Ticking noise in Audio Research Reference CD7

Amuseb - I'm surprised you haven't solved your problem yet.

Why don't you get a brand new CD-Pro2 transport mechanism from ARC (or any DIY vendor in Europe) and replace it yourself ?

This is a 10 to 15 minute job, no soldering necessary, you just need to remove 4 hex screws that are holding the transport mechanism, and then reconnect all connectors (from what I remember there are 4 or 5 connectors total).

That will solve all problems you are experiencing, as the new mech will come with a new servoboard.

You can contact DAISy for the ne CD-Pro2 transport - they are the OEM CD-Pro2 supplier and have their warehouse located in France:

http://www.daisy-laser.com/index.htm

A complete new transport mech will cost less than a return trip of the unit to the US.

Bruce, thanks for the Allentown connection idea but I think that sending the unit back and forth to the US would be very cumbersome. Only the thought of sending this big box with my in-laws back to the US makes me sweat, namely after what my mother in-law had to go through the time she brought over to Paris a King Cobra 3 wood I had ordered in the US... her experiences with security, customs, etc will be told forever around the family Christmas table while I feel bad and sorry...
Maybe we'll just keep your proximity in mind for a little audiophile encounter the next time we're visiting PA...

Elberoth2, indeed, it's taken sometime to take action. First of all there was only the ticking noise and speaking to ARC, Cal and the their service manager, they suggested to just leave it alone as they thought the issue wasn't serious ("it could happen that the transport ticks when looking for the next track"). Now the spinning noise is more serious (it's that one side of the disc the CD seats on is lower than the other and it touches the metal body of the transport when spinning) so since yesterday I just turned off the unit until it's fixed.
Looking for a transport in France brought zero result (believe it or not) and I have to move forward on ordering it from another EU country.

Can you remind me, from your knowledge, if the cd-pro2 is a straight on one-2-one replacement in the CD7 that doesn't call for any SW/HW modifications on the COTS unit?

Regards from a sunny Paris.

elberoth2, I guess replacing the cd-pro2 is a straight forward drop in that doesn't call for any specific ARC SW modifications or such, isn't it?

Yes, it is plug and play.

Thanks elberoth2.
BTW, I spoke to ARC and they claim they "modify the cd-pro2" but I don't really believe them and assume this is said for commercial reasons only.