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Sony PS-4300
- Thread starter schfed
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Sometime everything are OK.
With the platter on, or off?
I see from the end of your video that it can operate normally - sort of - with the platter off.
You are probably going to need to clean and relubricate the cam track underneath that gear. For this model, it's not particularly easy or fun to get to it. I think you have to go from underneath, and that's a bit of a process too. There's also the arm shaft and how that engages with the auto mechanism. If you're doing one thing, you may as well do it all while you're in there. You'll definitely want the service manual.
You are probably going to need to clean and relubricate the cam track underneath that gear. For this model, it's not particularly easy or fun to get to it. I think you have to go from underneath, and that's a bit of a process too. There's also the arm shaft and how that engages with the auto mechanism. If you're doing one thing, you may as well do it all while you're in there. You'll definitely want the service manual.
I see from the end of your video that it can operate normally - sort of - with the platter off.
You are probably going to need to clean and relubricate the cam track underneath that gear. For this model, it's not particularly easy or fun to get to it. I think you have to go from underneath, and that's a bit of a process too. There's also the arm shaft and how that engages with the auto mechanism. If you're doing one thing, you may as well do it all while you're in there. You'll definitely want the service
Same problem with the platter on. Without the platter the auto process seems brutal and very fast.
I have the service manual but it is not easy to understand the source of this problem. Maybe a screw , maybe a potentiometer, maybe a lubrication...
I think that's more likely to be a purely mechanical issue. Only a guess, but I suspect the plastic collar that goes onto the arm pillar might be the problem. It can loosen or crack. It's repairable, usually, and can be glued (if cracked) and reinforced with a cable tie. Even if it's not that, the best thing is likely to be to go through the whole auto pathway, checking, cleaning, and relubricating. Some of the parts are a bit fragile. You may also need to remove some small c-clips to get to some parts. Care is definitely needed, there are both small parts than you can lose, and fragile parts you can break. Best to read everything you can find about this turntable.
There's a few threads, I think either on this forum or Vinyl Engine, that deal with this. The thread title might not be for your deck, because there are a couple of sister decks from Sony that use the same mechanism.
There's a few threads, I think either on this forum or Vinyl Engine, that deal with this. The thread title might not be for your deck, because there are a couple of sister decks from Sony that use the same mechanism.
Agreed. It's not the easiest turntable to work with. But harder without the SM, believe me.I have the service manual but it is not easy to understand the source of this problem.
This is one of the threads I had in mind:
Sony PS-X7 speed problems
I CLed this tt years ago about the same time my brother expressed an interest in owning a turntable, darn. Dust cover was perfect, never had the clinging plastic removed. Oh well, I'll check it out and I ended up giving it to him for a BD present. But it first needed to have an erratic hitch...
audiokarma.org
I might have been able to explain things better, but it's a long while since I had that turntable open. And there was a lot to be done.
I was probably a bit hasty in assuming the cause is mechanical instead of electronic. Often the mechanical sections of these turntables do need some work after this many years, and there are some known issues for this turntable that are covered in other threads. Perhaps someone else has a clearer idea of which things to look at first, whether that's mechanical or electronic. This turntable was not too easy to work on, for me, as I had little to no experience at the time, and I did my own work out of necessity rather than knowledge, learning slowly and painfully. A few years later, and I've got a few more Japanese direct drive turntables working nicely, but there are still many gaps in my understanding of them, and particularly the electronics. I just try to pick up what I can as I go, and it's enjoyable, but I have no particular aptitude for it.
Those Sonys, which I think are from the late 70s, are nice turntables, for those of us who like automatics. So it's worth persevering with.
I was probably a bit hasty in assuming the cause is mechanical instead of electronic. Often the mechanical sections of these turntables do need some work after this many years, and there are some known issues for this turntable that are covered in other threads. Perhaps someone else has a clearer idea of which things to look at first, whether that's mechanical or electronic. This turntable was not too easy to work on, for me, as I had little to no experience at the time, and I did my own work out of necessity rather than knowledge, learning slowly and painfully. A few years later, and I've got a few more Japanese direct drive turntables working nicely, but there are still many gaps in my understanding of them, and particularly the electronics. I just try to pick up what I can as I go, and it's enjoyable, but I have no particular aptitude for it.
Those Sonys, which I think are from the late 70s, are nice turntables, for those of us who like automatics. So it's worth persevering with.
