Just repaired one of these, auto return wouldn't work. Ended up the auto return bulb was fried as well as the photocell for it. I ended up having a box of electronics that had brand new photocells the same as these. Replaced, auto return works now. These tables are a pain in the ass lol.
I took a screen cap and attached the files.
If the wires are good, just replace the collar and be done with it, that's all i would do in all honesty. If you have a soldering iron and a steady hand you could do this yourself- you already know the wires are good as they work now.
The arm in question since people can't see it in the link. To me this seems pretty straightforward, remove the arm- remove the 4 pin end connector and solder the wires back onto the new collar which would have the missing 4 pin plastic connector. If this is wrong then i'm missing the mark.
You're gonna love em, they are my primary speakers and have been for like 10 years. I too once found a pair in custom cabs for $100, an ak'r has them , i redid the foams and they were just as good as the ones I have. Sometimes steals pop up, you lucked out.
I run the 3 hole technics headshell on two carts without issue with the standard weight, I run a sl1200 with a sme3009 so it's a good mix of technics and sme. Yours is a SME 3009 series 2 unimproved same as mine.
I found a motor in 30 seconds on ebay , ebay seller is in Canada. Legend or not, he needs to look harder, 3 years is a long time to wait for a repair. These aren't rare tables, motors are plentiful. No affiliation, seller is audio*parts.
I'm getting my 598 mkiii back this weekend, I gave it to my father in law 5 years ago and found out a couple of weeks ago he hasn't got the heart to tell me he doesn't like it. I was stunned when I heard it but get it- he wants fully automatic. I'll be giving him a Braun p1 in exchange, welcome...