Here I repair a skipping/jumping CD player. It requires a specialist tool I can not get hold of so a best educated guess is required. Music on CD courtesy of Kevin MacLeod, RU-vid Music Library
I think you should have tried the mechanical adjustment as in the service manual, over time the disc sits lower due to wear. I believe the laser power pot is on the side of the laser so your fix should last.
Answer new lasar unit,, problem the machine you need to calibrate the new laser unit once its replaced cost about two thousand pounds... It's the same with mini disc's players...now it's been turned up the diode will soon go pop...
