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Official AR Turntable Owners Thread

I have a stock AR XA with decent top plate. I would like to keep the texture and the paint color. It needs cleaning. What is the best way of cleaning the top plate without removing paint, etc. There appears to be glue from scotch tape and a chalk marking.
Thank you.
 

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Almost everyone on here says 16 or a little over to work best. I think online protractors was 16.230 but I don't know how anyone can achieve that precision. I just align it to the two nulls on the arc and done.
Ok , My other question is my shaft that holds my arm in place when I screw it in it's not supposed to move? Mine does! am I supposed to use a wrench and really tighten it and then loosen it again? The manual says to tighten it so it doesn't move the loosen it just until it falls, But I can't tighten it by hand!! any help would be great!! Thanks
 
Ok , My other question is my shaft that holds my arm in place when I screw it in it's not supposed to move? Mine does! am I supposed to use a wrench and really tighten it and then loosen it again? The manual says to tighten it so it doesn't move the loosen it just until it falls, But I can't tighten it by hand!! any help would be great!! Thanks
You're referring to the arm drop damper adjustment, I think? The first thing to check is whether there is a pin in the slot below the pivot screw on the left side. A lot of them have been pulled on purpose over the years. Good riddance, most say. Though some people love them.
 
You're referring to the arm drop damper adjustment, I think? The first thing to check is whether there is a pin in the slot below the pivot screw on the left side. A lot of them have been pulled on purpose over the years. Good riddance, most say. Though some people love them.
Thanks the pin was removed I have been on another form on the vinyl engine website and been getting lots of help from other people & Thank you for yours
 
Some basic maintenance: oil the motor, new fluid in the cue arm, oil in the bearing, talc the belt and a new cork mat. Table performs good and looks pretty nice.

On the list to do: oil the plinth, new headshell, springs and a better cartridge.
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You probably have it done already, but I like to use goof off for most adhesive. The mild detergent and warm water, that should be good enough, as always test in a inconspicuous area, to be safe. I was able to get one to almost perfect condition, the other required paint.
 
I seen this kit mention on the AR operating manual. Never seen one in real life so I just bought a NOS one. Part of the XA collection, or maybe just throwing cash into the air.
 

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I seen this kit mention on the AR operating manual. Never seen one in real life so I just bought a NOS one. Part of the XA collection, or maybe just throwing cash into the air.
I picked up one a few years ago. Nice to have a set of screws and not guess if the thread pitch was correct.

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Need a counterweight for my Xa. I’m in San Diego.
Thanks like a photo is really needed
 

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Funny, I think I have one of those original AR screw kits in a box somewhere.
Original AR headshells are #3-48 screws. That is a findable fastener on mcmastercarr and similar sites or even a good local industrial hardware store. 4-40 is too big.
I guess new aftermarket AR headshells could be M2.5 and I don't think you can tell that from #3-48 by eye, but the real deal vintage AR headshells are #3-48.
 
Funny, I think I have one of those original AR screw kits in a box somewhere.
Original AR headshells are #3-48 screws. That is a findable fastener on mcmastercarr and similar sites or even a good local industrial hardware store. 4-40 is too big.
I guess new aftermarket AR headshells could be M2.5 and I don't think you can tell that from #3-48 by eye, but the real deal vintage AR headshells are #3-48.
That’s very cool, to know. I bought it just to have. Not sure if I’ll ever use them. Maybe to build a complete third shell.
 
HB's AR XA turntable.

It has a modified suspension chassis to accommodate a non-AR tonearm.

The guy who sold it said it was a Luster tonearm but have not been able to confirm that claim.

The anti-skate is broken and perhaps never worked since HB became the owner - there was a black knob with a gear underneath but what it was supposed to adjust the anti-skate mechanism but that was completely deteriorated.

The headshell is a Lustre with an AT-WM95C cartridge and generic AT conical stylus. Waiting for AT-VMN95C conical stylus.

Recently, HB obtained an AXIOM VTA bundle (VTA azimuth ruler and alignment protractor) and Neotek stylus force scale so the table is set up as well as possible and seems to play OK.

The only modification HB has done so far is to mass load the pulley with plumber's putty, a reversable tweak. The motor does make a bit of noise but nothing that can be heard during playback.

HB would prefer to own the original XA as opposed to one which was "hacked up" by a turntable butcher but the cost of getting another unit to harvest an unmolested subchassis and tonearm might not make sense from a $$$ point of view.

HB

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