Record player - help

Dear frens,

I'm a loss with my record player; recently it's started slowing down and stopping! Then I have to leave it for some time, and eventually it starts again. The belt is fine. Can the turnin' mechanism just break? If so, does it start and stop like that? I bought it off my dad six years ago or so now, and it's always been fine. What to do? What to do?



happythe

^ Yeah, he meant cassette player. That's why he said record player. 

Vinyls, cassettes and CDs are all records. Just because the word "record" was popularized by the expression "vinyl record", that doesn't means records are only the vinyl ones. Even the discs before the vinyl era were called records.
I do agree that the OP most likely refers to a turntable though.

I think cassette players have belts too (but I may be wrong).

JLocke wrote:   Just going by traditional lingo. It's obvious what the guy was referring to.

And as you can see, it wasn't that obvious. We're an international forum with a very diverse "population".


Edited by harmonium.ro - March 12 2010 at 14:55

jampa17 wrote: JLocke wrote: ^ Yeah, he meant cassette player. That's why he said record player.  To the topic starter: honestly, if the belt isn't the problem, it's probably the motors inside. If there is a repair shop that specializes in turntables near you, I would go there. If not, perhaps you should invest in a modern, less-problematic record player. I know it won't be as perfect of a setup as what you have right now, but it's better than no setup at all. I'm sorry, I'm no expert, or else I would be more specific with the help.  Just don't take it to just anybody to get it fixed, though.    You know that english is not the only language that exists and that's why I ask her that, you know... cassette =/= Record. But well, now that I know that I will try to rescue a record player because I have good ol' cassettes in house and I miss them...

My oh my. Didn't mean to cause this confusion.

I did mean a turntable, but no matter, thanks for the advice from all contributors! In any case, it looks as though it may be in this state for a while, cos I got no money to have it fixed for the moment.

happythe wrote: Dear frens, I'm a loss with my record player; recently it's started slowing down and stopping! Then I have to leave it for some time, and eventually it starts again. The belt is fine. Can the turnin' mechanism just break? If so, does it start and stop like that? I bought it off my dad six years ago or so now, and it's always been fine. What to do? What to do? happythe

Sue your Dad?

Wait, I got a better one, take the belt off and spin the disc manually with your index finger.


Edited by Slartibartfast - March 12 2010 at 17:37

Haha, unfortch I can't sue him, he's paying for my education! Otherwise I would, of course!

JLocke wrote: Well, again, I'm sorry I couldn't be any more helpful than I was.  I know modern turntables aren't really to everybody's liking, but they are easier to repair, since they have all-modern parts running them. If you spend considerable time listening to vinyls, I would suggest investing in a newer model.  How old is your current one, anyway?

No, it's fine, I suspected as much, but I'm quite attached to it and just wondered whether there were some quick fixes for this kind of thing You know, hit it hard, or douse it in sawdust, etc. I'm not sure how old it is, it's a Rega Planar 3 probs from early 80s..

I may think about a new one, yep, but in any case not in the immediate future. It's not all bad though; using Spotify instead is causing an almost revolutionary change in my listening, mainly in the move away from the '90% of good prog is from before 1975' attitude, which I've been trying to quell for years.

If it is a belt drive TT then take the platter off, remove the belt, then start the TT up. There should be an idler wheel that the belt is attached. See if the idler keeps turning. If it does it may then be the main bearings on the platter disc. You may have to grease the main bearings, check on the Rega site and see what the recommendation from the manufacturer is quantified. I have had to change the belt on my Thorens and lube the bearings. Bought it in 77 and it still plays great.