• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Thorens TD 145 mk1

Yemm66

Yemm66

Active Member
Hello and good morning! I have a Thorens TD 145 mk1 that I cannot get the platter to “bite” on startup. It spins fine, but I have to push the platter to get it going, otherwise it slips on the motor spindle. Once going it spins at 33.3. I have a brand new Thorens belt too. Spindle and platter have been thoroughly cleaned many times. Would this possibly be a bad capacitor? Or something deeper? Thanks so much.
 
Register to hide this ad
Yemm66 said:
Hello and good morning! I have a Thorens TD 145 mk1 that I cannot get the platter to “bite” on startup. It spins fine, but I have to push the platter to get it going, otherwise it slips on the motor spindle. Once going it spins at 33.3. I have a brand new Thorens belt too. Spindle and platter have been thoroughly cleaned many times. Would this possibly be a bad capacitor? Or something deeper? Thanks so much.
Click to expand...

Your spindle is a pulley just for the sake of it ;-) Now you could always try to renew the old capacitors (always comes in handy before they let you down inevitably) in hope that's it's not an issue further down the line with your motor.​
 
Does the motor start up but not pull the belt? There is a clutch as part of the motor pulley, if thats worn or slipping the motor will go but not actually turn the pulley to move the belt. Somewhere I have seen instructions on how to take this apart and fix it, but I haven't had enough coffee this morning to remember where. I seem to recall there not being much in there though, brass inner part clamped to the motor shaft, a felt washer, and the plastic outer part that the belt rides on. I don't know how it comes apart though.

If the caps are bad the motor will generally just hum and not start itself, but it will usually run once you help it get going.
 
Just a few thoughts.Take the main platter off and watch whats happening. Is the belt too loose? The wrong belt might have been shipped. Stranger .things have happened. Also check for the drive pulley slipping on the motor spindle. Im not sure this could happen on a Thorens but it happened on an old 8track player to me once.
 
might have to put the platter on upside-down to make this work well. On my 160 at least if I try to run it with no outer platter it sits high and is prone to throwing the belt.
 
Figured it out. I had a bad motor start coil in the motor. It would vibrate but not grab the belt to spin the platter unless you did a push by hand to help it get going. Replaced the motor and all is good.
 
Yemm66 said:
Figured it out. I had a bad motor start coil in the motor.
Click to expand...
Good job! It's just 'coils'. Two of them actually, and yes, the motor would vibrate quite abruptly if one is dead. I don't think it would do smooth 33.3 rpm with just one coil though. Did you verify it with an ohm meter - what did it show?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom