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ARXA Restoration, where to start?

AvFan said:
Your first post said you had some woodworking skills so you might consider making a new base and leaving all the mechanical work to Marc. That is what I did with my XB.

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Avfan built my plinth. Amazing work! Add the Full Monty Marc Morin mods and it is a work of beauty. Definitely worth doing to the OP’s table.
 
Thanks to Marc for sharing his knowledge of this issue. I have been drinking Dr. Tweakos AR Snake Oil for 30 years. I have now gone to the medicine cabinet, and poured the bottle into the toilet. However, in George Merrill's defense, his acrylic/lead subchassis did include a new bearing well and the spindle was replaced, stiffer springs were also offered. The well and spindle were very tight, after inserting Merrill Oil, you had to wait hours while the inner platter settled into the spindle well.

Any other experience out there with Merrill AR mods? I sold my Merrill AR after purchasing the WTRP.
 
Got it all apart now, I'm knee deep in parts!

I want to go to a sme type headshell and read about swapping a technics arm tube from a sld2. Does anyone know if the sld3 is the same?
 
I just took the collar off any SME style tonearm and used the original arm . It worked great .

Nashou
 
Next question. The degraded felt washer that sits atop the bearing; what do you replace that with? Also, for the thrust plate, should I just flip them over? Is there anywhere to source these type of parts or anyone know a good DIY hack?
 
Carbon13 said:
Yup, I'm thinking of doing just that. I'd like to do some of the work myself because I do enjoy it but I do know the limitations of my skills. So I figured I would try to do what I can and then send to marc to work his magic!
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If you don’t do anything else at least let Marc upgrade the AR arm. I picked up an XB for cheap money and fixed it up to play it stock for awhile. I was impressed by it and Marc sent me an upgraded arm to swap onto my XB. The improvement was jaw dropping.

After playing this configuration for awhile I took the table to Marc’s house for the full set of mods. Yes, I do a lot of tweaking and restoring myself but Marc’s work is so worth the cost. It was a pleasure to meet him and see him in action.

I am an Electrical Engineer that moved into the program management ranks many years ago. I can spot real engineering talent a mile away. I know a little bit about his professional accomplishments and you should be able to tell by the way he explains complex subjects that he was a deep understanding of engineering and physics. There is no unnecessary cost and work in his tables. Everything he does has purpose and he can tell you why. His work is superlative. My XB is never leaving me.

You are entering on the path to a table that will compete with some of the big dollar tables. Not a perfect table but one that sounds right.
 
Carbon13 said:
Marc - you mentioned in an earlier post that there are ways to make the haydon motor quieter?
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quieter during running, and playback. motor needs opened, cleaned, properly greased and oiled, a little refinishing of the top bushing where it rides on the thrust disk, and that bushing setting.
 
Carbon13 said:
Next question. The degraded felt washer that sits atop the bearing; what do you replace that with? Also, for the thrust plate, should I just flip them over? Is there anywhere to source these type of parts or anyone know a good DIY hack?
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there is no felt washer at the top of the well. that was foam rubber that has turned into coal, and bits and pieces are down into the bearing well. Unless you address the condition of the ball end of the spindle, changing the thrust plate is pointless, as it will wear rapidly. flipping the existing one you find it dished in its current state, will be convex if you flip it, the spindle will orbit on it.
 
Ok, got it. I cleaned the wells out really well with brakleen. As for the spindle, I'm guessing that has to be machined?

Marc- I sent you a pm with my email. Let me know if you are able to help and I'd be more than happy to pay for your services! I'm in Canada so I will have to figure out shipping etc.
 
Here is mine (before feet added).

AvFan plinth is African Padak and it looks like 3D grain with a wonderful pattern and reddish-Brown hue. The black paint on the top plate actually has some colored flecks in it that I can’t capture on camera. It shines like a mirror.

It has all Marc Morin upgrades known to man at the time. Playing it now with Grado Signature 8MX cartridge and MCZ stylus.

This table has an extremely quiet background and it makes good music.

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Solist and bobins08, beautiful decks! Love the wood plinths! I was considering a light faceplate but I decided to stay with black. I'm going to try to find a silver headshell as I like the look of that combination. The plinth I am a bit more flexible on. I do like the traditional walnut but could go with cherry or maple. Or I could go really exotic like you guys! Decisions decisions!
 
I can only wish that AR XA was mine :) An AK member posted it not so long ago and it went immediately into the "DIY Plinths" folder
 
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