So I wanted to show off my new main home Stereo!

Hi there,
Well I am back! I thought my first post should be of my new Stereo, that is my main unit for my living room. I is a 1973 Zenith Allegro console. I was a one owner unit (the lady did int really wanna sell it, but her husband talked her into it), I paid $40.00 for it, its sounded good from the radio, and the Aux input. But the VM Micortouch Changer needed alot of work. But being a fan of VM and knowing it was a pretty expensive unit in the first place I was over all happy. I bought a new Idler wheel and cartridge and needle from our friends at VM Audio Enthusiasts... and set out to work on the changer. Well I had got it to the point where it was unstuck, and working ok, but then i noticed another problem. The Microtouch 2gram system was just too light, my records were constantly skipping. I had a Circle of Sound once that did the same thing, but at the time, I thought it just needed a new needle. But it is just to light. So I knowing that it is just a VM changer, bought a Packard Bell teledyne changer off ebay with the same features as the original, but with out the Micro touch. I like it much better! so with that being done, and the fact that i kept the Allegro speakers from my old unit, for the 2plus 2 matrix sound, I love it, I missed having a console stereo. P.S. Has anyone else had the same trouble with the Microtuch system? Was it just the later ones that had that problem, or was it just mine? Just curious to some opinions...=)

I have never had any trouble what-so-ever with my Zenith Microtouch changers (one Zenith made and 2 VM made units). In fact, my Microtuch changers track my warped 45rpm records like the stylus is glued to them and yes, at the recommended 2 grams VTF. I'd bet a dollar and a popcorn fart that your changer was not properly cleaned and or adjusted. Like any mechanical piece from that era a thorough cleaning and proper adjustment is critical if you want trouble free performance. Freeing up a few stuck pieces, as I understood you to mean, just won't cut it. Glad that you are happy with your set up. BTW, don't chuck that VM. Someone is gonna want it for rebuild or parts.

I'll agree that once "properly" serviced, the VM/Zeniths and the Zenith belt-drive changers run smooth and reliably.
I've serviced enough of them in the shop to know, and never ever had a customer callback for problems later on.