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Realistic Lab 400 Cue Lever Problem

PooreBoy

PooreBoy

Active Member
I got a pretty decent deal on a Realistic Lab 400 about a week ago, and it was delivered yesterday. I knew that the table would probably need some fine tuning but I've ran into a bit of an anomoly with the cue lever fucntion.
The auto start/reject works fine...it places the stylus on the record fairly gently and at the end it returns to the tonearm rest as it should. But when I try to use the cue lever, the tonearm does nothing.
I looked at the service manual and to be honest it leaves a lot to be desired as far a details on the manual cue lever.
I took the bottom off to look at it and it seems really basic...the lever has a cam attached to the bottom that (when working) should lift the arm up.
From what I can see this part is working up to this point. What I don't understand is how the part that the cam comes in contact with is supposed to work.
If any of you have this turntable and understand how this works...and what to look for I'd greatly appreciate it.
I think this is going to be a really nice table when (or if) I can get this issue taken care of.
I don't want to go taking things completely apart unless I know what I'm looking for or how they work. ;)
Thanks in advance.
 
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I have taken the cue assembly apart on these turntables to add silicone. By your description, the plastic T shaped piece that pushes up on the tonearm sound like it is tight against the cue rod and high enough. The part of the cue that the automatic function uses to raise the cue rod is separate from the assembly that the cue lever is attached to. That assembly has an adjustment underneath to push the cue rod up.
 
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I can see how it's supposed to work...(I think) but something doesn't seem right.

Cue lever issue.jpg
You can see the cue lever plate move just a tad, but it's not moving the tonearm lift in the process. Can anyone tell from this picture where or what needs to be adjusted?
Again, I appreciate all of your help...but I have 0 experience with Realistic Lab turntables.
 
Update: Well I cleaned all of the moving parts for the cueing mechanism...I sprayed contact cleaner on the speed control pots and the on/off switch, and reassembled the turntable.
Now the cueing works just as it should. I'm not sure if it just needed cleaning, or if when I disassembled/reassembled everything the cueing somehow went back into the correct position.
Whichever it was I'm just glad that it worked. ;)
The table sounds really good. It holds a very steady speed on both 33 as well as 45, There's no hum at all, plus it's a very quiet running table.
Now all I need to do is find some replacement feet and a dustcover and it will be a really nice looking table.
After I clean up the turntable base I'll post some pictures. :)
 
Great! It could have been the piston assy that the cue lever plate pushes was stuck from gummed up old silicone fluid.
 
OK, after spending about 10 days with the Lab 400...and learning most of it's little nuances, I'm really starting to like it a lot.
Its really quiet table and has very little surface noise on any of the albums I've played on it so far. And I really like the muting feature where the audio circuit isn't enabled until the stylus has landed and the record begins to play, and then cuts off at the end of the record.
The one thing I don't care for is the fact that you cannot manually cue the tonearm without using the Start/Reject switch.
So to be able to use a protractor and be able to set the VTF using a digital gauge I have to lift the cue arm, hit the Start/Reject switch, and then unplug it so the platter will stop. There has to be an easier way to do this but I've yet to find it.

It's a very solid turntable that probably is over looked by a lot of people due to the fact it has the Radio Shack branding...but I personally like this table better than the Pioneer PL-117D I've owned or the PL-115D that currently own.
I replaced the rotting feet that was on it with a set of Vibrapod Model 4 instead of trying to find an original set. The Vibrapods due a great job of elimating any type of vibrations and I've yet to incur a foot-fall while a record is playing.
I also replaced the stock RCA cables with a pair of Technics MG5.
Oh and the cartridge that came with it (which I assumed was junk) turned out to be the original cartridge that came with these tables. It's a Realistic R1000E which I've learned is a rebadged Shure M91ED which is a decent cartridge...if you can find a good stylus for it that is.

So I believe I'm going to hang on to this table for a while. Of course I'm going to have to find a decent dustcover for it...and I'd like to find the plate/badge this missing the front of the plinth. I hate having dustcover that looks like the dog took a big bite out of the side.

DSCF2760.jpg

DSCF2762.jpg

It might even replace my SL-1301 one day...maybe that is. ;)
 
PooreBoy said:
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I can see how it's supposed to work...(I think) but something doesn't seem right.

View attachment 776137
You can see the cue lever plate move just a tad, but it's not moving the tonearm lift in the process. Can anyone tell from this picture where or what needs to be adjusted?
Again, I appreciate all of your help...but I have 0 experience with Realistic Lab turntables.
Click to expand...
Does the tonearm lift get silicone damping fluid also? I put it on the cue cylinder to the right and it helps but the arm still drops too fast when the tone arm lift drops.
 
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I realize this is an old thread but did the OP every solve the cue lever not working? My Lab 400 auto feature works great but the cue lever does nothing. No lift / no lower.
 
Hello, my Realistic Lab 400 tonearm drops too fast! I am not sure if someone has been able to find a way to adjust this. Otherwise, this table is built like a tank and sounds awesome!
 
i was able to cure the tonearm dropping too fast problem without disassembling. I got a tube of CS500K weight silicon gel (oil) and dropped it from the top where the tonearm lifter comes out. It took a few days of applying a small amount a few times each day. Now the tonearm drops slowly as it should be.
 
jamesc760 said:
i was able to cure the tonearm dropping too fast problem without disassembling. I got a tube of CS500K weight silicon gel (oil) and dropped it from the top where the tonearm lifter comes out. It took a few days of applying a small amount a few times each day. Now the tonearm drops slowly as it should be.
Click to expand...
Where do you get that oil? I have the same issue with my Lab 400.
 
jamesc760 said:
i was able to cure the tonearm dropping too fast problem without disassembling. I got a tube of CS500K weight silicon gel (oil) and dropped it from the top where the tonearm lifter comes out. It took a few days of applying a small amount a few times each day. Now the tonearm drops slowly as it should be.
Click to expand...
Thanks James, I have ordered the gel and wait to try it out and will let you know how it worked.
 
You have to be patient when applying the silicon oil, it's very thick, so dab a drop or two on a toothpick and smear it around the lifter where it comes out of the hole. The idea is for the silicon oil to slooooooowly flow down the lifter. A few times a day, for a few days, until the lifter slows down.
 
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