Technics sl-dl 1 Tonearm won’t drop

[EdCollector]

Hello all,

This is my first post, and I very much hope one of you more experienced people out there can help me..

I purchased a good condition cosmetically Technics SL-DL1 linear tracking turntable the other day, and on testing it, it appears everything is working, it’s sensing 7” and 12” records etc, moving to the correct cueing place etc, the only problem is the tonearm wont drop down onto the record. I have figured out that the little perch that lowers and raises the tonearm is indeed going up and down, but the tonearm is left floating exactly as if the tracking force needed adjusted on a normal turntable. But there appears to be no way to adjust that on these turntables.

anyway, I’m presuming it’s just congealed silicone grease or suchlike, and the tonearm is just not moving up and down as freely as it should, but if anyone out there has any experience of this particular fault, where everything appears to be working but the tonearm wont drop the needle on the record, any help really would be appreciated.

I really need a fix on this, as my last attempt at a fix on this type of thing did not go well, so really need the lift and satisfaction of getting something working again to restore my faith in myself

Thanks in advance to all who reply.

 

[flavio81]

Hello all,

This is my first post, and I very much hope one of you more experienced people out there can help me..

I purchased a good condition cosmetically Technics SL-DL1 linear tracking turntable the other day, and on testing it, it appears everything is working, it’s sensing 7” and 12” records etc, moving to the correct cueing place etc, the only problem is the tonearm wont drop down onto the record. I have figured out that the little perch that lowers and raises the tonearm is indeed going up and down, but the tonearm is left floating exactly as if the tracking force needed adjusted on a normal turntable. But there appears to be no way to adjust that on these turntables.

anyway, I’m presuming it’s just congealed silicone grease or suchlike, and the tonearm is just not moving up and down as freely as it should, but if anyone out there has any experience of this particular fault, where everything appears to be working but the tonearm wont drop the needle on the record, any help really would be appreciated.

I really need a fix on this, as my last attempt at a fix on this type of thing did not go well, so really need the lift and satisfaction of getting something working again to restore my faith in myself

Thanks in advance to all who reply.

You might want to take a look here and post here. The turntables are very similar.

 

[EdCollector]

Thanks, yes it ended up being that the tone arm must have taken a knock in transit, probably from the platter, that the seller had failed to remove prior to packing, and it had knocked the tone arm out from the bracket that holds it via the little sharp pins and tension screws, just in front of the counter weight. Now back in place and just trying to find the correct tension for the holding screws. All seems ok, and just awaiting a new stylus. Hopefully I’ll then have a working turntable!