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RIP Dual CS 620 Q.

PureQuill

PureQuill

AK Member
Subscriber
Well I talked to my tech & told me that the Dual that I bought new back 5/2/84 has spun its last LP. I paid $199.90 for it (yep I still have the receipt.):sadwave:
I have gone through 2 wives and 3 dogs in the time I have owned that TT.
I guess after almost 30 years I got my moneys worth out of it LOL!:

Now its time to buy a replacement.
I placed an WTB ad on the barter town forum & haven’t gotten a huge response as of yet.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=574647

I was offered a Yamaha PX-3 that is in my budget but it's a 6 &1/2 hour drive each way & I am not too sure about such a complicated TT.
Sure looks like there is a lot to go wrong & probably not a lot of parts & techs that can work on it or am I just being over cautious?

Any thoughts or suggestions?
I am really struggling with the decision to buy new or hang on for the right used (Vintage) TT to show up on barter town. I know that my budget isn’t that great but telling my other half that now I need to buy a new TT afer buying the Spec 1 & 2 is not going to go over to well a day before Valentines day:nono:

I am really bummed I just bought a nice Pioneer Spec 1 & 2 from a fellow Ak’er here last week & finished up restoring a nice set of Advent OLA’s & haven't heard a record though them yet.

To quote Warren Zevon....Poor poor, pitiful me.:pity:

Time for a JD & coke & listen to some Buddy Guy on CD I guess.:beer:
 
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leesonic said:
Did your "tech" tell you what was wrong with it?

Lee.[/QUOTE

No just that it would cost more to fix it that it is worth if he could find the parts & I would be better off to spend the money on another TT that is problem free.
The tone arm automation is just going whacky & the cueing is not dampening.
Sure wish I had kept the Dual 505 that I gave to my old GF & replaced it with 620. Who knew I thought 620 was an up grade over the 505 in 1984.:nerd:
Click to expand...
 
PQ: Hmmm, with that rather vague problem description one can't really tell, but maybe you just need a new Steuerpimpel for the automatics and a fresh filling of silicone oil for the lift...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
lini said:
PQ: Hmmm, with that rather vague problem description one can't really tell, but maybe you just need a new Steuerpimpel for the automatics and a fresh filling of silicone oil for the lift...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
Click to expand...

Well that would be cool!:ntwrthy:
I know I am showing my ignorance but whats is a Steuerpimpel?
Is that something a newbie like me could learn to replace?
It sounds more mechanical than electrical.
How difficult is it to do a fresh fill of the silicone?
Are there seals that need to be replaced on the dampening mechanism?

I know that there a far better TT’s out there.
And I am just being more than a little sentimental.
But this is the TT I have grown up listing to.
I was 23 when I upgraded to that shiny silver Dual TT .
Wow it was a direct drive & it looked so cool next to my SA9500 & Phase Linear 5000 tuner.
This turntable spun the vinyl my friends & I partied to.
I romanced innocent young girls with Marvin Gaye & Isaac Hayes records.
And the music it played soothed my broken heart through many break ups & 2 divorces.
Silly to be so attached to a $200 “record player” huh?:screwy:
 
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There is nothing silly about emotional attachments to things that have accompanied you through years of life. It's human nature. The thing(s) remind you of all those experiences, and provide you with a tangible link to your past.

For some, those feelings are excessive. That is the path to the dark side of hoarding behavior. It's wise to remember that the things are not the experiences themselves. But as long as you don't carry it to an extreme, it's nice to have with you a few things that you have long association with. It helps to "ground" you.

Perhaps the key question is how you feel when you look at it. Does it truly give you pleasure? Or is it more that to get rid of it would give you a feeling of loss. If you're clinging to too many things like that, consider making a photo album (paper or electronic) with pictures of all your "old" things. Keep only those that truly give you a warm feeling when you look at them, and keep only photos of the rest. Pass them on to new homes and new lives, either as-is or through recycling.


In the case of your Dual, I'm sure your tech is right, from a purely financial standpoint; those later silver units are not worth a lot in the secondary market. But TO YOU, that TT may well be worth a lot more, and worth the time and effort to restore it and keep it going. If so, start searching for the parts needed and do the work yourself. It'll cost you mostly just some time and energy. You'll learn some new skills and have fun doing it, and have an enhanced relationship with the TT.

Otherwise, take his advice and move on to something new. Sometimes new is GOOD; you'll probably have better sound from the replacement TT, if you shop around for a nice one, and fond memories of the one that was with you all those years.
 
Sounds like you might be able to fix it yourself. Does it still spin? If so, and you can fix the cuing with some damping fluid, any reason why you couldn't use it as a manual turntable?

Lee.
 
Hello
I sounds to me it is the Steuerpimpel causing the tonearm movement to fail.

You can get the Service manual from vinyl engine if you do not have an account create one it is free.

In the parts breakdown the is listed as number 85.

You may not even find it as it may break into a bunch of small pieces.

It is a little plastic cap the size of the tube inside of a bic pen which will work
as one it may not last as long but... The plastic needs to be hard so it will not wear out. I think a guy is selling them on ebay also.

As far as the damping I have not ever done this but search here or vinyl
engine I am sure you will find some instructions
 
Don't give up on it....

leesonic said:
Sounds like you might be able to fix it yourself. Does it still spin? If so, and you can fix the cuing with some damping fluid, any reason why you couldn't use it as a manual turntable?

Lee.
Click to expand...

While not a huge fan of later Duals, not much gets tossed around here. Cues aren't that hard to fix. Have worked on auto returns on many earlier Duals with good results. As suggested by Leesonic, could be used as manual.

