable. A qualified service person might be able to give the laser a proper clean though, if need be.