Restoring a Pioneer PL-630 Turntable

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This is the most detailed write-up I have ever seen. Seeing as how I just acquired a PL-630, it will be extremely useful also.

Kudos to you!
 
Thanks rich

Your thread inspired me to get my PL-630 repaired..recap and lub, it's working again. A similar unit just sold for $587 on eBay, it's well worth restoring. It's a great sounding deck. Thanks Rich!
 
PL-630 issue

This first the first view of the job ahead. It is a "Before" view.The 'after' view you have already seen in the 1st post. Unlike other Pioneer models, most of the boards are pretty accessible, except for the tonearm control and motor drive boards. We will need to do a bit of extra disassembly to get at them...

Before you ask...Yes, my bench system consists of a TX-9500-II tuner, a SPEC-1 preamp, and a Spec-4 power amp. Imagine what my main rig is like :)

Rich P

I have a pl630 and it has an intermitant speed issue. It will play nicely and then suddenly dip in the speed somewhere in the middle of the album, then returns to normal. Not consistant as the next 5 albums could play perfect. Recently had it in to find the problem and tech could not get it to repeat problem. Need help in Portland Oregon. I have fallen in love with this turntable. I paid top dollar as well. Any suggestions or help would be very appreciated.
 
I have a pl630 and it has an intermitant speed issue. It will play nicely and then suddenly dip in the speed somewhere in the middle of the album, then returns to normal. Not consistant as the next 5 albums could play perfect. Recently had it in to find the problem and tech could not get it to repeat problem. Need help in Portland Oregon. I have fallen in love with this turntable. I paid top dollar as well. Any suggestions or help would be very appreciated.
 
My PL-630 had intermittent speed issues too - the problem was dirty 33/45 selection and auto/manual speed control switches. Try working the switches 20 or 30 times and then playing to see if the problem goes away and confirm they are the problem. Then you'll need to open up the table to get to the switches and clean them up with DeoxIT.
 
My PL-630 had intermittent speed issues too - the problem was dirty 33/45 selection and auto/manual speed control switches. Try working the switches 20 or 30 times and then playing to see if the problem goes away and confirm they are the problem. Then you'll need to open up the table to get to the switches and clean them up with DeoxIT.

That is the one real weak point in those. I had one that used to drive me crazy.

Great table tho!
 
Cleaning the switches on mine solved my wildly erratic speed issues. I didn't think a dirty switch could cause such crazy fluctuations but it surely did. I think the table is still running on speed at its current home with another AKer. Nice table when its in shape.
 
Super awesome post, I have a pl-630 and will use this to kep it running forever, The next time it will see the light of day is at my estate sale
 
Hello anyone,

is it correct, that the voltage coming directly from the Power-Supply-Assembly should read 27V and 8V?
I experienced problems regarding speed (NOT the usual switch problem) and did some measurement. In my TT the voltage reads 8V and 33V! This does not correspond with the information in my Service manual. Even the other checkpoints (PA2005, Hall element,...) did not fit, they are all more or less 20% higher then the ones mentioned in the SM.
Could this be the reason for the fault?
And what could I do about it? Changing all Elkos in the PWR-048? Or something else?

Thanks in advance,
Norbert
 
Pioneer PL630 what is RTV?

I have been reading Pustelniakr's excellent description of how to restore a Pioneer PL630. I am the second owner of mine, and have had this turntable since it was almost new. It all works except for motor runaway on the turntable. I am totally inexperienced with this sort of work although I am a very competent and life long mechanical engineer (top end motorcyle restoration was my work). I am considering carrying out some of the operations he describes. One of them is boot repair, and I was wondering what is RTV, and where I can get it.
JamesTE.
 
I have been reading Pustelniakr's excellent description of how to restore a Pioneer PL630. I am the second owner of mine, and have had this turntable since it was almost new. It all works except for motor runaway on the turntable. I am totally inexperienced with this sort of work although I am a very competent and life long mechanical engineer (top end motorcyle restoration was my work). I am considering carrying out some of the operations he describes. One of them is boot repair, and I was wondering what is RTV, and where I can get it.
JamesTE.

