Technics SL1300 auto return issue

[RunOutGroove]

I just installed a new stylus and did a setup on my turnable. Everything sounds great... but somehow now the table isn't doing auto return. Is there an easy fix of this? If not, is there a fix that a reasonably handy, but not super-genius mechanically inclined person such as myself might be able to make? I can't think of what I could have possibly done in the setup process to break the thing... It was working fine right before that.

 

[Nashou66]

i did this repair. but also download the service manual at vinyl engine . com you have to join to be able to download manuals .

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-1300.shtml

here is a link to my post in a thread , might want to go through the whole thread.

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...l-the-way-to-the-center.346543/#post-12312036

Nashou

 

[kermit z]

Does it not return at all, or does it return once the arm is swung too far into the record? Nashs' first link is for the MK2, so that one will not help, but do check out his second link.

Try lifting the arm and swing it towards the center and see if it finally returns. It could be an adjustment of where to pick up the tonearm.

 

[Nashou66]

Does it not return at all, or does it return once the arm is swung too far into the record? Nashs' first link is for the MK2, so that one will not help, but do check out his second link.

Try lifting the arm and swing it towards the center and see if it finally returns. It could be an adjustment of where to pick up the tonearm.

The vinyl engine link is for both the Mk1 and Mk2 , the pic they show first is a Mk2 but there are SM and OM for both models.

Athanasios

 

[RunOutGroove]

Try lifting the arm and swing it towards the center and see if it finally returns. It could be an adjustment of where to pick up the tonearm.

Bingo, I ended up doing exactly that, before I even read your post, and in doing that it seems that I've fixed the thing, at least for the time being. I first tried putting the tonearm near the end of the record a few times and each time it failed to auto return. Then I went to do the same thing again and by accident I seem to have grabbed the tonearm before full startup process was completed and the motor pulled the arm back to the rest before I was able to cue the record. Something about that action must have reset something because when I tried the same thing again, the tonearm automatically pulled off of the end of the record, as it's supposed to do. I listened to a couple uninterrupted sides after that and it worked every time.

I have to wonder if there's something in there that's not quite lined up or on the verge of breaking, but for now everything works... I's a good thing as I rely on that auto-return thing. Lots of times I'm listening to music and doing something where I don't want to deal with running to the turntable immediately after a side is done to pull the tonearm off of the record. I've almost never used the startup lever (I always manually pick up the tonearm) but the auto-return is a must for me. I guess that I'm not really meant for the truly hi-fi gear that has none of these conveniences (though I don't need remotes or anything like that)!

 

[RunOutGroove]

The vinyl engine link is for both the Mk1 and Mk2 , the pic they show first is a Mk2 but there are SM and OM for both models.

Athanasios

I'll check those out, because even though I've fixed the thing for now, I kind of think that future failure is a real possibility... Thanks!

 

[Yodathedog]

There might be an adjustment under the platter for the point the auto-return activates. Get the owners manual if you can. It'll probably tell you where the adjustment is to be made and how.