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DP-47F tonearm not returning for most records

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Geordiepete

New Member
Moved house recently and after the move my DP-47F tonearm is not returning. The turntable is level, the red light is clean. The arm moves in place to auto-start, it's just not auto-returning.

However, I can get translucent records to auto-return. The turntable is blow a window, so sunlight stops auto-return on translucent records. However, when I place a record cover on the turntable lid, auto-return works as normal. Yet this fix does not work with more solid coloured records, especially black vinyl (most of my collection).

So, for all my LPs and singles, the stylus reaches the starting point automatically just fine. And for my translucent LPs, when I cover the lid with an album cover the stylus automatically returns at the end of a side. But for my solid black vinyl, whether 7" or 12", although they start fine, the stylus stays in place at the end of a side and does not return automatically.

Can someone please help me work out what the cause might be and what solutions I can try?
 
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Geordiepete said:
Moved house recently and after the move my DP-47F tonearm is not returning. The turntable is level, the red light is clean. The arm moves in place to auto-start, it's just not auto-returning.

However, I can get translucent records to auto-return. The turntable is blow a window, so sunlight stops auto-return on translucent records. However, when I place a record cover on the turntable lid, auto-return works as normal. Yet this fix does not work with more solid coloured records, especially black vinyl (most of my collection).

So, for all my LPs and singles, the stylus reaches the starting point automatically just fine. And for my translucent LPs, when I cover the lid with an album cover the stylus automatically returns at the end of a side. But for my solid black vinyl, whether 7" or 12", although they start fine, the stylus stays in place at the end of a side and does not return automatically.

Can someone please help me work out what the cause might be and what solutions I can try?
Click to expand...
On mine I needed to rotate the platter mat 180 degrees for translucent records.
 
Do you have the oem platter mat and is it properly installed? Iirc, my old dp47 had cutouts in the mat for sensors. Perhaps if the mat isn’t properly aligned or if the entire platter assembly is in misalignment that may affect tone arm return. You’re also probably due for a recap, which may or may not be related to your problem.
 
Hajidub said:
On mine I needed to rotate the platter mat 180 degrees for translucent records.
Click to expand...
Thanks for replying. Yes, except that should be 90 degrees. A 180 degree turn will mean it's at the same setting, the slip mat either covering or leaving open the slits on the platter. Mine is set to the slits being left open with the mat on, yet black vinyl and other solid colour records auto-start but don't auto-return.
 
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Gigantic said:
Do you have the oem platter mat and is it properly installed? Iirc, my old dp47 had cutouts in the mat for sensors. Perhaps if the mat isn’t properly aligned or if the entire platter assembly is in misalignment that may affect tone arm return. You’re also probably due for a recap, which may or may not be related to your problem.
Click to expand...
Thanks, yes, I have the original Denon slip mat and the cutouts on my mat are aligned with the slits on the platter. My DP-47F was made in the last year of production, but also, the fact that it's working in some situations makes me think it's not about capacitors but some other setting, such as the vinyl screw that can be adjusted when the bottom wood panel of the turntable is removed. There's also a flat metal dial that can be rotated on a larger circular plate that I think relates to where the tonearm lowers to start playing a record. Tinkering with these two is not fun, because I do not know for sure exactly what they do and which direction does what. Anyone here know?

Other things: I have cleaned the curved rubber friction pad, that adds friction to the tonarm motion. I've made sure the TT is level. I don't know what else to try.
 
Thank you, but I know nothing about electronics. So, does this mean that likely some electronics components need to be replaced and I should take it to a hi-fi repair shop?
 
Sleiven said:
The sensors can befooled by the strong light, does curtains help?
Most Denons need CsD photoresistors replacement at old age, possibly leds too
Click to expand...
I draw the blind and to be sure I put a record cover on top of the lid. That works for my translucent records but still, auto-return does not work on black records.
 
I think the slits in the platter are to tell the TT that a 7" or a 12" disk is on the platter or that no record is there. The LED shines through the slits and is detected by photoresistors. However, I don't know how how the DP-47F 'knows' that the tonearm has reached the end of a side. Could someone please tell me that mechanism?
 
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look up the service manual. The arm movement turns a connected plate inside the turntable. Three LED shine in 3 photoresistors that detect the position of the arm . The end of the record is thereby detected. The logic is also determined by the light tower shining LED rays though the platter slit or not. The photo resistors die out. See Balle Clorin post on Vinyl Engine

With translucent or no records the arm should not settle on the record at all , but return immediately to the arm rest. So your behaviour indicate that the logic is screwed up by failing photoresistors (CdS)

I Denon I was also fooled by stray light , the platter would not stop unless in sharp torchlight on it..


Edit found the link
 
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Sleiven said:
look up the service manual. The arm movement turns a connected plate inside the turntable. Three LED shine in 3 photoresistors that detect the position of the arm . The end of the record is thereby detected. The logic is also determined by the light tower shining LED rays though the platter slit or not. The photo resistors die out. See Balle Clorin post on Vinyl Engine
Click to expand...
Thank you. Where are the three photoresistors that detect the tonearm position? Are they connected to the tonearm-coupled plate?

My online search skills are not perfectand the only Balle Clorin post on Vinyl Engine I can find is: https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=3101

I tried "Balle Clorin post on Vinyl Engine" AND "DP-47F", but that did not yield a relevant result. Could you give me a hand either with the URL or search engine keywords?
 
Here it is under the Denon forum

See here too goes directly to 47f fix

Even better here on this forum shows every step
henkjas

Thread 'Easy do it yourself service on denon dp47-f'

As I did some research on how to service a Denon dp47-f, I learned some lessons I'd like to share with you.
When you have some experience soldering you can do some service yourself and solve some problems that often occur with these older turntables.

Sure, there are a lot of people telling you should do a complete recap, replacing 36 electrolytic capacitors. I can imagine that's difficult for a lot of people. Like me with some soldering experience it seems a hell of a job, and I don't have all the knowledge and equipment to do all the variable resistor settings. But there's a reasonable...
  • Like
 
Last edited:
Sleiven said:
Here it is under the Denon forum

See here too goes directly to 47f fix

Even better here on this forum shows every step
henkjas

Thread 'Easy do it yourself service on denon dp47-f'

As I did some research on how to service a Denon dp47-f, I learned some lessons I'd like to share with you.
When you have some experience soldering you can do some service yourself and solve some problems that often occur with these older turntables.

Sure, there are a lot of people telling you should do a complete recap, replacing 36 electrolytic capacitors. I can imagine that's difficult for a lot of people. Like me with some soldering experience it seems a hell of a job, and I don't have all the knowledge and equipment to do all the variable resistor settings. But there's a reasonable...
  • Like
Click to expand...
Cheers!
 
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