Technics sl-1200 - help with arm lift

[se7en8n9ne]

tonearm does not drop when I move the cue lever down.
I.e. the arm lift will raise when I raise cue lever but not lower when I lower cue lever.
Thank you for any help.
Btw I googled first and found same question posted in 2016 on vinyl engine but question was not answered.

 

[bolero]

the answer may be in the service manual:

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-1200.shtml

 

[bigx5murf]

There's probably gunk in the cue mechanism, Technics usually uses a piston, with a gap in the middle. You need to clean it out, and replace it with some hobby high CST fluid.

Actually, considering how cheap the entire assembly is for the 1200 mk2-5, I'd just replace the whole thing.
https://www.green-vinyl.com/en/oil-damper-refurbished.html

 

[zoombrewer77]

I’d try cleaning the existing one before replacing it. Might just be gunked up.

 

[se7en8n9ne]

I'll try cleaning it first. Thanks for y'all's replies.