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Technics SL-1700mkii Auto-Return Query...

Jereostereo

Jereostereo

Active Member
Hello - I have a new turntable - a beauty of a Technics SL-1700mkii. Looks and plays great. The only issue is the auto-return. The return mechanism 100% works when activated by pressing the stop button - lift, return, drop - but the "auto" will not kick in the return sequence at the end of the record.
I have done a bit of online browsing and have seen a wide array of possible solutions. I am wondering if the fact that the return mechanism is operational might narrow down the possible solutions. I would be willing to attempt a mechanical fix, but if the repair involves electrical work, I will be more than content to enjoy this table as an "almost" auto-return. Thanks.
 
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Jereostereo said:
Hello - I have a new turntable - a beauty of a Technics SL-1700mkii. Looks and plays great. The only issue is the auto-return. The return mechanism 100% works when activated by pressing the stop button - lift, return, drop - but the "auto" will not kick in the return sequence at the end of the record.
I have done a bit of online browsing and have seen a wide array of possible solutions. I am wondering if the fact that the return mechanism is operational might narrow down the possible solutions. I would be willing to attempt a mechanical fix, but if the repair involves electrical work, I will be more than content to enjoy this table as an "almost" auto-return. Thanks.
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Welcome to the AK turn table forum.

The owner's manual and service manual are available for free down load after registration.
https://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-1700.shtml

There should be instruction on "set down" or "return" adjustments in the manuals. :thumbsup:
 
I have a Technics SL-1700. There is an adjustment screw to adjust the exact point at which the tonearm knows to begin the auto return sequence. So probably just a minor adjustment is needed here and you will be all set. You need to find the 1700mkii Service Manual and it will explain exactly what to do.
 
ickyfrog said:
I have a Technics SL-1700. There is an adjustment screw to adjust the exact point at which the tonearm knows to begin the auto return sequence. So probably just a minor adjustment is needed here and you will be all set. You need to find the 1700mkii Service Manual and it will explain exactly what to do.
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Yep...................
 
ickyfrog said:
I have a Technics SL-1700. There is an adjustment screw to adjust the exact point at which the tonearm knows to begin the auto return sequence. So probably just a minor adjustment is needed here and you will be all set. You need to find the 1700mkii Service Manual and it will explain exactly what to do.
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Stanton681EEES said:
Yep...................
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Yes, that's one possibility. Another possibility is simply that the auto mechanism is turned off (by means of the little black push button behind and to the right of the tonearm base). Hopefully one of those two is the reason. The other possibility is a failed optical sensor circuit. Arm position is detected through an optical sensor and an LED that shines through an aperture in the return mechanism. The position of the aperture is what you're changing when you turn the adjustment screw. If the sensor, or if the LED that the sensor senses, has failed the automatic return won't work at all.

John
 
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boreas said:
Yes, that's one possibility. Another possibility is simply that the auto mechanism is turned off (by means of the little black push button behind and to the right of the tonearm base). Hopefully one of those two is the reason. The other possibility is a failed optical sensor circuit. Arm position is detected through an optical sensor and an LED that shines through an aperture in the return mechanism. The position of the aperture is what you're changing when you turn the adjustment screw but if the sensor, or if the LED that the sensor senses, has failed the automatic return won't work at all.

John
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I love that little button. It's fooled me on my 1700 as it is easy to forget about it. Plus my 1700 is black so it's subtly hidden.

Technics SL-1700 MKII by Buhduh, on Flickr
 
I had completely overlooked the auto return button! But alas, that didn't fix it. I will check the manual and hope the activation adjustment is the solution. But when I move the tonearm all the way to the spindle it does not activate. But here's hoping. Thank you for all the input.
 
boreas said:
Yes, that's one possibility. Another possibility is simply that the auto mechanism is turned off (by means of the little black push button behind and to the right of the tonearm base). Hopefully one of those two is the reason. The other possibility is a failed optical sensor circuit. Arm position is detected through an optical sensor and an LED that shines through an aperture in the return mechanism. The position of the aperture is what you're changing when you turn the adjustment screw. If the sensor, or if the LED that the sensor senses, has failed the automatic return won't work at all.

John
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Does the 1700Mk2 use an optical sensor? Being semi-auto, one puts the stylus down where one desires, and then it returns at the end.
 
