Sony PS-X50 cueing problem

[Rmass]

I have a pair of Sony PS-X50's that each have the same issue. Cueing is nonfunctional. Initially the levers and springs underneath were gunked up so I cleaned the old grease off, relubed, added some silicone between the lifter cam assembly and the lifter base, and now the mechanisms seem to work well except the cueing is still not working because the cam/piston that pushes up on the arm lifter is frozen. I tried oil, tapping with a hammer, prying up...nothing...it will not budge. Not having cueing is not a big deal, but when a record finishes, rather than the arm lifting and returning to the arm rest, the arm is dragged across the record until it drops off the edge...very bad! Luckily I tested it with an old spare record and didn't ruin a classic.
I have both owners and service manuals but nothing about this problem. I'm trying to avoid dismantling the tonearm but that may be my next option to have better access to the lifter cam assembly. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks...Rob

 

[tjohnusa]

do you have a soldering iron? if so try heating the pin a bit to see if that loosens it up.

 

[Balifly]

I have a pair of Sony PS-X50's that each have the same issue. Cueing is nonfunctional. Initially the levers and springs underneath were gunked up so I cleaned the old grease off, relubed, added some silicone between the lifter cam assembly and the lifter base, and now the mechanisms seem to work well except the cueing is still not working because the cam/piston that pushes up on the arm lifter is frozen. I tried oil, tapping with a hammer, prying up...nothing...it will not budge. Not having cueing is not a big deal, but when a record finishes, rather than the arm lifting and returning to the arm rest, the arm is dragged across the record until it drops off the edge...very bad! Luckily I tested it with an old spare record and didn't ruin a classic.
I have both owners and service manuals but nothing about this problem. I'm trying to avoid dismantling the tonearm but that may be my next option to have better access to the lifter cam assembly. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks...Rob

The tone arm lift platform needs to be adjusted higher.

See the thumb screw to the left and under the tone arm.

 

[Rmass]

do you have a soldering iron? if so try heating the pin a bit to see if that loosens it up.

Yes, I have a soldering iron. Interesting suggestion to heat the pin. Anyone know if there is anything in the sleeve that the pin slides in that could be harmed by heating?
Thanks...Rob

 

[Rmass]

The tone arm lift platform needs to be adjusted higher.

See the thumb screw to the left and under the tone arm.

Thanks for the suggestion but that will not free up the pin/cam. That pin still needs to be able to move up and down to cue properly and return at the end of a record...the pin will not move at all.
Rob

 

[nbarber]

I applied very small amounts of Naptha to the shaft and repeated it many times over several days then used gently pressure both up and down again over several days to free up mine. That was about a year ago and it still functions flawlessly.

 

[Rmass]

I applied very small amounts of Naptha to the shaft and repeated it many times over server days then used gently pressure both up and down again over several days to free up mine. That was about a year ago and it still functions flawlessly.

Naphtha! Would have never thought of trying that...is that the same as mineral spirits? Great to hear that the problem is fixable and gives me hope that I will not have to dismantle the tonearm! I've been using a light synthetic sewing machine oil that should be similar to penetrating oil...maybe I'll try this couple more days and if no luck switch to Naphtha.
Thanks...Rob

 

[analoginaz]

I have this same problem (posted earlier this year) and I have tried gentle hammering, WD 40, and acetone. It feels so stuck that it feels that it was meant to be that way. I thought of heating it up too but was worried that it might melt something unintended. I'll give naphtha a try tomorrow.

 

[Rmass]

I have this same problem (posted earlier this year) and I have tried gentle hammering, WD 40, and acetone. It feels so stuck that it feels that it was meant to be that way. I thought of heating it up too but was worried that it might melt something unintended. I'll give naphtha a try tomorrow.

Sounds good...please let me know how this works for you. I am always hesitant to use organic solvents or petroleum products on my gear due to the potential to damage plastic and rubber parts. I'm not a chemist but have seen bad things these solvents can do to certain plastics. In our case, if the stuck cam is being wedged by a piece of dried, deteriorating plastic, then a solvent like naphtha could soften it enough to regain function. But as nbarber says, he used very small amounts multiple times...I worry that too much at one time may do more damage than help.
Thanks...Rob

 

[Rmass]

Success...after 3 days of applying synthetic sewing machine oil (Liberty brand) and pressure (tapping down with rubber mallet, prying up with needle-nose pliers) the cam has come loose and is moving freely. Thanks for all the help and suggestions!
Rob

 

[analoginaz]

Thanks for sharing. I tried the naphtha (but no additional applied force) and it hasn't moved.

Update. I tried a little synthetic Mobil 1 oil, rubber mallet, small hammer and screwdriver. I put the rubber mallet on the cue pin and the tapped the mallet with hammer until it went down. Then use the flat head screwdriver and hammer to move it back up. Back and forth about 20 times with a little more oil on the pin, and now it moves freely. Thanks for the help Rmass.

If there is a next time, I think I would use a wood dowel instead of the rubber mallet and screwdriver.

 

[nbarber]

It sounds like patience was as important an ingredient as solvents and mild force. Congrats on the fix, now you can enjoy the music.

 

[Gigas]

I have a pair of Sony PS-X50's that each have the same issue. Cueing is nonfunctional. Initially the levers and springs underneath were gunked up so I cleaned the old grease off, relubed, added some silicone between the lifter cam assembly and the lifter base, and now the mechanisms seem to work well except the cueing is still not working because the cam/piston that pushes up on the arm lifter is frozen. I tried oil, tapping with a hammer, prying up...nothing...it will not budge. Not having cueing is not a big deal, but when a record finishes, rather than the arm lifting and returning to the arm rest, the arm is dragged across the record until it drops off the edge...very bad! Luckily I tested it with an old spare record and didn't ruin a classic.
I have both owners and service manuals but nothing about this problem. I'm trying to avoid dismantling the tonearm but that may be my next option to have better access to the lifter cam assembly. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks...Rob

 

[Gigas]

Hello from Sweden! I have just received a Sony PS X50 record player with the exact same problem you describe. I've been using WD-40 for a day and trying to tap a little with a hammer on the shaft that the tonearm rests on under the black half-moon support. I have also tried to turn the shaft using a pair of pliers but no result, it is stuck in place. At the end of the record, it happens that the tone arm slides over the record instead of being lifted. What else can I do? I'm hesitant to use my soldering iron to heat the shaft as a lot can happen. The question is how this shaft can be released so that it is lifted up when the tone arm is to return to its original position. I have tried to remove most of the old grease underneath.

 

[Gigas]