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Linear tracking Sony PS-LX520 for a song

diamondsouled

diamondsouled

Recycle belly button lint!
Got a PS-LX520 in a package deal on a Sony set up. I wanted the APM 20ESs that were in it.

What's is the best stuff to use to lube the tone arm slider? Lithium grease? I've tried Deoxit fader lube which has loosened it up a bit, but the TT is still skipping when it shouldn't.

This one is in excellent cosmetic condition I suspect that it has been sitting unused for several years though and has got gummed up.
 
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You can clean the rail with WD-40 on a bit of rag or paper towel. A drop of motor oil and working the arm carriage back and forth with the shuttle controls should do the trick. If not it may need a small tracking drive belt in addition to the clean-and-lube.
 
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Pio1980 said:
You can clean the rail with WD-40 on a bit of rag or paper towel. A drop of motor oil and working the arm carriage back and forth with the suttle controls should do the trick. If not it may need a small tracking drive belt in addition to the clean-and-lube.
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Thanks.

It isn't shutting off at the end grove either, just downloaded the service manual but didn't see an adjustment for that. :scratch2:

I'm guessing 3 in 1 oil would work as well.
 
Yeah, I remember having to change the small belt too, although I can't recall the exact function of it. Not having a replacement on hand, I used a similar sized rubber band and it worked just fine. that was some years ago.
 
I just picked up a Sony PS LX550 with the same skipping problem: The shuttle control moves the tone arm back and forth, but the arm hangs up when playing a record causing the stylus to skip in the grooves. Sounds like some cleaning, re-lube and possibly replacing the small belt will do the trick. This table is real clean otherwise.

Where on-line did you find the service manual? :scratch2: I have the original owners manual.
 
gregj said:
I just picked up a Sony PS LX550 with the same skipping problem: The shuttle control moves the tone arm back and forth, but the arm hangs up when playing a record causing the stylus to skip in the grooves. Sounds like some cleaning, re-lube and possibly replacing the small belt will do the trick. This table is real clean otherwise.

Where on-line did you find the service manual? :scratch2: I have the original owners manual.
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Mine is quite clean as well, even the dust cover.

Here's the link to my manual:

http://www.freeservicemanuals.info/en/servicemanuals/viewmanual/Sony/PS-LX520/

Couldn't find the manual for the 550 though.

There are these belts being sold on eBay for the 520. Not sure if they'd work for the 550 as well:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SONY-PS-FL7...255?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5641a30957
 
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Picked up some o-rings today, slightly smaller that the original belt, and tried the WD-40 cleaning and 3 in 1 oil. Worked great and the table is fully functional now. :yes:

Thanks for the tips.

Not a bad table all in all. :smoke:
 
diamondsouled said:
Got a PS-LX520 in a package deal on a Sony set up. I wanted the APM 20ESs that were in it.

What's is the best stuff to use to lube the tone arm slider? Lithium grease? I've tried Deoxit fader lube which has loosened it up a bit, but the TT is still skipping when it shouldn't.

This one is in excellent cosmetic condition I suspect that it has been sitting unused for several years though and has got gummed up.
Click to expand...

I've tried every lube I can think of on the 520 and it still makes an audible thump every time the arm advances. I gave up on it. Too bad, because once I got a few pounds of modelling clay under the plinth it sounded pretty good.
 
The Technics SL-10 has the same problem, seems to be over-agressive tracking servo action. Possibly an aging capacitor problem, it'd need to be addressed electronically regardless. The Technics SL-7 and the REVOX Linatrack TT don't have this problem, the REVOX has the nicest proportional servo response I've seen in a servo motor LT.
 
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Pio1980 said:
The Technics SL-10 has the same problem, seems to be over-agressive tracking servo action. Possibly an aging capacitor problem, it'd need to be addressed electronically regardless. The Technics SL-7 and the REVOX Linatrack TT don't have this problem, the REVOX has the nicest proportional servo response I've seen in a servo motor LT.
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When it comes to mechanical the Germans are amazing, my Uher Royal Deluxe for example.
 
The LX520 is a pretty decent machine, for what it is. I had one for a while, and liked it quite a bit. And yes, I had to replace that little belt on mine too. Mine came with an Ortofon OMP-10, and it sounded decent. I suspect, though, that a better stylus would have taken it to another level.
 
rnorton said:
I've tried every lube I can think of on the 520 and it still makes an audible thump every time the arm advances. I gave up on it. Too bad, because once I got a few pounds of modelling clay under the plinth it sounded pretty good.
Click to expand...

My Technics SL-J2 does the same thing. I'm going to try Vaseline. A recap may indeed be in order, but the thump is acoustically audible with the volume off.
 
I think it's an electronics issue rather than a stiction issue in examples that have been cleaned and lubed. The choppiness may be related to a time constant standard shift in the servo circuits and there's usually an elyticap involved. Look for a proportional ramping function stage in the FB amp portion. The Technics have an optical tach on the tracking motor, there could be problems in that ckt as well. Best to do a total recap regardless.
I'm interested because I have an SL-10 project waiting and they are notorious for this defect..
 
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Pio1980 said:
I think it's an electronics issue rather than a stiction issue in examples that have been cleaned and lubed. The choppiness may be related to a time constant standard shift in the servo circuits and there's usually an elyticap involved. Look for a proportional ramping function stage in the FB amp portion. The Technics have an optical tach on the tracking motor, there could be problems in that ckt as well. Best to do a total recap regardless.
I'm interested because I have an SL-10 project waiting and they are notorious for this defect..
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Recapping TTs :D At least it won't take fancy PIOs, or exotic and or expensive boutique capacitors to do that job :yes:
 
Good standard modern elyticaps will do nicely. You can go up ca 50% or so in uF value for the power supply primary reservoir cap before the regulator (the big one) if you wish as long as it fits right.
 
Pio1980 said:
Good standard modern elyticaps will do nicely. You can go up ca 50% or so in uF value for the power supply primary reservoir cap before the regulator (the big one) if you wish as long as it fits right.
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I suppose that it worth while periodically doing a visual on the caps in such TTs just to make sure they are not starting to bulge or leak. :scratch2:
 
Pio1980 said:
I think it's an electronics issue rather than a stiction issue in examples that have been cleaned and lubed. The choppiness may be related to a time constant standard shift in the servo circuits and there's usually an elyticap involved. Look for a proportional ramping function stage in the FB amp portion. The Technics have an optical tach on the tracking motor, there could be problems in that ckt as well. Best to do a total recap regardless.
I'm interested because I have an SL-10 project waiting and they are notorious for this defect..
Click to expand...

My Mitsubishi LT-20 suffers from this as well as a Technics that I can'r remember the model of right now. Thumpitis is the curse of anyone who goes the linear route.
 
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