Motor runaway is about the worst failure possible on this machine. Unless you have been in there and may have broken a wire in the motor regulation circuitry, or killed the 22v or 10v power supply voltages, the only other causes are bad integrated circuits which are not made for many years. In such a case, you need to obtain another unit to restore or take parts from.

Page 45 of the service manual contains the troubleshooting sequence for motor runaway. The manual also contains circuit descriptions and operation, You can get a manual here: http://www.stereomanuals.com/man/rep/pioneer/pioneer_manuals_pl-610_xx.htm

Good luck,
Rich P
 
Hello, Rich P, and thanks for your comments about motor runaway on a Pioneer PL 630. I had taken some heart from the several postings that suggest switch problems could be the problem. Are you saying that motor runaway could not be from bad switches? I have noticed that sometimes when I have first switched on the deck the motor runs at a slow speed until I start trying the swithces.

I had taken this as an indication of an intermittent problem such as switches. I would have though an IC problem would not be intermittent - but I really have no knowledge to base this statement on! Would it be worth cleaning the switches to see if it solved the problem or is this a waste of time? Any advice appreciated.

Thanks for the guide to the manual. In fact I have already downloaded one and seen the page on motor runaway in troubleshooting.

Regards, James TE.
 
Hello, Rich P, and thanks for your comments about motor runaway on a Pioneer PL 630. I had taken some heart from the several postings that suggest switch problems could be the problem. Are you saying that motor runaway could not be from bad switches? I have noticed that sometimes when I have first switched on the deck the motor runs at a slow speed until I start trying the swithces.

I had taken this as an indication of an intermittent problem such as switches. I would have though an IC problem would not be intermittent - but I really have no knowledge to base this statement on! Would it be worth cleaning the switches to see if it solved the problem or is this a waste of time? Any advice appreciated.

Thanks for the guide to the manual. In fact I have already downloaded one and seen the page on motor runaway in troubleshooting.

Regards, James TE.
Switches are easy to check. Use an ohm meter and see if there is an issue. I doubt it is switches, but I suppose it could be. It is more likely motor control circuitry, or a broken wire.

The motor speed is phase-lock-looped. A speed is dictated, and motor speed rotation sensors detect rotation, generating signals to indicate speed and rotation sensor phase relationship. Motor speed increases until the correct signal relationship is seen, or maximum speed is reached. Missing or malformed signals result in the motor control circuitry concluding that the desired speed has not yet been reached, hence excessive speed.

The service manual contains a complete circuit description, with expected waveforms. You may have to use a dual-channel o'scope to determine the problem.

Good luck,
Rich P
 
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I got a PL 630 which had speed control issues (runaway) until I worked the pots and got a little deoxit in there too. I heard a slight rattling sound from the tonearm assembly which forced me to open it up.
The anti skating spring was stretched ( bent ) so as to render it inoperable.
Where can I get a replacement or something similar?
 
Hoping someone who's got a 630 can help here!
Ok so I wired in a replacement tonearm and am having the following issues
1, all functions seem to be lighting up and when in auto mode
Tonearm will come across but platter won't spin
2, tonearm will not return in auto mode(even if I drag it to the end there is no resistance to then pull it back)
3, platter will not turn in manual/auto mode ie platter isn't
Kicking in atall
The only abnormal thing to note is that the small sensor
Light inside the tonearm mechanism is not lighting up,
I even changed the bulb from my previous tonearm and still nothing!
All wiring looks correct,and no visible burn outs from anywhere
Please help!!
 
Mt Pioneer PL630 is working perfectly again!

Hi,
About two years ago I came on this forum to get advice on how to repair my PL 630, which had lost its ability to control speed and just ran flat out at high speed. I am mechanical engineer specialising in vintage motorcycle repairs. If you put my name in google some of my work pops up. I know very little about electronics.

