Belt for Gray HSK-33?

[mmcc]

Hi - I'm rehabilitating a Gray HSK-33 turntable. I've gotten off most of the grime, and found that the motor runs (very quietly) and the power indicator lights up.

The belt is long gone, and I haven't found an authoritative source on what sort of belt it requires. Some threads I've found suggest that it is a differently badged Rek-o-kut K33-H. On the other hand, it looks a lot like a Gray PK-33. According to turntablebasics.com, these two take different sized belts.

Anyone know for sure what the right belt is?

 

[jack beazley]

Hi - I'm rehabilitating a Gray HSK-33 turntable. I've gotten off most of the grime, and found that the motor runs (very quietly) and the power indicator lights up.

The belt is long gone, and I haven't found an authoritative source on what sort of belt it requires. Some threads I've found suggest that it is a differently badged Rek-o-kut K33-H. On the other hand, it looks a lot like a Gray PK-33. According to turntablebasics.com, these two take different sized belts.

Anyone know for sure what the right belt is?

View attachment 1322660 View attachment 1322661

 

[jack beazley]

Hi........................I just bought or took a chance you might say and purchased a Gray HSK-33 turntable that is missing the belt.....the unit is very clean for its age, thus I thought I would give it a try.................Did you happen to find a belt length that will work for yours.....and what type of belt....ie flat or round???.............would appreciate very much.......jack in texas

 

[Nat]

I've never seen a belt drive platter with a radiused side. Wonder how the belt rides on it - it ought to align itself very much on the high point, which would be good.
I had a different Gray table which used a doped linen belt, if I remember correctly - it was greenish and the weave of the cloth was visible through the rubberizing.

 

[jack beazley]

I've never seen a belt drive platter with a radiused side. Wonder how the belt rides on it - it ought to align itself very much on the high point, which would be good.
I had a different Gray table which used a doped linen belt, if I remember correctly - it was greenish and the weave of the cloth was visible through the rubberizing.

I am wondering if it takes a round belt that rides in the groove area..........the radius edge has also been a question for me........

 

[Nat]

Belts will ride on the highest spot of a motor pulley, and I assume that is the same for the platter. Though the grommets on your motor look somewhat collapsed, even if the motor was higher, I don't think the groove area is low enough to match the pulley. And why wouldn't they have just had the side flat unless there was a purpose?

 

[dtut]

The Gray 33 I have came with an excellent flat rubberized fabric belt. Belts for Empire 398s seem to be a good substitute. I suggest getting in touch with Michael at Esoteric Sound. The motor rides on four spherical rubber mounts - three on top and one below where the speed adjustment is. Sam Cogley found a source for them: Trying to find some rubber motor mounts | Audiokarma Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums The speed adjustment is the inverse of the the Empire The belt rides at different positions on the platter curve instead of on the capstan.

Good luck with your restoration.

 

[jack beazley]

The Gray 33 I have came with an excellent flat rubberized fabric belt. Belts for Empire 398s seem to be a good substitute. I suggest getting in touch with Michael at Esoteric Sound. The motor rides on four spherical rubber mounts - three on top and one below where the speed adjustment is. Sam Cogley found a source for them: Trying to find some rubber motor mounts | Audiokarma Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums The speed adjustment is the inverse of the the Empire The belt rides at different positions on the platter curve instead of on the capstan.

Good luck with your restoration.

And thanks very much for the helpful post...................I checked the Esoteric site again and talked to Michael.................come to find out after looking carefully at his listed belts, buried in belts for RekOkut tables ......the RK 38 inch belt listed for the K33 also lists the Gray HSK-33..............I ordered one to try.............Re: the Empire 398s you mentioned, I was not able to find the s model 398 only the 398 and 398a.........but if the one I ordered from Esoteric does'nt work out, i'll keep the 398s in mind.............regarding the rubber dampers......the silicone version sounds interesting....I followed your link to the PhotoShip site and tried to order 4, but the Pay Pal link was'nt working, so i'll try later...............I had already gotten a pac of 8 of the same dampers in neoprene from Amazon..........A company called Yuneec seems to be the supplier for those.....I'm going to whip this old Gray in to shape soon i hope.........again thanks jack

 

[dtut]

Jack,

Sorry, my bad. 398s was supposed to mean plural, not a model. It's good to hear you're finding what you need to get that best up and running. Please let us know how it goes.

Mine has a platter bearing problem I haven't solved so I've never heard it. Maybe you could help me: Would you post a photo of the bottom of your 33, especially the platter bearing. Mine sweats lubricant and I'd like to know if it's supposed to be in a casing.

Thanks,

 

[jack beazley]

Jack,

Sorry, my bad. 398s was supposed to mean plural, not a model. It's good to hear you're finding what you need to get that best up and running. Please let us know how it goes.

Mine has a platter bearing problem I haven't solved so I've never heard it. Maybe you could help me: Would you post a photo of the bottom of your 33, especially the platter bearing. Mine sweats lubricant and I'd like to know if it's supposed to be in a casing.

Thanks,

No problem...................this one when turned by hand seems to be smooth as butter.......................i will clean and lubricate it though before i run it..................jack

 

[dtut]

Jack,

Thanks for the photo. That bearing looks to be in excellent shape.

This conversation inspired me to pull my Gray out of storage and it's actually in pretty good shape - mostly just dirty

Would you do me a second favor and post a photo of the bearing well like the one I've posted? Mine sweats lubricant and I don't know if that's ok or if there is supposed to be a cover of some sort over it.

Thanks again.

 

[jack beazley]

Jack,

Thanks for the photo. That bearing looks to be in excellent shape.

This conversation inspired me to pull my Gray out of storage and it's actually in pretty good shape - mostly just dirty

Would you do me a second favor and post a photo of the bearing well like the one I've posted? Mine sweats lubricant and I don't know if that's ok or if there is supposed to be a cover of some sort over it.

Thanks again


Hello again................looks like you might be missing the bearing shaft end cover......but looking at your photo again......maybe not.......the top housing on yours looks different than the one I have............what kind of lubricant are you using??.......I had read that you just use light grade machine oil.................but maybe i'm wrong................

 

[dtut]

Jack,

Thank you. That will help and I appreciate it.

 

[snowstate]

Jack,

Thank you. That will help and I appreciate it.

My Gray 33-H would sweat lubricant also. After I installed a new Delrin thrust pad I put a 1.1” Silicon blanking cap over the end of the bearing housing. This solved the leaking for me.The caps are cheap and available online.

 

[Nat]

What a great (and obvious in retrospect) idea!