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Pioneer PL-A500 Tone Arm Not Lifting When returning.

C

Christian70

New Member
Evening gang,

Just purchased a Pioneer PL-A500 (Very similar to a US PL-530) and the tone arm isn't lifting when returning home.

I've had the bottom off, checked the lifter arm is free and not locked up and its fine. I've tried adjusting the brass wheels on the lifter and although it makes a little difference to the height of the lifter, when the arm reaches the return position it still drags and doesnt lift the arm until it gets close to the home position.

The tone arm weight is set correctly and the cartridge removed while I trouble shoot.

any pointers?

Thanks in advance
 
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For anyone that finds this post, I discovered the solution. Long story short obviously a turn table this age is used and we never know who has been in it previously. After consulting the service manual for a full Saturday, on the last page, AFTER it tells you ALL the settings for tone arm adjustment etc, It tells you the height of the platter must be 2.5mm above the turntable cabinet. Mine was almost 1/4 inch!!!

Once the platter height had been set to its correct height, I could then go back through and reset all previous settings where all the adjustment screws were bottoming out and making zero difference. Now, it runs like a clock.

Hope this helps someone.
 
Good job on getting the table figured out. Over time, things settle and need to be readjusted as you discovered. I have a Pioneer PL-500 that took me a bit to figure out many years ago. From time to time, I have had to go and adjust again, but over all, it has been great. Enjoy
 
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