As far as new,I am not much of a fan off the under a $1000 turntables. Can't afford a VPI Scout or Classic.:tears:. But you can find some nice Dual 1219/1229s under $300 ready to roll. Have one of each. Love 'em both. The 1219 I restored myself. Probably will outlast me! I'm old:thumbsdn:. Too bad you don't live in southern NY. I have a vintage 1009 you could borrow:D. Good luck. Check out Fixmydual, he might have something you can use.

Eric
 
lini said:
PQ: Hmmm, with that rather vague problem description one can't really tell, but maybe you just need a new Steuerpimpel for the automatics and a fresh filling of silicone oil for the lift...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini[/QUOTE

Thanks to everyone who took the time to post.
All of the input is helpful & encouraging.
I think Lini Probably nailed it with the diagnosing the problem.
I went online & did a lot of research.
I now know what a Steuerpimpel is!:thmbsp:
Thanks Manfred!

I think my tech is more of an electronics guy prefers to not do a lot of mechanical work. Changing the typical broken belts, cleaning & lubing he doesn’t mind doing.

I am sure I can disable the automation & use it manually.

But I have decided to do as many have suggested
I going to try fix it myself.

I have the time & with the help of AK & the internet going to do my best to track down the necessary parts & go for it.
The worse that happens I end up not being able to fixit & was a good learning experience.
If I cant fix it I will make the parts available to those that need them.
It will become a “TT” parts donor. Cosmetically its 9/10 even the dust cover with a little polishing could be mint.

Looks like I can find the Steuerpimpel on Flea bay.
Anyone know a good source for the correct silicone dampening fluid?

Thanks AK this community rocks!

PS @ Arkay I will do my best not to become a hoarder!
Click to expand...
 
In your case, keep on truckin' and see if there is a tech out your way who specializes in turntables. There is a guy in my village who rehabs turntables and has a little shop, but I am on the opposite coast. Try googling for turntable repair in Oregon or Washington and see what you can come up with. Your turntable has too many memories to give up on it now. Hopefully you can get it rehabbed with a new cartridge for a reasonable price. Good luck!
Edit: Found one that looks good!

Audio Specialities, Portland Oregon 503-257-3206
 
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The key, I found out, to a do it yourselfer is to take a lot of pictures of the assembly. I bought the parts for mine online for a CS-505-3 and a 1219. Never worked on them before but they disassemble and assemble with pictures to ID the parts on the reassembly. GOOGLE and ask questions. What are ya going to break!!! snort....
 
Sorry for the somewhat belated reply, but I've been somewhat busy today - and I'm still digesting my birthday steak. Anyway...


g67: Actually #85 in the service manual is the other Steuerpimpel (though I never quite understood, why Dual would call that a Steuerpimpel, too...), namely the one on top of the lift. The real Steuerpimpel would be #61 instead.


PQ: I can understand that you're emotionally attached to your CS620Q - but it also is a pretty good, little direct-drive model. I'd rate it a bit higher than for example a Technics SL-QD33, 'cause the drives are about comparable, but the Dual sports the better arm. And while the fans of the more classic Dual models won't regard it as highly, when combined with a better cartridge or a better needle on the stock ULM65E (= renamed OM(B)10), the 620Q nevertheless is a pretty solid performer.

Well, and as for the silicone oil, the lift of the low profile 3rd gen. ULM arm most probably was also filled with 300000 cSt. If you know an rc model building shop somewhere near you, that would probably be a good source.

Oh, and btw., just in case you'd want to stock up, Dualfred(.de) still offers the EDS910 direct drive unit as well as both the silver-grey and the black version of the matching headshell for that ULM arm type.


Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
 
lini said:
Sorry for the somewhat belated reply, but I've been somewhat busy today - and I'm still digesting my birthday steak. Anyway...


g67: Actually #85 in the service manual is the other Steuerpimpel (though I never quite understood, why Dual would call that a Steuerpimpel, too...), namely the one on top of the lift. The real Steuerpimpel would be #61 instead.


PQ: I can understand that you're emotionally attached to your CS620Q - but it also is a pretty good, little direct-drive model. I'd rate it a bit higher than for example a Technics SL-QD33, 'cause the drives are about comparable, but the Dual sports the better arm. And while the fans of the more classic Dual models won't regard it as highly, when combined with a better cartridge or a better needle on the stock ULM65E (= renamed OM(B)10), the 620Q nevertheless is a pretty solid performer.

Well, and as for the silicone oil, the lift of the low profile 3rd gen. ULM arm most probably was also filled with 300000 cSt. If you know an rc model building shop somewhere near you, that would probably be a good source.

Oh, and btw., just in case you'd want to stock up, Dualfred(.de) still offers the EDS910 direct drive unit as well as both the silver-grey and the black version of the matching headshell for that ULM arm type.


Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
Click to expand...



A belated happy birthday Manfred!
I can’t thank you enough for sharing your expertise!
I am going to take the info you provided & run with it!
I am a pretty determined guy once I set my mind to a task I don’t give up easily!

@ johnda it was Doug @ Audio Specialities who said it’s not worth fixing.
I am sure for him it a time/economic issue. But thanks for the referral he is a great tech for anything electronic.

@wrbear thaks for the tip. I will take lots of photos for reference.
I might even video the dissasemby so I can review exactly how I took it apart that way I can just run the video backwards for reasembly :thmbsp:

@ Montycat thanks for the link.

@specialone53 If you have a better solution it would be great if you would share. I am always open to a better way this whole project is a learning experience.
 
specialone53 said:
I hate to say it, but that's a crappy home-made fix.
There are much better and proper ways to fix the lift issue, and worthy of those fine old platter-spinners.
Click to expand...

Why don't you try being a little more helpful rather than always being the aimless critic?

And PureQuill, that tech is not deserving of the name Doug. :D

Doug
 
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