Magnavox Astro-Sonic

[Drew Lasater]

Hi. I just bought a Magnavox Astro-Sonic record player and radio console. I know next to nothing about electronics or record players, and was hoping to get some help with two questions:
1. The turntable spins a little unevenly, causing distortion to the speed of playback. Would it be easy for a complete electronics civilian like me to re-lubricate it or whatever?
2. Whenever the thing is plugged in, a light comes on in the mechanism that selects the speed. For a few minutes, no matter what I did, it wouldn't turn off, so I just unplugged it. Now, it's off. Is that normal?

 

[century tek]

I have that same turntable with the light built into the rej/speed selector. I don't remember the receiver that it was a part of so I don't know if this is normal behavior or not. I do know that it uses a separate little power transformer just for the light in the switch.

 

[Drew Lasater]

Thanks! How about the turntable spinning unevenly? Is there an easy tutorial anywhere I can follow to add lubrication?

 

[likebike23]

Easy? Well, the easiest thing to do is remove the clip securing the platter, lift the platter off, and clean up the idler and inside of the platter. While in there clean and lube the idler wheel bushing and platter bushing. That may be enough, the idler roller might be worn out. To be thorough, you'll have to lift the turntable out and give the mechanism and motor a clean/relube.

 

[tom3]

Could also be that the rubber idler has gotten hard over the many years and won't grip the motor shaft and platter good enough to rotate evenly. Can get the wheel re-fitted for a nominal fee, sometimes see replacements on that auction site. First thing is as listed above though, clean and lube the moving parts. When shut off the platter should spin for a good while, not stop right off. Looks like a pretty nice unit for sure, later version of the Astro Sonic, cost a fortune when new.

 

[Drew Lasater]

Easy? Well, the easiest thing to do is remove the clip securing the platter, lift the platter off, and clean up the idler and inside of the platter. While in there clean and lube the idler wheel bushing and platter bushing. That may be enough, the idler roller might be worn out. To be thorough, you'll have to lift the turntable out and give the mechanism and motor a clean/relube.

How do I remove the clip? I looked at it and prodded, and nothing seems obvious. I don't want to break it. I went to the shop in town that could do this kind of thing, but they basically said that it's too hard, they don't like consoles, and I can have a nice day. Is there a YouTube tutorial or something?

 

[likebike23]

The clip is going to be an e clip or something similar. Look up e ring removal.

 

[RSR Tubes]

The turntable will usually be held by wing clips that will need to be flipped into a vertical position. Also disconnect the left and right audio cables. Power to the turntable will be on a plastic connector that must disconnected. You may need to pull the power plug hard till it lets go. Good luck.

 

[Drew Lasater]

Thanks for all the help, everyone! The turntable is playing smoothly now, after just a little fresh grease. But now the radio is not coming on. If it's not one thing, it's another, right? I'll have to spray some connector cleaner on all the connections and see if that works.