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Transcriptor Reference Hydraulic Fluid well

D

daddybug

New Member
Hello,
I have recently acquired a Transcriptor Reference Hydraulic Turntable.
I understand that the fluid well surrounding the main bearing should be filled with some kind of viscous oil, and speed/pitch is controlled by the rod which can be immersed. I am currently running the TT with no oil, and it's running perfectly. I can't understand how this oil well works? it doesn't rotate with the platter.
Am i missing something obvious?
Will i harm the TT in any way by running it with the well empty?
Cheers,
Mike
 
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Have you reviewed the correct speed with the stroboscope?

The fluid, (it`s a silicone oil) is for the velocity fine adjustment, this doing you with the rod or paddle
The rod working as a brake, when the TT runnig to quickly, you going with the rod deeper in the fluid, slower runs the TT.

The TT running with- or without the fluid.

I hope you understand this, my technical english isn`t good.

Michael-Otto
 
strobe ?

This was probably the first really good turntable I owned 35 ? Years ago. I seem to remember that it did have a weird kind of built in strobe . Is the neon bulb still working on yours ? IIRR the strobe was built into a semi-clear assembly that the belt rode on ?I believe that part of the argument for the fluid well was that it would smooth out speed variations.
Good reason for putting a record and strobe disc on the platter and seeing how close to in tune / on speed it is.
 
The well should rotate with the platter, and drag the silicone fluid over the "paddle" which, as you point out, controls the fine tuning of the speed. The TT won't be damaged by running without the fluid in the well, but it will very likely run a bit fast.

You can obtain the fluid, and other spare parts, from the manufacturer in the UK (www.transcriptors.net). Michael Gammon, son of the founder, runs the company now.
 
Thanks for the replies folks. I just twisted the fluid well today and to my surprise it rotated! It's been stuck still for a long time though, however the platter rotates freely.

There is sticky old dried up oil everywhere. Anyone know a good substance for cleaning this up? Also, where the platter is connected to the oil well- there is some orange paper that seems to be ripped- were the platter and oil well originally glued together or something?
 
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