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Help me indentify this Pioneer Turntable

daveyh

daveyh

Super Member
I traded for this the other day and all the wires were cut and the motor does not spin. There are no stickers or markings on the table anywhere to tell me the model number. I think it may be a Pioneer PL-50 but I am not sure. I tried to rebuild the motor but I think it is just shot. Upon searching for a donor motor using a Google image search with a picture of the table I ran across several that look like this but all of them have a round motor. This one as you can see in my picture has a square one. Anyone know what I model number I should be searching for to replace this motor. I would like to get it up and running.
 

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It's not a PL-41 or a PL-50. The PL-41 has a round motor. The PL-50 has a square motor according to the service manual but it has more that just two wires coming out of the motor. PL-50 has four colored and mine has just two gray ones. :(
 
No, it isn't a PL-41 or a PL-50 but it is quite similar to the Pl-41 and appears to share many components with that model and is probably contemporary with it. It's an odd duck.

What it appears to be is a Japan-only PL-31 (except for the the motor).

pl-31.JPG


The motor appears to be the same as the PL-41.

pl-31(1).JPG

I suspect the belt cover on yours was repainted to conceal blisters in the plating, something that happens to all of them eventually.

http://audio-database.com/PIONEER-EXCLUSIVE/player/pl-31-e.html

Your best option might be to have the motor professionally rebuilt. Even if you find the right motor, it would probably be a 100VAC motor.

I'd also look into adapting a PL-41 or PL-50 motor.

John
 
You are absolutely right. :thumbsup: Motor number says in the manual N11-613-0. It is a multi-voltage unit just like the picture and has the black belt cover. By the way, the belt cover is made of black molded plastic. It is not metal like some of these that resemble this unit..

Thanks guys!!

I'm on the hunt.
 
Yes, the PL-30 and Pl-31 appear to be kind of down market versions of the PL-41. Though the tonearm seems to be basically the sane, the Pl-30 appears not to be height-adjustable and the plastic belt cover is another cost-cutter. The PL-41 motor is a very substantial beast and may be substantialer than the PL-30 motor. That's why I suggested trying to adapt a PL-41 motor. The two turntables take the same belt and appear to use similar platters. Plus, it'll be much easier to find a Pl-41 motor.

Here are some photos of a PL-41 motor I sold on eBay. See if you think it's adaptable.

Pioneer PL-41 Motor Assembly 001.JPG Pioneer PL-41 Motor Assembly 002.JPG Pioneer PL-41 Motor Assembly 003.JPG

John
 
daveyh said:
It does not look like it would fit to me.
Click to expand...

No, not as a drop-in. I was thinking of transferring the PL-41 motor, etc. to the PL-30 mounting plate. It would require drilling and tapping new mounting holes and a few wiring mods but I suspect you won't find it easy to locate a direct replacement for the original motor.

An alternative to this (or to a professional rebuild of the motor) is to start poring through service manuals and try to find another Pioneer that uses the same motor.

John
 
I took the motor apart and sanded the armature and bearing shaft using 1500 and then 2500 grit sand paper while spinning it in a drill chuck. It polished nice and bright. Also pulled the bearings and cleaned and inserted a new mylar bushing I had laying around. Actually it was broken and was causing the sieze and making it not spin. Oiled it up and she runs nice a quite. I just kept working on it till I got it fixed. Put it all back together and the unit sounds awesome! So glad I did not have to find a motor for it.

Thanks for all who helped me in this quest. Happy Thanksgiving!
 
Great news! Glad you got it up and running. Have you checked the thrust plate in the spindle assembly? It's probably pretty much disintegrated by now. If it is, there are replacements on eBay. If it's about 7/8" in diameter, the PL-41 thrust plate will work.

John
 
Another AK Save! It is great to have the inclination and the resources. I have the fine grit sandpaper but am pretty sure there are no Mylar bushings amongst my misc spares.

Well done - - -
 
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