MORSE ELECTROPHIC PPL MPX: NEED REPAIR ADVICE, PHOTOS

skeleteen · by **skeleteen** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:18 am

I found a partially working Morse Electrophonic on the street. The lights still work, the radio works and the needle works but the when I flip the control to "START" or "AUTO" I can feel the turntable hum like it's trying to start but the arm doesn't move into place and it doesn't spin. When I try to spin the turntable by hand it feels a little stuck. I tried to unscrew the two screws that keep the plastic turntable on the plastic cabinet but that only seemed to cause it to get closer to the wood base. How do I get the record player up? I'm assuming I need to change the belt or something. Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed? I'd like to open up the back but there's a big warning sign telling me not to and none of the turntable's mechanical parts are in there anyway.

View photos here:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/n ... ic-001.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/n ... ic-002.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/n ... ic-003.jpg

Record-changer · by **Record-changer** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 9:31 pm

Most likely the rubber rim on the idler wheel has fallen apart.

It could also be a lack of lubrication.

skeleteen · by **skeleteen** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 10:24 pm

Any advice on how I open it up?

uglipenguin · by **uglipenguin** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:34 am

you can open some of it up by removing the platter from the turntable, this can be done by removing a c clip from the center of the spindle, it keeps the platter down. if you find it, use a small screwdriver to pry it away from the spindle and it will unclip. then u can just lift the platter off the spindle. underneith u will see the rubber idler wheel that moves the platter, which inturn drives the automatic mechanism. The rest of the mechanism of course is under the turntable itself- the screws u turn bring the table closer to the cabinet, as this is a mechanism for locking it down. probably the only way to get it up is if u go into the wooden cabinet, u will see the metal slide that holds to those screws, if u pry it away- you can lift the turntable off and work on it. I hope some of that helps.

btw, I cant view ur photos for some reason

skeleteen · by **skeleteen** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:32 pm

Thanks for the advice. I tried to pull the turntable off the spindle with no luck yet. Should I try to force it?

uglipenguin · by **uglipenguin** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 12:12 am

no prob! I really dont think u should force it, like I said earlier there is a "c" clip holding it down. it looks like a "c" and it locks around the spindle (at the base) if you remove this the turntable will slide off easily.

skeleteen · by **skeleteen** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:59 am

I removed the C clip but the turntable didn't slide off at all.

Record-changer · by **Record-changer** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:30 am

I think you found the trouble.

Either the center bearing is dry, or the changer was stopped in cycle.

Put some light oil on the bearing (assuming it's not the one with the plastic bearing).

Rotate the turntable clockwise until you are sure the changer is out of cycle.

Once you lube it, the turntable should come off.

Then check the idler wheel surface for deterioration.

Check the following lube points:

- motor bearings
- Idler wheel bearing
- idler wheel jockey linkage
- turntable bearing
- change cycle cam pivot (Do NOT lube any pivoting or sliding parts on the cam)