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Garrard AT6 - Plays Too Fast - Suggestions?

AJD1964

AJD1964

Well-Known Member
My Garrard AT6 plays too fast. Both on 45 and 33. Probably on the other 2 speeds also, but I do not use them. I've searched many threads and found many solutions for fixing slow speed on these types of changers, but no fixes for being fast. I have a new idler wheel ordered, but I doubt that will help for this symptom. I'm hoping that will quiet it down some at least. It works fine other than being too fast.

A thought - Could this be because early '60's electronics were designed for 117vac? I'm running a good 120+ vac at the wall socket these days. But I would think frequency would affect speed more than 4-5 volts over spec on an AC motor.

I would rather not grind on the steps of the motor pulley shaft if I don't have to. From what I read those pulley shafts were metallurgically stress relieved for durability and precision machined at the factory.
 
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How much too fast? If its a lot too fast, then its probably running on the wrong step. if its slightly too fast, thats normal. They were designed to run a little quick, the logic being that by the time you got 6 on the platter it was running a little under speed. Overall, it averaged out close to right. If you want it dead on with a single on the platter, the only thing you can do is shave down the motor spindle or use a speed controller to slightly reduce the line frequency. The voltage has very little effect on how fast the motor runs. This is by design, otherwise every time you had a shift in line voltage your table would speed up or slow down.

They were not fancily machined either. its a hunk of brass spun in a lathe and turned down to the right dimensions. It wouldn't take much to remove some more material with very careful use of a fine file or sandpaper on a running motor. Be careful, over-shoot and you're stuck in slow-land with no recourse. You also want to make sure the pulley is square. It will run funny if you cut a taper into it.

For what it's worth, my AT60 has a nearly perfect pulley and runs a bit fast. My AT6 (essentially the same machine) has a noticeably worn pulley on the 33 step and its dead on at that speed. Its fast on the other 3.
 
Gadget - Thanks for the reply! I hoped you would see this. I've read many of your posts on changers.

How much too fast?
Well - I would say somewhat more than slightly, - borderline of irritating.
The idler seems to be setting in the step of the pulley ok. Funny thing is, I do not notice any slowing down as I stack 45's - 6 at a time.
Maybe on LP's I would, but I rarely stack LP's.

I'll wait & see how it does with the new idler when it comes in, then go from there.
 
what I mean by a lot too fast, its not running at 45 rpm when set to 33 rpm? That one is a fairly obvious fault to track down. If the idler sits in the middle of the step, then there isn't anything majorly off with regards to the motor mounting, the pulley location, or the linkage. If the motor mounts sag, it can make the idler sit on the pulley in the wrong spot and do goofy stuff to the speed.


The idler doesn't actually have anything to do with the speed, unless its slipping. The ratio is purely between the motor and the inside of the platter.
 
Update

I was able to slow it down some by slightly grinding on the steps of the motor pulley. I used my wife's metal finger nail file as the motor spun. I think I removed more black residue crud from the pulley than metal, but I did not want to go too far. This really helped a lot. I checked the speed with a strobe disk, and the marks just slightly creep forward now, and sounds more accurate... I'm happy with that.

Now - When the new idler wheel gets here, hopefully the slight rumble will be gone.
 
I've had pretty good results with new idlers in the past in terms of shutting up rumble. I wouldn't expect one of these to be absolutely silent but good parts will certainly not hurt it any.
 
New idler wheel was home when I got there... All good now! Speed is much more consistent, and mechanically quiet. Very slight rumble, but a BIG improvement. I'm happy.
 
yeah, its not a bad machine at all. It may not be a Thorens 224 but you could do a whole lot worse in terms of performance and mechanical messiness.
 
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