Pioneer PL1000A Counterweights and alignment guide

[robbo1802]

Hi,

I have two Pioneer PL-L1000A turntables (had them since new). They have been in storage for quite some time but now that I have some extra spare time, I have taken them out of storage for some much needed work.

To the point. Some years ago we moved house and it appears that one of the boxes that was to go with us, did not.

It included (amongst other important and probably irreplaceable HiFi stuff) all the extra counterweights for the Pioneers and other things such as the cartridge alignment guide and packing materials. Sadly the original packing boxes of these TTs and my Beogram 4002 did not survive - a very sad tale.

I am hoping that someone can help me out with some information on the counterweights and the guide so I can replicate them. Specifically, I need the dimensions and weight of the large counterweight and the threaded sub-weight, preferably in metric but imperial or USCU would be fine.

Similarly, the dimensions of the alignment gauge (Pioneer call it an overhand gauge - well I suppose, strictly speaking, it is) would be gratefully accepted. The most important measurements with the guide is the distance between the alignment line and the inside of the vertical piece. Also, the distance between the bottom of the notch for the head-shell connector and the top of the horizontal piece.

Photographs with the items next to rulers would also be gratefully accepted. Placing the rulers as close as possible to the items would help to reduce errors due to parallax and perspective.

The two tonearm arm packing piece are also missing, the one that sits down on the rails and the one that clips over the top of arm as well as the three machine screws that hold down the suspension during travel and the 4 screws that hold down the tonearm during transport. I could work out the machine screws but it would be so much easier to get the information from someone who has them at hand - I can be a lazy ... .

All of these components are likely metric.

I do not know whether these parts are the same as was used in the Pl-L1000 or the Phase Linear 8000, I do know that the Pl-L1000's owners manual does not show the sub weight.

All the fluid leaked out of the level gauges badly damaging some paperwork. In a moment of disgust I threw them out <sigh>, does anyone have photos? <he asks sheepishly>

I have a number of other issues such as the rubber spring boots, corrosion of the plastic control button facings, and a fault in one TT's tonearm drive - all probably best addressed in future posts.

Thanks for any help,
Regards,
Bob

BTW
Sorry about the thread title, I can't seem to edit it

BTW
I have already posted a similar message in vinylengine forum, but so far, no luck

 

[BillWojo]

Vinyl Engine should have the manuals in the database.

BillWojo

 

[robbo1802]

Vinyl Engine should have the manuals in the database.

BillWojo

Thanks for the reply. I have both the user manual and the service manual (bought the same time as turntables) in paper form. They really don't shed much light on the issues except that the items exist, and how to use them.

Regards,
Bob

 

[robbo1802]

Just bumping this thread. Any help from PL-L1000A PL-L1000 and Phase Linear 8000 owners would be gratefully received. If measuring is difficult just photos showing the relationship of the counterweights to the arm would be a help.

I have already determined that the counterweights are chrome plated yellow brass. I have confirmed that the 1000, the 1000A, and the 8000 all had 3 counterweights, the large counterweight, the small counterweight, and the sub weight.

It is possible that the weights used in the 1000A are different as it has a carbon fibre tone arm tube versus a metal one for the 1000 and the 8000, but I doubt it. Pioneer made as few changes as possible to the mechanical parts of the TT while significantly changing the electronics (including the DD platter motor).

Bob

 

[a_retent]

@robbo1802

Specifically, I need the dimensions and weight of the large counterweight and the threaded sub-weight,

Sorry, threaded sub-weight was never included with my new PL-L1000 (1979)

The most important measurements with the guide is the distance between the alignment line and the inside of the vertical piece

49mm according to Pioneer. I found 50mm to be more inline with the centerpoint of the platter spindle using my AT cartridges, YRMD.
The black semi-circle under the ruler was just a spacer to raise the ruler high enough to clear the bend in the gauge.

All the fluid leaked out of the level gauges badly damaging some paperwork. In a moment of disgust I threw them out <sigh>, does anyone have photos?

Just about any round bubble level will work as long as they span across the guide rails. The black one (I prefer) was obtained at a recreational vehicle store. The red one I picked up at a home improvement store.

The fluid leaked from both of my Pioneer levels also, as you can see on the other side of the level is a tiny screw that allows you to refill the fluid. I found ethylene glycol (bright green anti-freeze) worked well as a replacement fluid. Don't forget to check/replace the o-ring gasket on the screw.



Hope all this helps you out.

 

[robbo1802]

5Z

@robbo1802
Hope all this helps you out.

Thanks for all the effort put into your reply, this info will be of immense help in replacing the missing parts.

Would it be possible to put the ruler across the original level and show the top, I may be able to replicate it to a reasonable degree. It would be funny if it wasn't an indictment on (lack of) my powers of observation, but, I never looked at the bottom to see the screw, oh well, they would have probably have been lost along with so much other stuff (the Micro Acoustics MA830 with spare unused stylus to name just one). If Pioneer used the same source for the o-rings that they did the spring boots, I can see why they leaked.

Better news, I have found one of the sub weights! It was caught up in one of those boxes of odd and ends that I seem to create every once in a while, sadly no other turntable stuff in that box just machine screws and odd piece of metal. I also found a long-lost anti-static sponge sheet with about 60 NE5534ANs on it. That has been lost a looong time. Maybe there is some chance the other stuff will turn up but I doubt it, some of the missing things were a bit too bulky to hide out like the NE5534ANs..

Again, Thanks for all help, it is much appreciated,
Best regards,
Bob

 

[Cliff O]

I've never trusted those small round levels because they gauge only a tiny spot. Using a 12" torpedo level seems more accurate.

 

[a_retent]

I've never trusted those small round levels because they gauge only a tiny spot. Using a 12" torpedo level seems more accurate.

The torpedo level may work well for leveling the plinth of most turntables but the PL-L1000, PL-L1000a and Phase Linear 8000 require the guide rails to be level, not the deck. Therefore the torpedo level would be the least accurate way to level this particular turntable for proper operation.