I got a range of advice, most worryingly that the chips may have failed and that they were not replacable. However one guy said it could be the switches and that I should get some deoxit and take the player apart. Spray the switch mechanisms with deoxit and work the switches.

Well all the talk of failed chips made me a bit despondant so I left the PL630 on one side, although I did get a can of deoxit and downloaded a manual. The other day I was having a session of clearing up old projects and decided to have a go at the switches. I opened up the machine and sprayed the switches and worked them, including the speed regulator can which was very stiff but got a lot freerer. I reassembled everything and amazingly it worked perfectly!!

So this message is to thank whoever made the suggestion. I am afraid I do not know how to find the old thread so I am not sure who it was.

I do have one question. With the covers off I had a good look at the circuit boards. I noticed that the wired connections to the boards are wound round pillars and then presumably soldered. I looked quite carefully with a magnifying glass and I would swear that several of them had no solder! Is this correct? Surely not? Is it possible that it could have been missed at original manufacture and that the mechanical connection provided by the wires wound round the pillars has been sufficient? I suppose taking the device apart and moving the wires could have remade a connection that had failed and that was the problem rather than the switches. I am reluctant to resolder the pins as I am not an expert and would be wary of doing any damage because of the heat. While it works I am inclined to leave well alone. What do others think?

Regards and thanks to all for help and advice, James Tennant-Eyles.
 
My Pioneer PL630 works again

Well I just posted a message and it was added to my previous posts and replys so I got to find out who to thank for the advice. It was CharlieMCD and others who supported his advice to use deoxit on the switches, and Rich P who told me how to get a manual. So a big thanks to all of you!

James Tennant-Eyles.
 
Hi, I have a pl630, i read your restorations. they were great. really appreciate the effort.

I have some problems with my pl630 currently. Everything works fine except for 2 things.

1. When the quartz is on, the motor starts spinning tremendously fast!!, and it's back to normal once i off the quartz. any idea what may cause this?

2. The tonearm lifter is not lifting the tonearm high enough, I suppose this has got to do with some adjustments i believe? Or should I take out the whole tonearm assembly and clean the lifter properly as well?

Thanks!
 
Hi, I have a pl630, i read your restorations. they were great. really appreciate the effort.

I have some problems with my pl630 currently. Everything works fine except for 2 things.

1. When the quartz is on, the motor starts spinning tremendously fast!!, and it's back to normal once i off the quartz. any idea what may cause this?

2. The tonearm lifter is not lifting the tonearm high enough, I suppose this has got to do with some adjustments i believe? Or should I take out the whole tonearm assembly and clean the lifter properly as well?

Thanks!
The lifter height is adjustable at the lifter arm, via setscrew.

Quartz lock speed control is a circuit unto itself. I could not venture a guess at this distance. Maybe you have a broken wire. Since she runs at regulated speed off quartz lock, basic motor control is intact. That is a good thing.

Remote troubleshooting is not possible for me at this time. This one will require input from a competent tech. If you are one, or have access to one, the service manual contains detailed circuit operation specifics (available here: http://www.stereomanuals.com/ ). You will not likely fix this one without a good scope.

Good luck, Rich P
 
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hi Guys,

I've acquired a PL-630 which has some problems of course....

Symptoms:
- Speed is not constant, gets better after working the switches and pot, ok, fixable
- auto functions don't work at all, after switching the 'auto' switch to 'on' I can select the size of the record and the led's light up accordingly. Pressing 'start/stop' has no effect at all, I don't hear the tonearm motor running.
- pressing the 'arm elevation' switch has no effect.

I've checked the 8V and 28V supply voltages, also the 20V on the tonearm control board, all are ok,
I've checked the 'start/stop' switch, it's ok.

I would love to see the unit working more or less like it should before dismantling it according to the instructions from Rich.
Can anyone give me a clue were to look, should I work the microswitches controlling the tonearm, or maybe check the lamp?

kind regards, Peter
 
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