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Gerard Zero 100 Hum

Payneman2022

Payneman2022

New Member
I have a Garrard Zero 100 that I'm trying to get back in shape. Biggest issue is the hum that seems to becoming out of the wires going into the cartridge. The hum is constant and when the cartridge wires or the tone arm is touched the hum becomes much more pronounced. Wondering where exactly the short or loose connection is. When I first got the turntable the hum was there yet very faint, through the years it's become so pronounced that I shelved it last year.

Love this turntable! Would really like to bring it back to life. Thanks in advance for any help.

PM2022
 
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One of the weaknesses is the headshell. I usually start by cleaning the contacts with contact cleaner. Deoxitnor or Radio Shack. Lightly sand if the first thing doesn’t cure it. Also the contacts are spring loaded and with time they loose their tension. Result bad contact and hum. Another problem you could have is a bad ground connection. That’s a single wire from turntable to amp/receiver. A quick check: take a piece of wire connect to ground on your amp. Hold the other end to a metal part on the turntable. Did the hum go away? Third cause could be a broken audio cable. On my Zero 100 it’s real easy to replace them. Another trick. Is the hum on both channels? Try unplugging one cable at a time. Did the hum go away? If so, you have a bad audio cable. Hope this helps,

Eric
 
stereofisher said:
One of the weaknesses is the headshell. I usually start by cleaning the contacts with contact cleaner. Deoxitnor or Radio Shack. Lightly sand if the first thing doesn’t cure it. Also the contacts are spring loaded and with time they loose their tension. Result bad contact and hum. Another problem you could have is a bad ground connection. That’s a single wire from turntable to amp/receiver. A quick check: take a piece of wire connect to ground on your amp. Hold the other end to a metal part on the turntable. Did the hum go away? Third cause could be a broken audio cable. On my Zero 100 it’s real easy to replace them. Another trick. Is the hum on both channels? Try unplugging one cable at a time. Did the hum go away? If so, you have a bad audio cable. Hope this helps,

Eric
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Eric! Good stuff and recommendations, I have tried most of them. So here is what is probably the main issue. I removed the cartridge and the hum was still there. I then traced the wires from the tone arm to in underbelly of the unit and found 4 wires that were disconnected from the board where the output jacks go! I have no idea how that happened. When it comes to the mechanical aspects of turntables I do okay yet when you get into the electronics I don't have the tools to do that type of work.

Looks like I need to get it to a tech, problem is finding one that will just repair loose wiring without wanting to do all the repairs. I have attached a picture of the loose wires. Wondering why the turntable would have functioned for as long as it did with a mild hum in the background to not being playable with the pronounced, loud hum. Thanks again.

John
 

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Definitely loose wires have to be fixed but if signal was getting through they haven't been disconnected long.

It also doesn't require a full service technician to solder them either so maybe you know someone locally who can help.

BTW, a trick that helped me with a Zero and it's headshell connection was to slip a tiny sliver of plastic cut from a yoghurt tub under the 4 leaf springs to make them stand a bit higher and make better contact. I will try and get a picture for you.
 
Payneman2022 said:
Thanks Eric! Good stuff and recommendations, I have tried most of them. So here is what is probably the main issue. I removed the cartridge and the hum was still there. I then traced the wires from the tone arm to in underbelly of the unit and found 4 wires that were disconnected from the board where the output jacks go! I have no idea how that happened. When it comes to the mechanical aspects of turntables I do okay yet when you get into the electronics I don't have the tools to do that type of work.

Looks like I need to get it to a tech, problem is finding one that will just repair loose wiring without wanting to do all the repairs. I have attached a picture of the loose wires. Wondering why the turntable would have functioned for as long as it did with a mild hum in the background to not being playable with the pronounced, loud hum. Thanks again.

John
Click to expand...

Rewiring those connections isn’t hard. If you want I can open up my Zero and take a picture of where the wires go. They are small and I don’t use wire stripper on them as it only breaks them. I take a solder gun to melt off the insulation exposing the bare wires. Just did a Dual 1229. Did a BSR 810. Those wires are really brittle and break easily! Remember these turntables are over 40 yrs old. The BSR was miserable. I use a surgical clamp to hold the in place while I solder it. Too bad your not local. I’d get you going,

Eric
 
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