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Anyone tried Thorens TD-124 machined o-ring idler?

gary7

gary7

AK Subscriber
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Anyone out there tried one of these? I decided I might have to send my TD-124 idler in to have it refurbished. I saw an ebay vendor in Italy, audiosilente, had a machined idler with o-rings for replacement. I asked Jim Campbell if he knew anything about them. He said he said the few times he had used them he had good success. They are only a little more than the refurb. I figure buying NOS would be a gamble. I also popped for it and for the 6mm brass shaft bottom.
 
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I have one on mine for about a year now with no problems. Runs quiet and true. I have bought a few things from that guy and he makes quality parts.
 
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As for sound of music coming out of the speakers I can't say for sure with my ears there is an improvement. But what I can say under stethoscope the wheel runs quitter than the stock wheel. Gets up to speed faster and the tolerance of the part is a lot better than the stock one. Plus if it does happen to wear out you just have to replace the O-ring. You don't have to buy another USED wheel for $100. So IMO it is an improvement.
 
I bought one, partly on bob's recommendation. I think the table holds speed a little more consistently now, and seems to be a little darker. Lower noise floor etc.

It was not night and day, but I haven't gone back. My idler was in great shape - probably makes more sense as an upgrade for a cracked or out-of-round idler.
 
My idler is not rock hard or cracked. But I think it might be a little stiffer than it should be to run quiet. I'm changing what I can economically myself first to lower the noise floor. New belt coming. Got the brass spindle shaft cap coming. I will probably have the motor re-built 1st of the year by Jim Campbell. So far I love the sound and impact to the music has that seemed missing from the belt drive only tables I've owned. As is, at moderate levels, the rumble is not too noticeable. Only when I crank it. Hope the mods help with that.
 
After more reading I found there should be a fiber washer and possibly a nylon washer under the stock idler. Mine had none. Could this add to the rumble level? I picked up some nylon washers from Lowes that fit and installed one. It did not help much, may have made it a little noisier. Tried some Lithium grease on the shaft, still no better. Should I add a fiber washer under thr nylon washer, where might I find one? Still waiting on the machined idler from Italy.
 
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There should always be the nylon washer on the shaft. The fiber washers are to adjust the height of the Idler so it rides right on the stepped pulley. If I remember the manual says no more than 2 fiber washers.
 
bob06 said:
There should always be the nylon washer on the shaft. The fiber washers are to adjust the height of the Idler so it rides right on the stepped pulley. If I remember the manual says no more than 2 fiber washers.
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How thick should the nylon washer be? The one I have seems to raise the idler a little too high.
 
gary7 said:
How thick should the nylon washer be? The one I have seems to raise the idler a little too high.
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I don't know that off the top of my head. But I'm getting ready to do some work on my 124 so I will measure the washer when I have it apart.
 
bob06 said:
I don't know that off the top of my head. But I'm getting ready to do some work on my 124 so I will measure the washer when I have it apart.
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Thanks. Soundfountain.com says it is an F 1323 Nylon washer, but I could not find any info on that number.
 
This is the "washer" that was on my 124 when I got it.
 

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Here's the Nylon Washer. It's 0.018 thick or 46mm. The fiber washer first. The nylon washer goes between the fiber and the idler.
 

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No. Never seen them for sale. Measure the Idler wheel shaft then go to the hardware store or search online. Even if you can find a smaller hole or thicker washer you can always ream out the hole or file the washer thinner.
 
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