Technics SL-BD20D doesn't start automatically. What's wrong?

D

DPLrecords

New Member
The belt is fine, the table spins, the cuing function lifts and settles the needle, if I put the needle on the record and spin it manually I get sound, but I can't figure out how to get the thing to start. ti's supposed to be automatic, so there's no "Start" button or anything... what is wrong with my machine?

Thanks for any thoughts you might have.
 
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"Automatic" turntables are often really only semi-automatic. In other words you place the needle on the record, which should have started to spin when the arm was moved. The arm will return to the rest and the motor will shut off at the end.

When you say you "spin it manually" do you mean you had to start the platter spinning by hand? If that is true that is not right, and sometimes indicates a belt that has too loose a fit, stretched in other words. If you just meant that tonearm had to moved by hand that is normal.
 
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By "Spinning manually" I just mean turning with my hand. It never actually starts and plays a record through. It's been out of circulation for a while, replaced by newer turntables. Worked fine when I took it in the basement three or four years ago, and has been stored with its cover on, in a cardboard box, so it didn't even really get dirty...
 
Bad power cord, or a dead motor? Does the strobe light come on when you move the arm over to the record?
 
Belt is fine. I removed it to check if it was brittle or anything and it was okay. As for strobe light - it doesn't have any lights.
 
You may have to take the bottom off to see if there is a fuse in the power line path. No mention of it in the user's manual, but doesn't mean there isn't one.
 
I tried to take it apart, but there's only one obvious screw on the bottom - that didn't separate the top from the bottom... are there others? Like do I have to undo the screws in the little rubber feet?
 
Does the little pulley or spindle that the belt wraps around spin when the tonearm is moved off the rest, with belt and platter off? That part is attached to the motor. If it does turn, it is probably a very loose belt that is the fault as there is so not enough tension to get the platter rotating. They will get stretched and degrade just sitting there.

If the motor does turn, you will have to go deeper. Check Vinyl Engine for the Service Manual to see if there is a fuse, or just open it up.
 
Yes you do likely have to remove the feet as 4 or 5 screws is about as few as they get to hold the bottom on. Some tables have 15 or 20 or more.
 
No pulley rotation with out the belt on. I'll try to check if there's a fuse, but the manual doesn't say anything about it. Looking grimmer by the minute, I fear.
 
Fixed it - Problem was that one of the prongs of the plug wasn't well connected to the cable inside. Wasn't the tone arm at all. $4 outlet plug replacement and a little wire stripping and I'm back in business. Thanks to all for your good ideas!
 
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