I have a Pioneer PL-250 turntable with a tone arm issue. When I move the tone arm over to play a record, the turntable platter doesn't start spinning until it has move past the start of the first song. Also, the tone arm doesn't want to return all the way to the right after a record is over. Is there a way to adjust the tone arm? THANKS, Don
Pioneer PL-250 repair question.
- Thread starter dsharp63
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Morning and welcome to AK.
What you'll want to do is adjust the stylus descent position. Unplug the unit, remove the counterweight and the headshell. If you view the tonearm assembly area from above, to the left of the turret is a black round rubber plug. Remove the plug. Below the opening you'll see an adjustment screw. If you don't see the screw head, carefully lift the tonearm and slowly move it toward the platter until the adjustment screw comes into view. While keeping the tonearm stable, with a narrow blade standard screwdriver turn the screw counterclockwise 1/4 of a turn. Return the tonearm to the rest, replace the counterweight and headhsell. Plug in the unit and test the stylus descent position. If the tonearm still travels too far repeat the above until the descent position is correct.
If any of the above is unclear shoot me a pm and we'll sort it out. Good luck.
What you'll want to do is adjust the stylus descent position. Unplug the unit, remove the counterweight and the headshell. If you view the tonearm assembly area from above, to the left of the turret is a black round rubber plug. Remove the plug. Below the opening you'll see an adjustment screw. If you don't see the screw head, carefully lift the tonearm and slowly move it toward the platter until the adjustment screw comes into view. While keeping the tonearm stable, with a narrow blade standard screwdriver turn the screw counterclockwise 1/4 of a turn. Return the tonearm to the rest, replace the counterweight and headhsell. Plug in the unit and test the stylus descent position. If the tonearm still travels too far repeat the above until the descent position is correct.
If any of the above is unclear shoot me a pm and we'll sort it out. Good luck.
Thanks. Unfortunately I did not see a screw in the location mentioned. I ended up taking the turntable apart and found what I think is the adjustment screw. I played with it some and was able to bring the tonearm all the way to the right without resistance. Here are a couple of pictures. The first shows the hole I think you mentioned. It is circled in red. The black rubber plug I pulled out it setting next to it. The hole I circled in blue is the one I think is the adjustment screw. That one is circled in blue. The second picture shows the same screw circled in blue. In that picture I have removed the tone arm assembly. Does it look like I am on the right path? Thanks.
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If the screw circled in blue (and corresponding access hole) is the adjustment for the stylus descent position, it's in a different location than any of the Pioneer turntables I've ever worked on and I find that odd. The adjustment screw is typically a component part of the tonearm assembly on Pioneer tables. Did you try moving the tonearm when the adjustment screw wasn't visible?
If you can take a pic of the underside of the tonearm assembly and post it here it would be helpful.
If you can take a pic of the underside of the tonearm assembly and post it here it would be helpful.
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First of all thanks to everyone for your assistance. This is my first time digging into something like this. Here is a picture of the bottom of the tone arm assembly. The tone is all the way to the left. The blue arrow points to the hole which is most covered by a plastic piece.
When I move the tone arm to the left then I can see further into the hole. I took a qtip and covered the end with marker. Stuck it in the hole and wiggled it a bit to see if I could mark the position underneath. The second picture has an arrow pointing to the small smudge it left.
Thanks.
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That is certainly one of the issues. I have to move the needle past the beginning of the first song before the switch is activated causing the platter to start rotating. But I also have an issue where where the tone arm doesn't want to stay all the way to the right. I can lock it down but as soon as I unlock it the tone arm moves to the left and falls off the tone arm stand. Also, when the needle gets to the deadwax it moves to the left until it hits the center label and the platter stops rotating. If I give it a little help then it pics up the tone arm, returns it to the right, let's it down and shuts off the platter.
Thanks.
We all have to start somewhere and I think I can safely say that most AK members have benefited, at one time or another, from the guidance of someone more experienced. I know that I have.
It is my opinion that the best way for us to approach the stylus descent issue is with the 'table assembled. That is how Pioneer intended for that adjustment to be made. If you've answered this question already then I've missed it: With the 'table assembled, have you attempted to make the adjustment by moving the tonearm slowly toward the platter if the adjustment screw is not initially visible through the access port?
Well, I have obviously done a poor job of explaining the issues. It is not a stylus decent issue. The queuing works fine. This issue has to do with tone arm movement.
1) The tone arm does not freely move all the way to the right to the tone arm stand. I can push it but as soon as I let it go it will move back to the left falling of the tone arm stand.
2) When playing a record the platter does not start spinning until the stylus has been pushed past the start of the record.
3) At the end of the record, the stylus goes across the deadwax and the platter stops when it reaches the center label. If I rotate the platter with my hand, the platter will start spinning again and it will lift the tone arm and return it to the right (but just short of the tone arm stand).
I hope I'm explaining these issues clearly. Again, thanks so much for the continued help.
1) The tone arm does not freely move all the way to the right to the tone arm stand. I can push it but as soon as I let it go it will move back to the left falling of the tone arm stand.
2) When playing a record the platter does not start spinning until the stylus has been pushed past the start of the record.
3) At the end of the record, the stylus goes across the deadwax and the platter stops when it reaches the center label. If I rotate the platter with my hand, the platter will start spinning again and it will lift the tone arm and return it to the right (but just short of the tone arm stand).
I hope I'm explaining these issues clearly. Again, thanks so much for the continued help.