Let's mod a PL-41 !
- Thread starter Naptown Rob
- Start date
finnbow
The Dude Abides
I have the lower hinges (the ones that attach to the back of the plinth. My gifted PL-41 came without a dustcover, so I just took the hinges off and have adjusted to life without the dustcover pretty well.
My wife cut me a thin circular piece of some sort of hobby foam sheet that I place over the platter when the TT is not in use. It keeps the dust off and it matches the carpet.
You can have my lower hinges if you want, although I'm not sure they'll do you much good unless you find a loose dustcover somewhere with the other half of the hinges attached. Let me know if you want them and I'll throw them in the envelope with your thrust bearings.
Naptown Rob
Ponographer
That works. I'll try to scavange the other half of the hinges from a busted cover. At the rate UPS, FedEx, and dumb shippers are making them, I should have plenty to choose from...
MWalt
Super Member
I have the lower hinges (the ones that attach to the back of the plinth. My gifted PL-41 came without a dustcover, so I just took the hinges off and have adjusted to life without the dustcover pretty well.
My wife cut me a thin circular piece of some sort of hobby foam sheet that I place over the platter when the TT is not in use. It keeps the dust off and it matches the carpet.
You can have my lower hinges if you want, although I'm not sure they'll do you much good unless you find a loose dustcover somewhere with the other half of the hinges attached. Let me know if you want them and I'll throw them in the envelope with your thrust bearings.
When I modded my plinth and did the plinth in cherry, I lost the arm support on my cover. I really only use it when not hooked up to something.
MrIgotNomoney
Well-Known Member
Guys, Dustcovers for the Pioneer tables, have you seen the Ebay seller known as Turntabledepot, specifically item number 160347401376. This is a dustcover for a PL-50 but if im right it is the same as the cover for a PL-41, minus the kickstand.
Kinda pricey but looks pretty good.
bob
Kinda pricey but looks pretty good.
bob
I'm in for two of the delrin disks!
MrIgotNomoney
Well-Known Member
Guys, has anyone used the Novus plastic polishing kit??Rob
Been there done that...I am OVER trying to get shippers to package properly.
It's just a shame some sellers don't get it. I finally after three tries got a dustcover I can use with my PL-41 but I have scratches to try to mask.
By the way whenever you want the donor unit it's sitting in my garage of plenty! Come get it.
Its a 3 part system, a somewhat coarse polish to remove heavier scratches a fine polish to do a finish polish and the third is something like armor all to just clean. I have used this on numerous dustcovers with super results.
bob
Naptown Rob
Ponographer
Novus is great. I was blown away the first time I used it. "Polish plastic? Yeah, right! There'll be a million tiny scratches left behind." But does it ever work wonders.
I've found that the #2 takes care of all but the deepest scratches.
MWalt
Super Member
Can somebody do a little measuring for me? I am at the lake and away from my gear and am in hot pursuit of a donor tonearm for my PL-41. I need these stock arm length measurements:
-spindle to pivot point
-effective length (pivot to stylus)
-overall length
I also understand that Rob measured the mounting hole at 20mm?
-spindle to pivot point
-effective length (pivot to stylus)
-overall length
I also understand that Rob measured the mounting hole at 20mm?
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Naptown Rob
Ponographer
Mark -
I just checked these figures from Finnbow, & they seem about right:
I quickly roughly measured the mounting distance and effective length of the tonearm on the PL-41. The mounting distance is ~223 mm and the effective length is 237mm.
The mounting hole is 20mm on my armless donor. I believe that's the stock mounting hole.
I just checked these figures from Finnbow, & they seem about right:
I quickly roughly measured the mounting distance and effective length of the tonearm on the PL-41. The mounting distance is ~223 mm and the effective length is 237mm.
The mounting hole is 20mm on my armless donor. I believe that's the stock mounting hole.
You can contact them directly to discuss, pulled this from a local post...
Email Us with you make and model turntable - and we will respond with availablity and pricing!
You can also email us at: sales@turntabledepot.com
OR Call (727) 725-8900 Monday through Saturday - 9AM to 6PM Eastern Time
Location: SAFETY HARBOR
finnbow
The Dude Abides
No problem. Hopefully, I'll be picking up the thrust bearings on Monday afternoon from the machine shop. When I have them in hand, I'll drop everyone a line requesting a mailing address and providing my PayPal account name.
