Dual 1219 Cue Control.

hjt_sc

hjt_sc

New Member
I have the opportunity to pick up a Dual 1219 for $120. I know from reading AK that it's a solid table, but unfortunately the one I'm considering has a broken cue control. From what I can tell pulling the lever doesn't actually lift the tonearm. Anyone know how easy that is to fix? Plus, is this a reasonable price to pay for an otherwise perfect-condition 1219 (with Pickering cart).
 
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Not to burst your bubble, but what makes you think that it is 'otherwise perfect'?
Most probably, it is a very early serial #, which had no cueing with the rear arm height lever set to 'multi'.
Also, it truly does need a complete overhaul at it's age.
The motor needs to be torn apart and lubed to assure it has a long, quiet life, a few parts that have worn away or dried up, need replacement. The gummed-up mechanism needs to be disassembled, cleaned and lubed. Lots of work to make it perfect.
So that is $120,+ that again and a bit more for an overhaul.
If it is early serial #, I would hold out for a later unit, but be certain that the knobs are still metal.

Seth
 
henrytucker said:
I have the opportunity to pick up a Dual 1219 for $120. I know from reading AK that it's a solid table, but unfortunately the one I'm considering has a broken cue control. From what I can tell pulling the lever doesn't actually lift the tonearm. Anyone know how easy that is to fix? Plus, is this a reasonable price to pay for an otherwise perfect-condition 1219 (with Pickering cart).
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I think the nonlift may be an issue with the hydraulic system that dual uses for cueing, I guess fluid just leaks out dries up..whatever, i cant recall what viscosity damping fluid one needs for replacement, but others will (i just never had that prob). Thats one possibility, another is something really is broken..or someone played with the cueing adjustment screw..anyway..go to vinylengine.com sign up for free and take a look at the service manual for that model..that should shed some light
 
The damping paste may leak out with time, but that particular lubricant never dries out. Those of us who fix these things will attest to the fact that the service manual is generally crap.

I have a collection of Dual-brand turntables, but my 1219 is my sonic-favorite.

Seth
 
If it's truly in good shape $120 is a fair price but heed No Transistors' good advice. Make sure it doesn't need a complete servicing as your end cost will end up being over $200. If it has been serviced, you can count on great performance but also the need for periodic maintenance. Hey, it's a high performance machine but an old and complicated one.

Many 1219s have no cue operation if the operation selector around the base of the tonearm is not in the manual position. It ain't broke, it's 'spose to be that way.

If the selector, or any other switch or knob, won't move easily DON'T FORCE IT! There are little pieces that can break off and it's a sure sign that the 1219 has not been serviced and needs a cleaning and lubrication (CL). Force it and you'll have a 1219 that needs surgery!

There are several members who are experienced Dual service people. I'm experienced but claim no special expertise (I was a tech but left it for the photography business almost 30 years ago). You can trust what our resident Dual experts will tell you.
 
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On the 1219, the single/multi lever must NOT be operated until the elevator slides have been cleaned and lubed, else you risk breaking the tabs on the RING, which is a NLA part. Also, the elevator uses a rubber spring (looks like a grommet) which usually gets hard and needs to be replaced.

The speed selector often sticks.

The rocker lever that turns the motor on and off often gets a sticky pivot bearing, which --when combined with a sticky speed selector assembly -- can cause the motor to stay ON even though the turntable is nominally off.

Original Dual audio cables suck. Also, the contacts in the headshell and headshell receptable just love to oxidize.

The tonearm clutch pad crumbles, causing the tonearm cycling to fail. The arm will not want to move over when you hit START, and it will not want to go back to the arm rest when the record is over.

The cuing uses high-viscosity silicone oil. This needs to be renewed every 10-20 years.

The manual cuing does not work -- as I recall -- in the MULTI position, but again, do not operate the single/multi lever until the elevator is serviced.

As noted above, the motor must be taken apart, cleaned, lubed, and reassembled. Not a task for the faint-hearted.

Best,

Fred
 
When I owned one of these as my main turntable, it got a full servicing every year. All of Fred Longworth's services were done at each servicing. If I had to pay a technician to do this, back in 1980 this would have been $100 then. And parts for a 1219 were available easily then and reasonably priced. Just a headshell alone now is over $65 today. My Dual got 2-6 hours of use a day. I was trained then on it's upkeep.
 
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