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2 Pioneer PL-115D in need of some R&R

Van66

Van66

Active Member
A search in the attic for my wife's el cheapo BSR.......say what? I have 2 Pioneer turntables? Oh yeah, now I remember.... I used to make mixed tapes lol. Still not sure where the BSR is...... Anyway I have to confess I am very stupid when it comes to needles and cartridges. Looking through the forum is very intimidating. Both TTs are in need of servicing which I'm confident I can do. They both scrape so some sort of adjustments needed there. I should probably replace the belts. Years ago upon the recommendation of a very fine but now defunct electronics store (sniff), I replaced the original cartridge on the one TT with a Shure RXT6 which seems to sound fine. A search there told me that combination is out of my price range! The other TT I just found in the attic appears to have the original or a generic replacement cartridge/stylist. A search here produced one result with no answers. The cartridge is made by Empire Scientific Corp part # P50 NS. What's nice about having identical TTs is easy diagnostics. The 'attic find' player is only playing out of one channel. Switching cartridges quickly told me it wasn't wiring so I'm going to guess a bad needle/stylist or cartridge. My question is now what and what to do? I am 100% lost. My bet is I should replace the whole cartridge. Any recommendation's on a reasonably priced (whatever that is today) cartridge? My musical taste are all over the board so with that in mind...........Thanks, I really appreciate any feedback!
 
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This must be the initiation stage. I answer my own questions? lol. Update. I found a replacement belt for my "attic find" Pioneer turntable in a drawer. I must be at least 20 years old but still in the package. Replacing the belt made the scraping noise go away, why I have no idea. Waiting for another replacement belt for my other Pioneer I will affectionately call TT #2.
I also am hoping on the recommendation of a good cartridge replacement that won't break the bank. The stylus appears to mount loosely on the The Empire Corp cartridge which must be causing a bad connection.
 
Well you could be having a bad stylist day. It happens. :)

Do you have access to a multimeter? If you do you can measure the sides of the "bad" cartridge, red/green and blue/white. If you get a similar ohm reading of several hundred or so (not sure the Empire's usual value), the cartridge is fine. If off by a few percentage points from the other that's ok. If one side has no reading, it's dead Jim.

Basic cartridges like the $50-ish AT95E are fine with that table. For a bit more you could try a Grado Black.
 
Thanks Montycat. I think I'll stick with the tape measure and swap out to a known brand cartridge. Research on the existing cartridge wasn't encouraging.
 
Update.....sort of an FYI. Regarding the belt replacement for Pioneer TT #2. Received the belt today and installed with the same results as TT#1. The scraping noise went away. A simple belt fix? I don't know why. I was reading stuff like 'spring adjustments' and whatever. Can anyone school me please?
 
Still hoping to resolve the issue I have with both turntables. Both turntables make a scraping noise with the rubber mats on but play fine if I remove them and put a felt down. These both have new belts. thanks.
 
It's likely the bushing at the bottom of the spindle well which needs replacement. The felt mat doesn't put as much weight on it so it won't drag as much.

I'm at work so don't have time to find you threads on the topic but it comes up a lot.
 
Thanks for the reply! If you find the thread, I would appreciate a link. Perhaps my questions will be answered...if I can get the part, where to get it, if I can replace myself etc.
 
Adjusted both TTs with great results. The foams were in surprisingly good shape. Someone in another thread suggested cleaning the spindles as well and wow were they dirty lol. Also, the platter where the belt goes was grimy. It's the little things. Thanks for your suggestions!
 
Nice.

Old belt residue cleans up well with acetone, followed by a scotchbrite scrub.
 
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