Here's an update for everyone on who's in for how many:
Naptown Rob - 3
Tromatic - 3
TJLitt - 1
Mark Walters -1
Isotronic -2
midfiguy -1
MrIgotNomoney - 1
pbinpb57 -2
bobschneider- 2
mfhale- 1
Westy56 -1
RickB -1
Bystander -1
Jimmy64 -1
Fisherdude – 2
MWalt
Super Member
I should have gone back through the thread. The arm I am looking at is 221.7mm and 239mm respectively. Doesn't seem like an easy fit. Lots of cutting and a custom armboard. I wish I could find a nice arm with the stock numbers.
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MWalt
Super Member
The Grace 727 looks real close:
Overall length: 321mm
Effective length: 237mm
Overhang: 15mm
Offset angle: 21 degrees
Mounting distance: 222mm
Angle of rotation: approx 80 degrees
Balance system: static balance
Cartridge weight: 4-10g (10-17g with optional J weight)
Output cable: plug-in system
Head connector: 6g lightweight headshell
Overall length: 321mm
Effective length: 237mm
Overhang: 15mm
Offset angle: 21 degrees
Mounting distance: 222mm
Angle of rotation: approx 80 degrees
Balance system: static balance
Cartridge weight: 4-10g (10-17g with optional J weight)
Output cable: plug-in system
Head connector: 6g lightweight headshell
finnbow
The Dude Abides
I think you'll find the 237/222/15 geometry to be very common. Though measured to the best of my ability, I'm a little skeptical of my own measurements (i.e., 237/223/14) truly differing from this apparent standard. Pioneer's overhang is given as 9/16" in its user's manual, which translates to 14.3 mm. So, there may possibly be 0.7mm difference in overhang if a Rega is mounted in a 23 mm hole drilled concentrically with the Pioneer's 20mm mounting hole. OTOH, it may well be rounding error between English and metric measurements than can easily be made up for during cartridge alignment using an appropriate alignment protractor. From what I've read, the PL-41 is a Jelco arm and there are several Jelco arms of that era (and today) with the 237/15/22 geometry. I have a hard time believing Pioneer would spec out an arm with Jelco that differs by 0.7mm.
BTW, I've read somewhere recently on the interwebs that the height of a Rega tonearm from the plinth to the underside of the cartridge mounting location is 44 mm (on a stock Rega turntable). I measured my current setup (PL-41 with Denon DL-160 in an arm with VTA adjusted such that the arm is perfectly parallel with the record) and it measures 44 mm also. Imagine that!
Accordingly, it seems that the Rega may be very close to a drop-in, albeit with the need to have a machine shop enlarge the mounting hole by 3 mm.
PS - Positive report on thrust bearings to follow in my next post.:thmbsp:
BTW, I've read somewhere recently on the interwebs that the height of a Rega tonearm from the plinth to the underside of the cartridge mounting location is 44 mm (on a stock Rega turntable). I measured my current setup (PL-41 with Denon DL-160 in an arm with VTA adjusted such that the arm is perfectly parallel with the record) and it measures 44 mm also. Imagine that!
Accordingly, it seems that the Rega may be very close to a drop-in, albeit with the need to have a machine shop enlarge the mounting hole by 3 mm.
PS - Positive report on thrust bearings to follow in my next post.:thmbsp:
finnbow
The Dude Abides
Thrust Bearing Group Purchase Report
I just got back from the machine shop after have picked up the thrust bearing disks. I brought in my bearing end cap, metal disk and chunks of the old plastic bearing. The diameter and thickness of the new pads seem perfect. They're also polished up very nicely on one side. Here's a picture I just snapped. This should work well. BTW, my spindle shaft is nice and smooth. The crud on it is from me handling it over the past week.
I'll PM the group to get mailing addresses and provide my PayPal account name.
I just got back from the machine shop after have picked up the thrust bearing disks. I brought in my bearing end cap, metal disk and chunks of the old plastic bearing. The diameter and thickness of the new pads seem perfect. They're also polished up very nicely on one side. Here's a picture I just snapped. This should work well. BTW, my spindle shaft is nice and smooth. The crud on it is from me handling it over the past week.
I'll PM the group to get mailing addresses and provide my PayPal account name.
