Another PS-X5 Question

[yustr]

Greetings from the PNW

I was able to pick up a Sony PS-X5 as part an auction lot. It is in pretty decent shape missing only the dust cover and hingers. So before I start it up I searched the interwebs for information. Looking here and other sites show pretty much everyone says that if it exhibits a clicking noise and difficulty with the auto functions it first needs to be cleaned of old dried up grease and re-lubed. I've done that as best I can without tearing it apart but, upon firing it up, it did not help with the clicking or the auto functioning. As an additional piece of data, the clicking seems to get worse when the tonearm lift is in the up position - clue? Next step is to search for manuals. I was able to DL the operation manual but no luck on the service. VinylEngine shows they have it in their library but I run into a Catch-22; you have to be a member to access the library but they're not accepting new members. A deep search does not show other sites with it. So I'm SOL. I was able to DL one for a PS-X6/7 - is this close?

Short of getting it all working correctly - is there a straight forward way to turn it into a manual only TT? (Setting the knob to manual causes it to try to act semi-automatically with the same clicking and weird herky-jerky motions.)

Any help resolving this is greatly appreciated. The thing is a beast and I'd like to get it set up.

yustr

 

[taskerc]

In my experience, that clicking is the result of a sticky linkage that keeps something in contact with the geared teeth on the underside of the platter. Ultimately i had to go piece by piece in the mechanism to get to the root cause - but as I recall it was an old grease issue was causing a particular part to not release properly.

 

[Tonoje]

I've done that as best I can without tearing it apart

To access all the parts that need cleaning and lubrication, you'll probably have to do some disassembly. For an auto mechanism, you can't really be selective about what to lubricate and what to leave untouched just because it's difficult to get to. The Sonys in this series are a bit more complicated in that respect than some auto turntables. However, using it as a manual only turntable is missing out on its potential. There are plenty of fine manual-only turntables already available, which could equal or outdo that Sony (by upgrading the tonearm, for example). Fully auto functionality, on the other hand, is great to have, and the best reason for holding onto it.

If you can't get the manual from someone else I'll see if I can make it available by downloading from Vinyl Engine. I might need a day or two though, as I don't have round-the-clock access there or here.

 

[yustr]

Thanks tasker - I guess I'll keep at it. And Tonoje yes I'd like to keep it auto as well. Just wondering about it rather than bin it after all attempts fail.

 

[taskerc]

Its a strangely good table - i bought one on a whim - it had all the normal issues and when i got it running it was far better in performance than i expected. Auto performance not elegant but very reliable once it was set up. Motor is strong and quiet and the platter, which seemed to ring like a massive bell, calmed down nicely with the platter matt. I put a wide array of cartridges in the arm and it was crazy accepting of most. So i ended up buying four more - all had the same issues but cleaned up very well and i gifted them to friends of my University attending son. One of the kids fathers called me asking if i could get one for him - he said his sons “new table” blew away his long loved expensive 80s belt drive.

So its certainly a better table that it looks like it should be and it is just before the addition of more and more electronics (to fail) in the x6 and x7 and beyond models - so infinitely repairable, and once cleaned up and lubed, probably outlives us all .