This is another thread that might be useful:
As you see, the PS4300, PSX5, PSX6, and PSX7 all have some close similarities. In the mechanical auto function in particular. The way into these decks is pretty convoluted though. Almost all of it has to be from the underside, and that involves taking the feet off to access the necessary screws. You need to take care loosening the feet, as they're not going to be replaceable with something generic if you break them.
Help with Sony PS-X5 please
Hello everyone, I will start a new post here. Yesterday I posted problems here and I think one other place which I cannot locate: Thanks to the guys who responded. Today, I'd like to start fresh, and will try to post photos. Here are problems I am having with this X5: 1) I...
www.audiokarma.org
As you see, the PS4300, PSX5, PSX6, and PSX7 all have some close similarities. In the mechanical auto function in particular. The way into these decks is pretty convoluted though. Almost all of it has to be from the underside, and that involves taking the feet off to access the necessary screws. You need to take care loosening the feet, as they're not going to be replaceable with something generic if you break them.
Hello,
may I ask if anybody ever found what was causing this behavior?
I have a customer's device here which shows exactly the same behavior.
When trying to play a record, the motor starts, tone arm moves to start position ok, but as soon as the needle touches the record the process is canceled, tone arm moves up again and returns to its start position.
I went through the service manual but could not find a clue.
I mostly repair amplifiers, so I have a scope etc., and can do any measurements.
So maybe if anybody knows, I would be happy to hear.
Thanks a lot in advance,
Hajo
may I ask if anybody ever found what was causing this behavior?
I have a customer's device here which shows exactly the same behavior.
When trying to play a record, the motor starts, tone arm moves to start position ok, but as soon as the needle touches the record the process is canceled, tone arm moves up again and returns to its start position.
I went through the service manual but could not find a clue.
I mostly repair amplifiers, so I have a scope etc., and can do any measurements.
So maybe if anybody knows, I would be happy to hear.
Thanks a lot in advance,
Hajo
interesting, I'm just new to TTs and have a PS-4300 with the same described issue but only intermittently. At first I thought I didn't hit the start button properly or there was something wrong with the record. But then I press the "button" again and it works just fine. Weird. Any solutions?
You mean like a solution that no one's taken the trouble to mention to the other two people in this thread who already asked about the issue? I don't think the odds are good.
However, as with all buttons and switches, faulty contact is a possibility, so giving that section a proper clean is good idea, though it can't be assumed that the cause of the problem is there. With this model, a bit of disassembly is required to reach the business part of the power switch and selector switch.
However, as with all buttons and switches, faulty contact is a possibility, so giving that section a proper clean is good idea, though it can't be assumed that the cause of the problem is there. With this model, a bit of disassembly is required to reach the business part of the power switch and selector switch.
Thanks Tonoje for asking for clarification. Meant no offense to asking if it was ever identified what the actual solution was. As stated, I'm new. Done as much as described above but got the same results as Hajo. This is my first TT and am enjoying my Sony, hesitant to tear it all the way down until I know for sure what exactly is wrong.
Meant no offense
None taken. There are a few threads about the PS4300 and similar, closely-related models in the Sony range. It may be that if you dig through those you could find some answers, although I don't recall seeing this specific problem mentioned. The play button of this and other Sonys that use it is a bit of an oddity and can easily play up in certain conditions. In the video, I'm not sure whether the light activating just before the arm erroneously lifts and returns to the armrest is indicating a switch contact issue that then causes the arm to lift, or if it's just triggered by the mechanical action of the arm itself. It's been a long time since I tinkered with this player or tried to puzzle my way through the service manual. I still think it's probably somewhat more likely to be a mechanical problem based on the intricate automation pathway, as there is plenty to go wrong in there in a player of this age. It seems likely that the whole pathway and associated parts have to be looked at, cleaned and relubricated, and the set-down and lift-up positions set up again.
It's usually a fixable turntable, and was in my case, but the procedures are not quick or easy for an amateur like myself.
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Hello, I would like to contribute my findings here.
I was actually able to solve my issue.
After checking the switches and the flipflop transistors etc., I decided it could be a mechanical issue.
So I cleaned and lubricated all bearings that seem to be involved and also around the linear movement coil.
After that, the issue was gone and also my customer confirmed.
So while I cannot definitely say which component was the issue, I can at least recommend to try this way.
Best Regards,
Hajo
I was actually able to solve my issue.
After checking the switches and the flipflop transistors etc., I decided it could be a mechanical issue.
So I cleaned and lubricated all bearings that seem to be involved and also around the linear movement coil.
After that, the issue was gone and also my customer confirmed.
So while I cannot definitely say which component was the issue, I can at least recommend to try this way.
Best Regards,
Hajo