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Pioneer and idler wheel question

geode

geode

F4 Phantom Seat Jockey
Subscriber
Well I'm back to resurrecting an old Pioneer PL-25 idler wheel table. I got the table back in June and it had some issues that were fixed by following the suggestions of the good folks here at AK. I pulled it out last night and spun a few records, the old table sounds really good, except it has a thump...thump...thump noise as the wheel spins on the capstan. It does this with the platter removed too. I removed the wheel and it has a couple of small indentations on its edge. I'm guessing these were caused by the wheel engaged to the capstan and left like that for years. I'm thinking this could cause the thumping sound. I'm thinking of having the wheel rerubbered. I know this will probably fix the thump, but there is another issue too. When I play the LP at 33 rpm it plays too slow, but if I play it at 45 rpm it sounds normal. Could this be because the wheel has lost some of its diameter and is now smaller. Thanks for any feedback.
 
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Idler diameter is not a factor in platter speed. Platter speed is governed by diameter of platter and motor pulley. The idler simply tranfers drive from the pulley to the platter...the same amount of rubber passes the pulley and platter, regardless of idler diameter.

Your issue is likely hard rubber on the idler, contributing to thumping (due to a divet), slipping (causing speed issues), and rumble (low earthquke sound in play).

Terry's Rubber Rollers (Terry is a fellow AKr), can fix you up in short order. His table idlers are superb.

Enjoy,
Rich P
 
pustelniakr said:
Idler diameter is not a factor in platter speed. Platter speed is governed by diameter of platter and motor pulley. The idler simply tranfers drive from the pulley to the platter...the same amount of rubber passes the pulley and platter, regardless of idler diameter.

Your issue is likely hard rubber on the idler, contributing to thumping (due to a divet), slipping (causing speed issues), and rumble (low earthquke sound in play).

Terry's Rubber Rollers (Terry is a fellow AKr), can fix you up in short order. His table idlers are superb.

Enjoy,
Rich P
Click to expand...

Thanks Rich. I've already contacted Terry about getting the wheel re-rubbered. We can't find much information on this table, so I don't know the correct diameter of the wheel. Terry said he could make it a little larger if I want him to. If so, how much larger or should I just tell him to make it the diameter it is now. It seems like some of the rubber has worn away. Thanks.
 
geode said:
Thanks Rich. I've already contacted Terry about getting the wheel re-rubbered. We can't find much information on this table, so I don't know the correct diameter of the wheel. Terry said he could make it a little larger if I want him to. If so, how much larger or should I just tell him to make it the diameter it is now. It seems like some of the rubber has worn away. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Again, diameter is not a big problem, except as it may affect postive contact with both motor pulley and platter. Some original diameter will have been lost in rubber drying out, and some due to wear after drying out. A slight amount of extra diameter should be OK.

Enjoy,
Rich P
 
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