SA-708 said:
Does the 1700Mk2 use an optical sensor? Being semi-auto, one puts the stylus down where one desires, and then it returns at the end.
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Yes, it is optical. The switch might also need a spritz but chances are the sensor or LED are out.
 
Jereostereo said:
I had completely overlooked the auto return button! But alas, that didn't fix it. I will check the manual and hope the activation adjustment is the solution. But when I move the tonearm all the way to the spindle it does not activate. But here's hoping. Thank you for all the input.
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Uh-oh!

John
 
SA-708 said:
You are thinking of the full auto 1600Mk2. There's no need for a sensor on a semi-auto turntable like a SL-1700Mk2.
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Both turntables return the arm at the end of the record and they both use sensors to determine the return point and to trigger the return. The SL-1600 MK2 uses a separate set of sensors and LEDs to determine record size. Is that what you're thinking of? Check the service manual if you don't believe us..

John
 
SA-708 said:
You are thinking of the full auto 1600Mk2. There's no need for a sensor on a semi-auto turntable like a SL-1700Mk2.
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Got the info from the SM, and from personal experience with rebuilding my own. :)
 
Strange then, that both of my SL-1700Mk2s do not have the optical sensor on the post near the tonearm, nor the holes in the platter mat for the light to come through, that the Technics SL-1600Mk2 (and my SL-MA1) has.
 
SA-708 said:
Strange then, that both of my SL-1700Mk2s do not have the optical sensor on the post near the tonearm, nor the holes in the platter mat for the light to come through, that the Technics SL-1600Mk2 (and my SL-MA1) has.
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Neither do our 1700MK2s. The sensor is inside and only activates at the end of the record. It's for the ARM RETURN and not a record sizing sensor for this SEMI-AUTOMATIC turntable.
 
SA-708 said:
Strange then, that both of my SL-1700Mk2s do not have the optical sensor on the post near the tonearm, nor the holes in the platter mat for the light to come through, that the Technics SL-1600Mk2 (and my SL-MA1) has.
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Just as I thought! You are confusing the externally mounted size detecting sensor with the internal return point sensors.

John
 
This is just my experience with a SL-1700 that had what I thought was an unresolvable issue with the auto-return.
First I made sure to have the proper size O-ring for the cueing. A rubber band may allow the cueing to operate, but apparently it can confuse the auto-return. This I read about on AK. Then while I had the lid off to replace the O-ring, I shot a nice amount of electronics cleaner toward the back right corner of the interior, toward the return on/off button and toggled that button about 50 times.
At that point I reassembled and tested the auto-return - nothing. A bit deflated, I played an album anyway and started doing other things. Sure enough, I wandered away and forgot a record was playing. Came back about an hour later and noticed the tonearm was sitting on the rest!
I don’t know how long it spun in the runoff, but apparently whatever was stuck worked itself loose. Ever since the table has worked perfectly and I couldn’t be happier. If I hadn’t been absent-minded it never would have resolved itself.

So get the right o-ring, spray it down, and let er spin.
 
Jereostereo said:
This is just my experience with a SL-1700 that had what I thought was an unresolvable issue with the auto-return.
First I made sure to have the proper size O-ring for the cueing. A rubber band may allow the cueing to operate, but apparently it can confuse the auto-return. This I read about on AK. Then while I had the lid off to replace the O-ring, I shot a nice amount of electronics cleaner toward the back right corner of the interior, toward the return on/off button and toggled that button about 50 times.
At that point I reassembled and tested the auto-return - nothing. A bit deflated, I played an album anyway and started doing other things. Sure enough, I wandered away and forgot a record was playing. Came back about an hour later and noticed the tonearm was sitting on the rest!
I don’t know how long it spun in the runoff, but apparently whatever was stuck worked itself loose. Ever since the table has worked perfectly and I couldn’t be happier. If I hadn’t been absent-minded it never would have resolved itself.

So get the right o-ring, spray it down, and let er spin.
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Hi All, first time post.. so I followed the above on my vintage 1700mk2, replaced the O-ring and spritzed and let her spin and hoped, two days later...still same issue of tone arm picking up, but not returning. It begins to move (1-32 maybe) back toward resting cue position but just stops. I can hear something, and there is a little resistance as I manually move the tone arm, then not until I hit the cue down button does all relax. SOOO, sounds like I have to take the tone arm assembly out and check gears and the info on the technical bulletin.. agreed??? I am really impressed with all of your knowledge and willingness to share! Thanks
 
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