Hello. As a follow on to my last post, I decided to take the plunge (risk) and put the unit in TM 72 to release the sledge, disconnected the mains, removed the glass lid, the ribbed top back cover, and the entire plastic top back cover. This gave me a better view of what might be under the top plate obstructing the transport movement between CD 2 and 3 area. Well, sure enough there was a small flexible aluminum self-stick clip stuck to the bottom of the top plate between the top area of CD 2 and 3. The wheels on the sledge were clearing it but the mounting screw for the wheel was binding up on it. I couldn't find any reference to this clip in the service manual, it wasn't holding any wires or cables, so I was able to pry it off and get it out of there. Voila, sledge now moved smooth as silk. I reassembled everything, ran TM 71 and 73, and then ran unit in random CD mode for a few hours.
End result...my 9000 is now back in business!! (The unit had been serviced previously for a different issue, so I don't know if they put this clip there in error or it somehow managed to magically attach itself from elsewhere in the unit while in transit or storage....who knows)
Thanks to all for your suggestions.
Regards, Terry (happy camper now)