Garrard 4hf restoration

[TrevorBarten]

So I just got this lovely new turntable but it needs some work. It does play but the cartridge sounds pretty bad and the motor doesn't seem to be turning fast enough (just a tad bit too slow) the idler wheel hasn't gotten hard though also the arm needs to be cleaned and it has some rust on it any idea how I came fix these problems? Also the feet are missing and the power plug looks like it has a cable hanging out (possibly the ground?)

 

[gadget73]

Motor probably wants some lube. If you haven't yet, try to get a few drops of lube in there. It wants something like turbine oil, sewing machine oil, or anything sold as being for electric motor use. I think these also have a speed control. Make sure that is clean and working properly too.

Cartridge looks like an old ceramic, nothing special there. Swap it for something better.

Cord looks like a grounded cord but a 2 prong power connector. I'm guessing you're in Europe based on that plug. Should be able to change that to a grounded plug without any fuss.

 

[TrevorBarten]

Motor probably wants some lube. If you haven't yet, try to get a few drops of lube in there. It wants something like turbine oil, sewing machine oil, or anything sold as being for electric motor use. I think these also have a speed control. Make sure that is clean and working properly too.

Cartridge looks like an old ceramic, nothing special there. Swap it for something better.

Cord looks like a grounded cord but a 2 prong power connector. I'm guessing you're in Europe based on that plug. Should be able to change that to a grounded plug without any fuss.

Cool swapped out the cartridge for a philips 412 I think the previous owner already converted the record player to stereo (or atleast replaced the rca cable) so all I had to do was add 1 more ground cable in the headshell as for the motor I lubed it up and it runs fine now so apart from the arm not being completely right everything on the technical side is working fine as for the physical aspects I am still not sure how to go about it

 

[gadget73]

I've had pretty good luck with using glass cleaner to get the general filth off, and then whatever car wax you like to polish it up afterward. Never done a 4HF, but it works on other Garrard models. The arm you might try some metal polish. Guessing that was originally aluminum or zinc with a clear lacquer on it. Looks like the clear has flaked off and you're into the raw metal underneath. It will likely never look perfect, but if it is indeed clearcoat, you can peel all of it off then re-clear that part of the arm. My Type A has a similar looking section of arm, and I've honestly never studied it all that close to see precisely what the finish is. Absolute worst case, if you can confirm they are the same, a parts donor Type A might be able to give up that portion of the tonearm. I'm relatively sure it attaches to the pivot and the headshell end with some screws so you can likely take it out and change it for another.

 

[TrevorBarten]

I've had pretty good luck with using glass cleaner to get the general filth off, and then whatever car wax you like to polish it up afterward. Never done a 4HF, but it works on other Garrard models. The arm you might try some metal polish. Guessing that was originally aluminum or zinc with a clear lacquer on it. Looks like the clear has flaked off and you're into the raw metal underneath. It will likely never look perfect, but if it is indeed clearcoat, you can peel all of it off then re-clear that part of the arm. My Type A has a similar looking section of arm, and I've honestly never studied it all that close to see precisely what the finish is. Absolute worst case, if you can confirm they are the same, a parts donor Type A might be able to give up that portion of the tonearm. I'm relatively sure it attaches to the pivot and the headshell end with some screws so you can likely take it out and change it for another.

It looks like brushed aluminium underneath am in the process of buying a donor machine that's in really nice condition (sadly without a plint) pretty sure the arm is just dirty and not actually damaged but still it would be hard to get off alsA anlage what do the you mean exactly with car wax ? There are some places that have a bit of rust non them so I'd like to retouch those parts

 

[gadget73]

the wax is useful to clean and shine the paint. Won't do anything for rust or serious issues, but it helps with dull or discolored spots. Mine have all come to me dirty but the paint was in good shape otherwise.