• 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 TD121 w/ Pritchard ADC 40 + ADC1 recommissioning service

rufleruf

rufleruf

Preserving the sound
Oh boy - spent all my discretionary funds this month on Thorens TD-121. It is a one owner, all original table with a Pritchard Basswood ADC-40 tonearm and ADC-1 cartridge. The ADC 1 needs a stylus so I'm sending it off to AK member needlestein this week for whatever it needs. It currently has a mystery vintage ADC on it. I'm not sure I will daily spin the Pritchard, but I want to start there with the mystery cart and later the ADC-1.

So the point of my post: this turntable has been off the road for years. It acts as it should when you plug it in and turn it on, but I want to give it a full service before it sees both sides of Here come the warm jets. The platter bearing is utterly dry, and frankly, I don't know where else it wants oil.

Thorens experts... what would you do? Is there an oil I can get at my local hardware store to use? Do I take it all apart?
 
Register to hide this ad
I'd start by not turning it on before some thorough motor checkup and possibly a followup maintenance treatment (see here). A good condition E50 motor free spins the pulley (no belt) after power off, for at least 15 seconds. I'd go on with idler bushing lube, stepped pulley bearing lube, main bearing lube and a new drive belt. It's "WD40 company" red/white/blue can of 3 in 1 (1/4 horse power) electric motor oil for the motor bushings, and Singer sewing machine oil for the rest. That bit of upper motor cover that's peeping through the deck doesn't look good and may hint at what's inside. Seriously, don't turn it on.
 
Thats the kind of thing you want to find, all original, hasn't been used in a long time but most importantly it hasn't been molested.

Whats the difference between the 121 and the 124?


Sewing machine oil and electric motor oil will largely interchange if you can only buy one or the other. I've re-lubed a lot of small motors with sewing machine oil.
 
gadget73 said:
Whats the difference between the 121 and the 124?
Click to expand...
They're very similar but the 121 is a single speed TT with a 10mm bearing shaft, no bubble level, strobe, and no clutch + extra riding platter.
Together with the TD-135, the TD-121 is just another economy, lower cost version of the TD-124.

BTW, I'm not convinced the Singer sewing machine oil was designed for the working temperature of the E50 motor.
The 3 in 1 is SAE-20 and reaches optimal viscosity at higher temperatures.
The Singer feels a little less viscous and is a perfect lube for low tolerance joints where heat isn't present.
 
Cool, still seems like a nice machine though.

It may not be perfect, but it does work. I've got several Garrards, fans, the blower motor in my truck, and assorted other things that are surviving OK with it. Its a case of "I have it" more than anything else. I actually can't swear its Singer oil, its an un-marked quart glass bottle of oil my mother got from someone for an industrial sewing machine she used to have. It was a wet sump machine with an oil pump, so it may have used an oil slightly different than the typical sewing machine oil.
 
You can refresh the rubber mat using Armour-All.

Ou1nURh.jpg
 
Can you take a picture of the mystery cartridge? It might be one of the bricks, though the vivid red is unfamiliar to me.
 
I'll post a picture later - I don't believe it is one of the bricks.

I bought an original TD124 arm-board with a TP 14 to rebuild for this. The ADC is really delicate, and the headshell doesn't seem to seat as well as it should - like it's missing an o-ring or something.

Armorall doesn't get on the records?

I'll grab some oil tomorrow when I go to O'Reillys SAE 20?
 
Okay - I'll give it a go.

How do you like your Marcmorin AR? I have an XA I've needed to do something with for a while.
 
rufleruf said:
Okay - I'll give it a go.

How do you like your Marcmorin AR? I have an XA I've needed to do something with for a while.
Click to expand...

I'll put it this way... a lot of tables have come and gone through here, but that one is a keeper.

For its simplicity, ease of maintenance, and excellent performance, if push comes to shove and I had to keep just one... I'd keep the AR.

I wholeheartedly encourage you to at least consult with Marc on what options are available to you as far as an upgrade path goes.
 
Interesting table. I have a couple of the single speed 111’s. Wonderful table just not the same build qualIty as the 121. I rebuilt the motor on one and relubricated what little other linkage there is. Did clean and lubricate the bearing and shaft and she rotates for sometime after it’s turned off. Also have a Pritchard 40 and more than a few ADC-1 cartridges. Love the sound of the cartridge and have had one re-tipped and was lucky enough to find an OEM replacement as well. I’ll send a PM on the arm. Very nice setup as others have stated.
 
Last edited:
Nice table Matt.

Looks to have the same drive train as the TD-124 so your restoration should be the same. Thorens had a great drive system and used it in some of their tables with less features.
A friend gave me a TD-135 a while back and said I could probably use the parts for my TD-124's as it has the TD-124 drive system. After looking it over, it's a nice quality turntable and I'm not going to part it out. It's going into my garage/shop system. You have the removable arm board which is nice. Looks like the TD-135 lacks the arm board but has several speeds.

Here's the TD-135...

TD-135.jpg
 
vendo81 said:
Nice table Matt.

Looks to have the same drive train as the TD-124 so your restoration should be the same. Thorens had a great drive system and used it in some of their tables with less features.
A friend gave me a TD-135 a while back and said I could probably use the parts for my TD-124's as it has the TD-124 drive system. After looking it over, it's a nice quality turntable and I'm not going to part it out. It's going into my garage/shop system. You have the removable arm board which is nice. Looks like the TD-135 lacks the arm board but has several speeds.

Here's the TD-135...

View attachment 1143887
Click to expand...

You'll need to flip over the strobe plate to the 60hz side. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom