• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Dual 1218

Pauleye58

Pauleye58

Purveyor of Boots
This is my first post here which concerns my vintage system. I have been using a Technics SL-1900 table for years. Well yesterday I purchased a Dual 1218 table in exceptional visual and operational condition. But, as I learned from owning the Technics table, there are always little things that can and will go wrong. What is your general opinion of the Dual 1218? Where can I download or purchase an owner's manual for the Dual? Any help and/or opinions will be greatly appreciated!
 
Register to hide this ad
Well, I got a dead one here....if you need some parts, lemme know. I would be happy to pull them off and give them to you.
 
Welcome to AK, Pauleye58. Kick yer boots off, make y'self t'home. :)

The 1218 is fine record player. Not state of the art since it drives the platter with an idler, but among changers, it's one of the better ones.

What do you play it through, like speakers and amp, etc?
 
Well, Aage asked about my system. I am using a Sony STR6055 receiver with a pair of Sansui SP-X6700 speakers. Everything is set up in our spare bedroom which is 14'X14' square. The only furniture in the room is a dresser 10' long that carries my system, a LazyBoy recliner, an old empty wooden Budweiser beer case to set my drink on, and five 6-foot high shelving units filled with vinyl. A smaller 3 1/2 foot high shelving unit sits under the lone window in the room and holds all my Bob Dylan bootlegs. It all works fine for me!
 
Sounds good, Pauleye. That's what you hear referred to as a "man cave" here. :tongue:

You asked about what sort of things can/will go wrong. If you want to read up on repair and maintenance on it, do a search on here on Dual, you'll see there's lots of stuff posted.

There are several posters on AK that have high levels of expertise regarding Dual, but I won't list them for fear of leaving someone out. One of them has already checked in here. :yes:

Suffice it to say, you could tear it down to clean and lube it, and maybe replace some stuff, but on the other hand you seem to say that it's working, so why tempt fate?
 
A hardy Welcome! to AK, Pauleye,

I've been using a 1218 for about a year now, and I like it just fine, sure it can't compete with many newer tables, but wow and flutter are certainly acceptable. The motor is quiet and the TT functions properly. I cleaned and lubricated all the moving parts, the old grease is a source of problems with function. I still need to replace/revitalize the idler, but as long as there's no audible noise caused by it, I'm not going to worry about it. I use a Shure M97xE that replaced the original Shure Hi-track that came with it.

I haven't found a free manual on line for it, but if you google it, you will find some info.

Start here:
http://www.dual-reference.com/tables/1218.htm

and here:
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/dual.shtml

Good Luck with your new toy!
 
Hi,

Welcome aboard! I have owned 5 or 6 Dual 1218 turntables. It's a fine machine and idler drive. Your Dual was likely built in 1972 or 1973. Fine tonearm too. The 1218 cost $200 new then with base and dust cover. It also can be used as a changer with the changer spindle and is easy on records. Duals were built in the Black Forest in West Germany.
 
Duals are all I run around here...

The 1218 was in the middle of their line. If its running fine I would not mess with it. Be careful with it if you lubricate it. They are easy to ruin the changer mechanism. Listen to the motor for noise. I take a noisey one apart and clean the bearings and lubricate with a drop od 30 weight motor oil. Did the 1229 and my 1009 and have not taken apart in years. Still quiet. While not the bests these Duals sound good to me:thmbsp:

Eric:music:
 
bohhey said:
"Well, I got a dead one here"

?

No such thing as a dead 1218. What's wrong with it?
Click to expand...

The platter needs stuff reglued, a new tonearm tip, prolly a new idler, a mechanism rebuild, some work to the speed changer, and a headhsell....in short, a complete parts machine. Only thing that works is the Stacking spindle, I think.
 
vinyldavid said:
The platter needs stuff reglued, a new tonearm tip, prolly a new idler, a mechanism rebuild, some work to the speed changer, and a headhsell....in short, a complete parts machine. Only thing that works is the Stacking spindle, I think.
Click to expand...

Will the stacking spindle fit my Dual 1009?
 
vinyldavid said:
Well, I got a dead one here....if you need some parts, lemme know. I would be happy to pull them off and give them to you.
Click to expand...

If the spindle for centering the LP will work for the 1219, I could use that part. Also, what about the speed selector control on the right side? I wonder if that will work on the 1219 as well?

Any ideas? If they would, David, I would reimburse you for shipping the parts.
 
Hmm . . . I always thought the speed selector was on the left side near the front of the machine, and the DIAMETER selector was on the right.

The tonearm clutch -- p/n 223777 -- is the #1 thing that goes wrong with the 1218. Also, pay attention to the speed selector assembly on the left front. These parts interface closely with the idler wheel arm and with the power on/off lever, so that when the speed selector gets sticky (sometimes even frozen) this can cause the idler wheel not to contact the motor pulley (or to have difficulty doing so) and can also cause the machine not to shut off when it should, resulting in a motor that runs endlessly, even though the platter is not turning, resulting in the motor freezing up or worse: burning out.

Fred
 
Stacker for the 1218 will not work on the 10XX series. Speed selector lever on the 1218 will not fit the 1219. Never lost a 1218 motor, and I've seen my share of them...
 
The 1218 was the top of the line 10" platter DUAL in 1972 - 1973. The later 1228 is a near twin. Damn good table that was bettered, in the Dual line, only by the 1219/1229 models.

There's nothing bad about idler drive if it's engineered and manufactured correctly. Many highly regarded tables used idlers and some new ones still do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom