Similar problems w/ 2 Onkyo CD players - junk? What grease for lens sled rails and gears?

[Slickone]

At first my Onkyo DX703 (bought ~1994) single disc home CD player would cut out for a second a couple times when I first turned it on and played a CD, then it would be fine until I had it off for a day. I used white lithium grease on the lens mechanism's sled rails and plastic gears, which helped for awhile then it came back. Eventually it got worse and would cut out anytime. Is there something better that I can use besides white lithium grease? What do the manufacturers use? The rails and gears are plastic. White Lithium grease has patroleum in it, which is bad for plastic right?

Also I bought an Onkyo 5 disc carousel DXC380 in April '02, and the same thing just started happening recently, and then some. The last few days would cut out for a second, but today it completely stopped playing and went back to stop mode (showing the disc length as when you first put the CD in before pushing play). I tried to get disc out but the carousel just came out and spun around erratically back and forth a few times (w/ no CD). Then I could get the carousel to come all the way out but the CD was still not on the tray. I shoke it around some to maybe unstick something. Then, if pressed Close or Play, the tray slid in about 90% of the way then comes back out. It's under warranty, but I imagine regardless of what the Onkyo Authorized Service Center does, it'll happen again.
Are Onkyo's CD players just junk or does this happen with any low/mid line brand ?

 

[Slickone]

^

 

[Slickone]

I opened up the DXC380 (5 disc) player and the CD had fallen down in the side, probably from where I shook it, and probably what was keeping the tray from going in. It does play now and has I've only tried one CD to which it didn't quit playing, but did cut out a couple times (and a few minutes after playing even, not when cold). Guess I'll take it to the service center.

I did notice when I opened it up that there is no grease on the lens sled rails. So should there be or not? The only reason I put some on the rails of the DX703 was per a suggestion. I don't remember if there was any there to begin with or not. There is some sort of white grease on the gears of the DXC380.

 

[WileCoyote]

onkyo has a very good reputation. i know that their dvd players are considered to be high quality, better than most of the stuff you would find at best buy

 

[thomsbrain]

trying cleaning the lens with one of those lens cleaner discs. do you smoke?

edit: my dad has a single disc onkyo from an earlier vintage (~1990?) and it still rocks.

 

[Slickone]

No, I don't smoke. Do the lens cleaner discs actually work? I'll try cleaning it w/ cotton swab and alcohol while I have it open but if that fixes it, I hate to have to open it up every now and then to clean, if those cleaner discs don't work.

Anyone know about the grease questions?