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Thorens TD145 MkII Project

ehoove said:
Divitdog,
If you have access to a stethescope, use it to listen to your table run and you will be amazed at the little noises you hear! If you can't get access to one, a screwdriver with tape on the blade end held against your ear will work but not as well. Polishing the bearing and cleaning the belt, pully, and inner platter belt surface will remove most of them, and it is not overly difficult. Also time the inner and outer platter combo with the belt off from 33 1/3 RPM to stop to determine the condition of the bearing. My TD125MkII stopped in 1 min 12 sec before I polished the bearing and spun for almost 4 min. after. The decrease in noise was tremendous. You have to lower the noise floor in a Thorens table to maximize it's potential. Most older Thorens tables have never had the bearing polished or the bearing oil cleaned out and replaced.
Good luck and enjoy your quest!
Jim
Click to expand...

Jim, I read your thread on this, I have already timed it and it took an average of 3 min 45 seconds to stop, polishing is definitely on my list of things to do, I don’t presently have a stethoscope but I see one in the very near future.
 
Really nice table Mel. Although I have a TD125 MKII, I've got to tell you I wouldn't mind having your exact model Thorens ("metal" base) in the future.

As for damping, I thought about the wood putty modification, but someone here reminded me that it would require general recalibration due to the added weight. Just something to keep in mind.

Also- and you may have no interest in this - Herbie's makes a damper ring that fits tonearms. It's only about $6, and the one I put on my Thorens tonearm has made a difference, but I'm not sure if it's simply that the added weight makes an even better match for the Benz MC20E cartridge I'm using.
 
have you changed the belt on your 145 mk II i havent been pleased with any the replacements i have tried and have resorted to using the original belt which plays fine just needs a lil help to get up to speed once it spins up it plays great....
 
Mr. Lin said:
Really nice table Mel. Although I have a TD125 MKII, I've got to tell you I wouldn't mind having your exact model Thorens ("metal" base) in the future.

As for damping, I thought about the wood putty modification, but someone here reminded me that it would require general recalibration due to the added weight. Just something to keep in mind.

Also- and you may have no interest in this - Herbie's makes a damper ring that fits tonearms. It's only about $6, and the one I put on my Thorens tonearm has made a difference, but I'm not sure if it's simply that the added weight makes an even better match for the Benz MC20E cartridge I'm using.
Click to expand...


i have always thought about getting the wood base for mine...i like the wood look better but they are scarce now
 
New RCA's might be a good thing.

I've always wanted to get multiple TP-16MkII arms in order to swap cart's around. Just detach the front half of the arm (as they do) and attach a different one with a different cart already mounted. Have to adjust for counterbalance etc. Was that the original thinking of that arm design? I suppose.
 
My understanding is the design was to move the weight of the coupling device closer to the fulcrum of the arm. The removable wand was to allow easier cartridge mounting. A real nice feature!
Regards,
Jim
 
meggy said:
New RCA's might be a good thing.

I've always wanted to get multiple TP-16MkII arms in order to swap cart's around. Just detach the front half of the arm (as they do) and attach a different one with a different cart already mounted. Have to adjust for counterbalance etc. Was that the original thinking of that arm design? I suppose.
Click to expand...

Agreed, just replaced mine and it was a worthwile and sonic investment!
Regards,
Jim
 
I wish I had not started reading this thread, I don't need to be interested in modding my Thorens more as I already have too many projects in the works. I will be interested to see if you find all the mods to have a positive affect on your table. I've done a few and one in particular I didn't care for at all. I did put a Goldring Elite cartridge on it and discovered the table is worthy of putting in some time and effort to get the most out of it. Maybe when you are done with yours I'll have time for mine. Thanks for posting your results.
john
 
meggy said:
New RCA's might be a good thing.

I've always wanted to get multiple TP-16MkII arms in order to swap cart's around. Just detach the front half of the arm (as they do) and attach a different one with a different cart already mounted. Have to adjust for counterbalance etc. Was that the original thinking of that arm design? I suppose.
Click to expand...

New RCA's are on the list also, I have a spare set of the Petras setting on the bench, I used a set on my PL-600 and was very pleased with them.
 
Mr. Lin said:
Really nice table Mel. Although I have a TD125 MKII, I've got to tell you I wouldn't mind having your exact model Thorens ("metal" base) in the future.

As for damping, I thought about the wood putty modification, but someone here reminded me that it would require general recalibration due to the added weight. Just something to keep in mind.

Also- and you may have no interest in this - Herbie's makes a damper ring that fits tonearms. It's only about $6, and the one I put on my Thorens tonearm has made a difference, but I'm not sure if it's simply that the added weight makes an even better match for the Benz MC20E cartridge I'm using.
Click to expand...

I will probably damp the sub chassis with cork, this will keep the weight down, I read your post about the dampening rings, and I was considering them as the AT440 MLa is not the best match for the TP16 arm, I believe that adding mass would be beneficial.
 
Twenty20Man said:
have you changed the belt on your 145 mk II i havent been pleased with any the replacements i have tried and have resorted to using the original belt which plays fine just needs a lil help to get up to speed once it spins up it plays great....
Click to expand...

I haven't changed the belt yet, mine seems to be fine right now, if you find a good replacement let me know.
 
imready said:
I wish I had not started reading this thread, I don't need to be interested in modding my Thorens more as I already have too many projects in the works. I will be interested to see if you find all the mods to have a positive affect on your table. I've done a few and one in particular I didn't care for at all. I did put a Goldring Elite cartridge on it and discovered the table is worthy of putting in some time and effort to get the most out of it. Maybe when you are done with yours I'll have time for mine. Thanks for posting your results.
john
Click to expand...

John, I would be interested to know which mod you didn't care for.
 
Originally my next mod on this was going to be a new bottom plate made from birch ply, however the table began to develop a ground hum, so I decided to replace the interconnects with a set of Petras that I had lying around. So here we are underneath the table again.

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The interconnects are under the cover that is shown,

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remove the top screw and you are there.

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I found it beneficial to remove the skating magnet, so that I could remove the IC’s easier.

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Once I got to this point I simply soldered the new interconnects in place, we run out of pictures at this point because simply soldering them in place can be a frustrating experience for those of us with old eyes! :D

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