Pioneer PL 512 (Second Hand) Repair

[LaOhm]

Hello Everyone!

Finally after 1,000 years I decided to buy a TT, but I didn't want a new plug-and-play one, I wanted to fix an old one to understand how it works.

From a flea market I bought this pioneer PL-512 made in Japan from 1978 (see photos) without antiskating to be fixed.

First of all, before cleaning it, I assessed how it worked.

I bought this belt(I am Italian) https://www.amazon.it/dp/B00BYHQKPW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title .

I have an extra turn for both 33 and 45 rpm (look at the photos). And looking online I think I realised that it might depend on the belt. Can you recommend a good belt for this turntable?

I am now waiting for the cartridge https://www.amazon.it/dp/B07JXD79Q1?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Until next update!!!

 

[NachoTemino]

wellcome to AK. Thakker is known for providing belts with specs close to the original ones. Also take a look to the motor spindle and clean it

 

[Markoz]

Welcome to AK!

I rebuilt a PL-514 a couple years ago, which is the auto-return version of this TT. Very similar, but yours will be simpler to refresh. Mine had a lot of issues to fix, but these are very good turntables when refreshed.


Seconding Thakker for good belts. I've also had good luck with LPGear in the US. You should get very close to 33-1/3 speed with the proper belt.

You will want to pull the spindle, clean old grease and add new. If I recall there is a single ball in there. I used some light synthetic grease for bicycles.

There are also a couple of holes on the motor that need a few drops of electric motor-specific oil.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[ronaldw441]

Phone apps are not accurate. Use a strobe disk. Search on Google for "how to use a turntable strobe disk" for ideas.

 

[Montycat]

Actually I find phone apps accurate enough. They might not be perfect but neither is my sense of pitch. The belt might be the issue here.

 

[ronaldw441]

Actually I find phone apps accurate enough.

I agree. I find the "Turntable Speed" Android App about 0.50% fast and the "RPM Speed and Wow" App about 0.35% fast. Both are close enough for me. Both are relative to the speed of my Technics SL-1900 direct drive turntable with the strobe dots on the platter stable. The point is that the phone apps are not completely accurate.

The belt might be the issue here.

Absolutely. For example, I have a PL-514 turntable, the auto-return version of the 512. When I bought it the "Turntable Speed" App showed a speed of 33.49 RPM, 0.48% fast, with what appeared to be a worn belt. Subtracting the deviation inherent in the app*, the speed would be just about perfect. When I replaced what I thought was the worn belt, the speed jumped to 34.30 RPM. Exactly what the OP reports. I need to find something better or return to the old belt.

* In defense of the "Turntable Speed" App, it has the ability to calibrate the offset if you have access to another table that has variable speed and a strobe.

Here's a drawing showing the belt path (in red) and other data:

 

[LaOhm]

Thank you very much for your feedback. I gave the TT a good cleaning. Apart from the belt, I had noticed another problem: when moving the tonearm, the record starts spinning when I am almost at the beginning of the first track with the needle, and the micro switch button inside gave a lot of push towards the inside of the record, making the first track in listenable. So I opened the turntable, and adjusted the screw that governs the arm , adjusting its travel accordingly. I have publisched this little video on youtube because this issue is not present online.

Fantastic this turntable sounds great, I have mounted a Audiotecnica VM95E.

now i am trying to clean the metal plate of these strange stains, i think it is oxide, they are a bit raised. do you have any suggestions?

 

[El Rubio]

If your speed is fast, I would check the belt spindle for residue from old belts.

I have a Marantz belt drive TT that was running about 1-1.5 rpm slow. I refurbed the electric motor, spindle, etc and still slow. Based upon a suggestion here at AK, I put 2 coats of fingernail polish on the belt spindle. 2 coats was enough to get speed up and nearly perfect. It wouldn’t take much crud to speed it up.

As far as the stains, i use Mr Clean Magic Eraser and usually get decent results.

 

[spark1]

Oil, not grease, for the platter bearing. 10wt, non-detergent.

 

[NachoTemino]

For the stains you can use (gently) one of those fiberglass pencils. Like the one attached. Easy to find the that amz shop For about 8-10€. Try to scrape the stains but do no t use too much force. Then polish with autosol for aluminum.