My Franken-Dual 1218 -1019 turntable

[juptonstone]

I bought a Dual 1218 which arrived here two days ago. It came complete with the original box, manual, plinth, etc. BUT the motor was grinding and no amount of lube and cleaning helped...



This is where my Dual 1019 motor comes in. Yep! You got it! The 1019 motor bolts right in. A dab of solder to connect the wired to the original clips and I was off! It actually is a plug and play solution. And because the platter is about 3 lbs. lighter, the motor might even give linger service...



The one issue which was present before I changed motors, is 60 cycle hum. I have done everything I can to fix or re ground everything! But it has only slightly improved. So I want to rewire the tonearm using a 4 wire directly connected to the interconnect on the back, and to the cartridge on the front.



Does anyone have thoughts, comments or suggestions that might help? Has anyone retired a 1218 tonearm?

 

[moodydan]

I've rewired a 1229, it wasn't the worst thing in the world. I used fishing line to pull the wires through, worked pretty well. I tied the line to the old wires, pulled them through, then tied the new wires to the fishing line, pulled through (carefully, mind you!), and soldered in. Just be patient!

 

[highwaychild]

Why not? With the preceding model - the 1015 - was sold in 2 variants, one with the square, one with the round motor.

But personally I would not use a weight on the platter - the bearings will thank you...

 

[juptonstone]

Stefan, what if I change the bearings and replace them with the bearings from a 1019? Those are designed to handle a platter that is about4 lbs heavier than the 1218 platter.

 

[highwaychild]

Don't think this wouldn't help much - the bearings are of the "axial" type and I noticed more rumble, more noice with additional weight. My experience...

To your humming problem:

You will need a 5-wire cable to do the job right, the "headshell" has an own solder point for groundig.

Did you try to clean the "Tonkopf" contacts and the fitting on the tonearm?
Often these are corroded and not silvery shiny as they where 45 years ago.

(I one myself a Dual 1218, and it's one of my favorite players...)

 

[beatcomber]

But personally I would not use a weight on the platter - the bearings will thank you...

I agree, but for a different reason. Table with platters that are not perfectly flat often sound muddy and bass-heavy with a weight. I used to use a 16 oz. weight and have since retired it.

Here's a trick you might like, which I got from NoTransistors after he serviced my 1219: Fill the concentric opening around the outer edge of the platter's underside with some silicone or latex caulk. It cuts down the ringing and tightens everything up nicely.

 

[highwaychild]

Fill the concentric opening around the outer edge of the platter's underside with some silicone or latex caulk. It cuts down the ringing and tightens everything up nicely.

Well, these concentric openings are there for a reason - the engenieers from Dual, Braun, Thorens and so on believed then that the sound would benefit from a reduced contact surface. Don't know who's right...

 

[juptonstone]

Stefan, I think that Beatcomber is referring to the holes on the bottom side of the platter, not the two raised rings on the surface that bear the record.

As to the suggestions.. I am only using the weight with warped records now. I never had a warped record until I bought some recently! And... I plan to equalize the underside of the platter as soon as possible.

With regard to the two raised rings on top of the platter, I intend to use an aftermarket mat. I haven't decided which yet, but I think there have been one or two advances in mat technology since the table was built!

Thanks to everyone so far! Great ideas guys...