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Technics SL-D3 Start/Stop Button Not Working

Swells

Swells

New Member
I just brought a new to me Technics SL-D3 home and the Start/Stop Button does not seem to work. All works well when I manually move the tonearm and place it on the record. Also, when the record ends the tonearm returns as expected to the rest or if repeat is engaged, the tonearm sets itself back down and plays the album again. So in short, this automatic TT is essentially semi-automatic. While it is a minor inconvenience and a bit of a bummer, I can live with this but I would prefer to get this TT working as it was designed to work. Does anyone have experience with this issue or could maybe point me in the right direction to fix it? Thanks in advance.
 
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Swells said:
I just brought a new to me Technics SL-D3 home and the Start/Stop Button does not seem to work. All works well when I manually move the tonearm and place it on the record. Also, when the record ends the tonearm returns as expected to the rest or if repeat is engaged, the tonearm sets itself back down and plays the album again. So in short, this automatic TT is essentially semi-automatic. While it is a minor inconvenience and a bit of a bummer, I can live with this but I would prefer to get this TT working as it was designed to work. Does anyone have experience with this issue or could maybe point me in the right direction to fix it? Thanks in advance.
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This seems to be a problem with Technics, it's an inherited fault.
 
Swells said:
I just brought a new to me Technics SL-D3 home and the Start/Stop Button does not seem to work. All works well when I manually move the tonearm and place it on the record. Also, when the record ends the tonearm returns as expected to the rest or if repeat is engaged, the tonearm sets itself back down and plays the album again. So in short, this automatic TT is essentially semi-automatic. While it is a minor inconvenience and a bit of a bummer, I can live with this but I would prefer to get this TT working as it was designed to work. Does anyone have experience with this issue or could maybe point me in the right direction to fix it? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Your Technic SL-D3 should have a good tune up! :)

Some of the other members who are more knowledgeable with this model should be able to give you some helpful suggestions.

In the mean time have a look through the owner's and service manual.

Best of luck with the restoration!
https://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-d3.shtml
 
Swells; I would be interested in replies to your issue. I have a Technics SL-202 ...not sure how similar it is to your SL-D3...a year or two difference in manufacturing date.....mine is a semi automatic not an automatic like yours but has a similar issue...the stop button does not work. [no “start” button”]
The arm returns to the arm rest at the end of the record and stops the platter. But the only action I get from the stop button is a clicking sound..but nothing happens. I have had it turned over, removed the bottom plate...cleaned, lubricated everything in sight. Everything else works perfectly.
 
If it truly is a button issue, let me know!
I have some spare parts from a sl-d2.
You'll have to see if they're the same.
 
The more I read these posts the more I see my past comments about the technics range are true, there does seem to be some sort of inherited problem with the stop/start mechanism, although this comment seems to have angered some members we again see another turntable with the same fault.
 
I have seen this problem on a number of older Technics turntables. The cause is usually a broken stop button. I mean the actual plastic button you push. Remove the turntable bottom and take a good look at the button. It cracks and can no longer push the actuating mechanism. A little JB Weld epoxy and it will be as good as new, if this is indeed the problem.
Rick
 
gridleakrick said:
I have seen this problem on a number of older Technics turntables. The cause is usually a broken stop button. I mean the actual plastic button you push. Remove the turntable bottom and take a good look at the button. It cracks and can no longer push the actuating mechanism. A little JB Weld epoxy and it will be as good as new, if this is indeed the problem.
Rick
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Thanks @gridleakrick . That is really what I am hoping to find when I pop the bottom off this thing. When depressing the button it feels "soft", like it is not engaging anything. Really hoping for a quick, easy fix (always hope for this, though this is the case much less than always). Otherwise this automatic turntable becomes a semi-automatic, which isn't anywhere close to the end of the world.
 
Also the stop/start button just might need a good cleaning with Deoxit. A huge amount of SL-D3 and related models were mfg, worse case a replacement switch shouldn't be hard to locate, a simple low cost diy project.
 
majick47 said:
Also the stop/start button just might need a good cleaning with Deoxit. A huge amount of SL-D3 and related models were mfg, worse case a replacement switch shouldn't be hard to locate, a simple low cost diy project.
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The fault I'm describing has nothing to do with an electrical switch. In many of those old Technic turntables the Start button is just a hinged plastic button which moves a long metal rod which actually does the actuation. A mushy feeling button is symtomatic of the problem I described in that it can no longer move the metal rod due to being cracked or broken.
Rick
 
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Grbluen said:
Outstanding save!
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I am pleased for you that you found the solution to your problem, I had a similar problem on my Technics Slq3, and the area you highlighted was one of the areas I stripped and cleaned but mine still refused to work properly, I did not intend to waste any more time on mine and so I returned it and purchased a Toshiba SR-F335 instead.
Best of luck with yours.
 
Hey, i have the same problems but dosent fix with lube.. i need the service manual but vynilengine.com has close the registration... someone can send me the service manual on email?
 
MarkSimonH said:
Hey, i have the same problems but dosent fix with lube.. i need the service manual but vynilengine.com has close the registration... someone can send me the service manual on email?
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Try rotating the platter manually by hand for about 10 revolutions. This is an instruction in the user manual for resetting the automatic functions which can run into problems if the automatic mechanism is not engaged correctly with the tonearm gear.
 
cre009 said:
Try rotating the platter manually by hand for about 10 revolutions. This is an instruction in the user manual for resetting the automatic functions which can run into problems if the automatic mechanism is not engaged correctly with the tonearm gear.
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the problems I encounter are 1- the arm does not start .. it rises and then it lowers .. 2- if I use repeat, the arm rises and goes to the beginning of the record .. but it goes back before the needle touches the groove .. and it doesn't go in its place but stops just before the "arm stop"
 
All, thanks for these recommendations. I had same issues with a new to me SL-D3, it would start fine but when I would hit stop, it would stop and return and immediately start again. I took platter off, locked tone arm, flipped over with dustcover still on, unscrewed feet and 3 base screws, then lifted off base. I found the area from picture above and using cotton balls/qtips and rubbing alcohol, cleaned up all grease and got the mechanism to work much easier. Reseated base, flipped it over and tried it, same issue. This time I took headshell off and did not lock it down, and flipped it over. because it is hard to get into gear area, I actually squirted the rubbing alcohol into area and rotated the large central gear, mopping up the extra rubbing alcohol with cotton balls. As the mechanism moves it exposes more areas with old grease and I would wipe it up as best I could. This was not surgical, lol. It now works fantastic and I did not have to take apart mechanism to clean which I would never get back together. Hoping it lasts. Thx
 
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