Turntable Cueing and Mat issues

[Montycat]

19 is unrelated to the cue lift.

The screw should not stick out like that. It should be flush or even recessed slightly into the arm. It acts as a limit screw to control how high the platform rises. Can you pull up on the platform? Is it moving up and down at all when you operate the cue control?

 

[buckeye56]

19 is unrelated to the cue lift.

The screw should not stick out like that. It should be flush or even recessed slightly into the arm. It acts as a limit screw to control how high the platform rises. Can you pull up on the platform? Is it moving up and down at all when you operate the cue control?

Okay, truly showing my limited knowledge of tech stuff… what’s the platform?Is it the platter? Sorry to look so dumb. The cue lever does NOT LIFT UP the tone arm, but it will lower it. I’ve been told that whatever glue, etc. operates the cue either leaked out, broke if it’s plastic, etc. and I def don’t know how to fix it. So that again makes me scratch my head as to why the tone arm would lift high enough upon return if there is no mat. It doesn’t lift super high, but it does clear. Sorry to be such a pain in the neck and so very grateful for your help and patience.

 

[Montycat]

The black plastic quarter circle here is the platform. It's what pushes the tonearm up when "told" to do so by the either the cue lever or button, or by the automatic function that engages at the end of the record or the stop or cut button.

 

[buckeye56]

Oh, duh, thank you for educating me about the platform, lol. At the end of play, it does push up, but it’s still not high enough to clear the album without skating across it. Did that make sense? Is there a possibility that the platter is too high for some odd reason, causing this issue? I only began using my Tt again recently after many years of non-play, so confused abt why this problem started.

 

[alex213]

OK so obviously the first and best thing to do is try and get the tonearm to lift a bit higher, especially if it's just a simple matter of turning a screw somewhere.

Now, with that out of the way I have to admit that crooked mat is playing havoc with my OCDs!
Barbarian that I am, I would be on a mission to see if I could rip out those sensors without affecting other functions of the turntable.
But I realize that option would sound stupid to most people

The more realistic option, Montycat has already mentioned. I'd try to ghetto-fix a mat with an X-acto knife. If those plastic rectangles are shallower than the mat then maybe a cheap cork mat could do the trick. If not, then I guess an official Technics mat is the easiest but most expensive solution.

 

[buckeye56]

OK so obviously the first and best thing to do is try and get the tonearm to lift a bit higher, especially if it's just a simple matter of turning a screw somewhere.

Now, with that out of the way I have to admit that crooked mat is playing havoc with my OCDs!
Barbarian that I am, I would be on a mission to see if I could rip out those sensors without affecting other functions of the turntable.
But I realize that option would sound stupid to most people

The more realistic option, Montycat has already mentioned. I'd try to ghetto-fix a mat with an X-acto knife. If those plastic rectangles are shallower than the mat then maybe a cheap cork mat could do the trick. If not, then I guess an official Technics mat is the easiest but most expensive solution.

You're making me laugh! @Montycat said the mat has nothing to do with the tone arm lift. And i'm definitely not going to rip out the sensors, nor am I able to tackle an X-acto knife without winding up in the ER. Super disappointed that the arm is screwing with me, and don't know why it happened anyhow. It's a 40-year-old table, so I guess things just get old and fragile. But I hate all of the new tables because none of them are fully automatic and direct drive, and I don't want to play around with belts or have to lift the arm on or off the platter. I've been spoiled.

 

[alex213]

@Montycat said the mat has nothing to do with the tone arm lift.

Yeah but even if you do manage to fix the platform height, you should probably address the warped mat too.

There's even a really small chance the mat is pushing your records too high and that's why the return won't clear your records.

 

[buckeye56]

Yeah but even if you do manage to fix the platform height, you should probably address the warped mat too.

There's even a really small chance the mat is pushing your records too high and that's why the return won't clear your records.

That's a good point, about the warped mat. It's weird that the tone arm does return at the end of playing if the mat is removed. The arm doesn't lift super high without the mat, but it doesn't skid across the LP either. Obvs. can't play my records like that, however.

 

[Montycat]

If the mat is still pliable try putting some double sided tape under to hold it down. If it is stiff or this doesn't work, toss it. Get a cork mat or felt slip mat and cut some holes for the sensors.

 

[BilboBaggins]

Yes, Montycat has been advising you well. You have two problems with your turntable. The mat is toast, and the cueing mechanism should be gone through.

I have had a couple of tables where the mat hardened. And a third where the mat was deteriorating to the point it was giving off a strong chemical smell. You could try to find a mat for your table on ebay or something like that. The mat hardens due to environmental conditions, along with age. Anyone selling a mat for that table would identify that it has hardened. Once you replace the mat (ideally with another designed for those sensors), your automatic reject issue should be resolved.

The cueing issue is likely due to multiple issues. The grease in the cueing shaft tends to harden with age, and then someone tried to 'fix' it. It may be that once you replace the grease (which can get too thick with age) your tonearm will lift higher during auto return. I think that screw may not be the original, but hard to tell. You need to clean out the old grease and replace it with the required density of grease. And get that screw on properly or replaced.

 

[buckeye56]

If the mat is still pliable try putting some double sided tape under to hold it down. If it is stiff or this doesn't work, toss it. Get a cork mat or felt slip mat and cut some holes for the sensors.

Thank you so very much for your time and help. The mat is still very pliable, and I will try the tape idea. Nothing to lose!

 

[buckeye56]

Yes, Montycat has been advising you well. You have two problems with your turntable. The mat is toast, and the cueing mechanism should be gone through.

I have had a couple of tables where the mat hardened. And a third where the mat was deteriorating to the point it was giving off a strong chemical smell. You could try to find a mat for your table on ebay or something like that. The mat hardens due to environmental conditions, along with age. Anyone selling a mat for that table would identify that it has hardened. Once you replace the mat (ideally with another designed for those sensors), your automatic reject issue should be resolved.

The cueing issue is likely due to multiple issues. The grease in the cueing shaft tends to harden with age, and then someone tried to 'fix' it. It may be that once you replace the grease (which can get too thick with age) your tonearm will lift higher during auto return. I think that screw may not be the original, but hard to tell. You need to clean out the old grease and replace it with the required density of grease. And get that screw on properly or replaced.

Hello, and thank you. The mat is still very pliable, but will see if I can find another on ebay, and try the tape method. As for the cueing....yes, I've been told that the grease can get lousy, and that it's possible that there is no grease, but some kind of plastic thing that broke. Not sure which. I don't know how to take apart my turntable to attack that problem, so I will have to research or pay someone to fix it for me. I am the original owner of the TT, and have never sent it out for repair or lent it to anyone, so all parts are original, from when I bought it in '80 or '81.