My unit function fine except for two things:
1) The turntable plays slowly when you play the first track on each side of the LP (depending on length of the track). It picks up steam after a bit and plays the rest of the side fine. It's just the first couple of minutes that are an issue.
2) The selector for the phono/tuner has a bad connection and sometimes the sound will cut out during operation. Just tweaking this switch brings it back.
Any thoughts on how I could fix these problems? Thanks!!!
Andrew
The motor picks up speed as it warms up and liquifies what is left of whatever lubricant was put on it at the factory. 3-IN-1 oil lubricates the various parts very well. Regular 10W-30 oil affords better lubrication, but causes sluggish operation when cold. I cannot stress enough the necessity to keep all of the drive surfaces clean of oil. With that I fear terribly that you will get oil on the wrong surfaces and make the phonograph perform worse.
Remove the turntable to access the motor. The turntable is usually held down with a "C" clip. If you can figure out how, you may also want to remove the entire motor board from the set for better motor access.
At each end of the motor, where the bearings are on the shaft, is a bracket. The bracket that retains each bronze bushing usually has cotton wadding enclosed in it. If you can find an oiling hole, place about 5 drops of oil in the hole slowly and allow each drop to saturate the cotton. Place a SMALL drop on each end of the shaft at the INSIDE of each bushing (next to the rotor). If you cannot oil the motor properly while it is on the motor board, carefully remove it from the motor board, noting exactly how the rubber suspension bushings and washers were originally mounted. If you cannot find a way to saturate the cotton wadding, you may disassemble the motor itself by removing the two bolts that secure the bearing brackets in place. You must note exactly how the motor is assembled, though. If you put the rotor back into the motor in the wrong direction, it will spin in reverse. Draw an arrow on one of the motor pole pieces (stack of iron plates) pointing in the direction which the drive shaft should go. You must also note how many washers were at each shaft end. When reassembling the motor, snug the screws with your fingers. Spin the rotor with your fingers and smack the side of the motor squarely against a flat surface to set the bearings. Tighten the screws evenly and note how the rotor spins. If it binds, you must repeat the smacking process. You may also try rocking the shaft back and forth before firmly tightening the screws. DO NOT leave any oil on the drive surface of the shaft. You will likely get oil on the drive surface of the shaft if you disassemble the motor. Because of this, for extra measure, wipe this part of the shaft with alcohol or after the motor has been reassembled (also wipe the shaft even if you have not disassembled the motor just for extra measure). Alcohol is extremely flamable, so do not cause sparks or smoke by your tissue while performing this. Use plain tissue or paper toweling--none that contains lotion or any other oily additive. Discard the tissue in the toilet. Remount the motor to the motor board.
Disassemble the rubber drive wheel from its swinging shaft, noting exactly how it was assembled (washers, etc.). You may wash this wheel in soap and water if you wish. Coat your fingers with a thin film of the above mentioned oil and rub this onto the shaft which the drive wheel rotates upon. Rub a small amount of oil onto the washers that go at each end of the drive wheel on its shaft. Wash your hands THOROUGHLY. Reassemble the drive wheel to its shaft, being sure to not get any oil onto the wheel. Use one hand to handle the wheel and the other to handle the oily washers. Do not cross hands or you will get oil onto the rubber wheel. Wash your hands again after touching the washers. You must sparingly lubricate the shaft as I just said, or excess oil will fling onto the rubber drive surfaces.
Place a drop of oil or vaseline onto the turntable ball bearing or thrust washer at the spindle. Also coat the spindle surface which the turntable spins upon--oil preferred here. Wash your hands THOROUGHLY. You may clean the drive surface of the turntable with alcohol (where the rubber drive wheel contacts).
You may also lubricate the automation drive gear with a small amount of vaseline. I could tell you to lubricate the other automation parts, but it is not usually necessary to lubricate them. There is a particular part called the velocity trip mechanism, which works with friction. If you oil this particular part, your records will not trip properly. You may place a drop of oil at each end of the tone arm shaft. This will afford freer movement of the tone arm, thereby reducing lateral record wear. A very small drop of oil (perhaps applied by toothpick) at each of the vertical hinge bearings on the tone arm will allow freer vertical movement of the tone arm, which will reduce vertical wear caused by records that are warped to any degree.
Reassemble the phonograph and see how it works. The selector switch may simply need a cleaning with tuner cleaner (available at Radio Shack), or it may have worn contacts. Try cleaning it first. WD-40 can also improve things, though I do not like to use it except as a last measure. Usually it has superb results, but on occasion it can collect dirt and form carbon trails, causing stray signals and currents to get into the control. WD-40 by itself, of course, does not conduct electricity. Most likely you will have fine results if you use WD-40 on the control. Use it sparingly.
Remember to be extremely careful when oiling your phonograph. It is necessary to oil the phonograph, but it must be done with care.
Thomas