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Technics SL7 tone-arm not moving :(

ClayTune

ClayTune

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,

So here's an update.

I posted a couple months ago, about purchasing a Technics SL7 turntable which I was fairly excited about.

I bought the table for about $250 and it's been in storage since, still in the shipping box. Today I finally decided, as a Christmas present to myself, that I would finally open the box it came in and try it out.

I connected it, installed a new cartridge, as the old one was decrepit looking. The motor runs but the tone arm is not moving at all. When I press the automatic function to Queue it, it also does not move.

It is a fairly disappointing Christmas present to myself honestly. I am hoping that it is something very obvious that I am missing either with a setting or something else, but it seems as if it wouldn't be that since the arm lock is not engaged or anything like that.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I made a video but there's no direct way of uploading it unfortunately and not in a youtube sort of mood.

Thanks in advance and happy holidays.
 
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There is a tab on the mat that must be depressed by the record you are playing . Is there anything going on with it ?
 
zebra03 said:
There is a tab on the mat that must be depressed by the record you are playing . Is there anything going on with it ?
Click to expand...

A tab? Depressed?

So sorry for my ignorance, can you please go into further detail and perhaps with a pictorial illustration?

Thank you
 
My guess is the arm drive belt needs to be replaced. Not a big job. Manual at vinylengine. If you aren't confident doing the work ask a tech for help.
 
maxhifi said:
My guess is the arm drive belt needs to be replaced. Not a big job. Manual at vinylengine. If you aren't confident doing the work ask a tech for help.
Click to expand...
I thought so too.
But now the entire platter is only moving for a second or two before it stops.

Where can I find a tech here in Los Angeles?

zebra03 said:
There is a tab on the platter that pops up thru the mat that detects if a record is present .
Click to expand...

I have watched videos in which it was demonstrated that a record does not need to be on the player for it to move the tone arm or platter.
 
There has to be a record on the platter before the tonearm will move . I also see a tonearm lock on your model .
 
ClayTune said:
I thought so too.
But now the entire platter is only moving for a second or two before it stops.

Where can I find a tech here in Los Angeles?



I have watched videos in which it was demonstrated that a record does not need to be on the player for it to move the tone arm or platter.
Click to expand...

Don't know but in a city as big as LA there has to be lots of decent techs. I wonder if someone local can chime in.
 
There is no tab on the platter. The sl7 uses optical detection. The base shines a light upwards onto the top where there are 3 sensors. A record will be needed if it's at the auto position. You can try forcing it to one of the manual override settings. Open the lid and look underneath.


$250 seems a bit high. The one I have with me was for sale locally and in non working condition, for sale at $50, when I offered to fix it for free out of sheer boredom. All it needed was some new lube.
IMG_20191226_022235383.jpg
 
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gr33nhorn said:
There is no tab on the platter. The sl7 uses optical detection. The base shines a light upwards onto the top where there are 3 sensors. A record will be needed if it's at the auto position. You can try forcing it to one of the manual override settings. Open the lid and look underneath.


$250 seems a bit high. The one I have with me was for sale locally and in non working condition, for sale at $50, when I offered to fix it for free out of sheer boredom. All it needed was some new lube.
View attachment 1709771
Click to expand...
My apologies , I was going by my SL-5 . Sorry
 
zebra03 said:
My apologies , I was going by my SL-5 . Sorry
Click to expand...
Could happen to anyone. Even my SL QL5 uses mechanical detection.

Also you will need to close the lid. If the lid is open, it will not even attempt to start. If you want to make it turn with an open lid, check out the switch at the back towards the left. You'll need to keep it pressed down to make it think the lid is closed
IMG_20191226_024446594.jpg
 
gr33nhorn said:
There is no tab on the platter. The sl7 uses optical detection. The base shines a light upwards onto the top where there are 3 sensors. A record will be needed if it's at the auto position. You can try forcing it to one of the manual override settings. Open the lid and look underneath.


$250 seems a bit high. The one I have with me was for sale locally and in non working condition, for sale at $50, when I offered to fix it for free out of sheer boredom. All it needed was some new lube.
View attachment 1709771
Click to expand...

Any thoughts on why the platter is only moving for a couple of seconds now, after pressing start and no movement from the tone arm is occurring?

It was listed as perfect working condition for that $250 so that's why I grabbed it. The idea of linear tracking was very exciting to me.
 
It sounds like it is trying to start , but is not detecting a record . I saw some videos on Youtube . that might get you started .
 
ClayTune said:
Any thoughts on why the platter is only moving for a couple of seconds now, after pressing start and no movement from the tone arm is occurring?

It was listed as perfect working condition for that $250 so that's why I grabbed it. The idea of linear tracking was very exciting to me.
Click to expand...
Do you have a record in the player? Is the lid closed?
 
Has this table been serviced? What is it's history? Did the seller say he did any maintenance? If you don't know, assume it will need a new arm drive belt, and the shaft that the arm slides on to be re-greased. Vinyl engine should have a service manual to assist in the dis-assembly. This is an SL-J2 mechanism.
 

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Turntable arm or platter operational issues usually have to do with dry lubricant gumming up the works.
I'm wondering why didn't you test the turntable when you first received it? Yes, the former owner may have said it worked fine but you still should verify. You could have returned it and got a refund.
 
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This video is on an SL10, but it might give you an idea about what is going on with your SL 7. I`d suggest you pay attention when the technician approaches the tonearm mechanism belt.
 
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