Phonoland

I just bought a Dual 1219 which seems to have a couple of problems. As the arm enters an automatic start or stop cycle the machine makes a groaning noise. Also, the motor seems to keep on running after the end of a shut-off cycle. Sometimes it will shut off fairly quickly, but it is generally unpredictable. Any input will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Ken

This unit will need a thorough cleaning followed by lubrication. Use this link to download a manual for it. http://www.vinylengine.com/library/dual/1219.shtml These are great TTs once they are cleaned and lubed. I would caution you to be careful with any plastic parts as they can be fragile. Also, when rebuilding my 1229 I tended to blame the TT, it's age or bad design when I couldn't get it to operate properly only to find out that I just didn't understand it fully. Good luck. Kudos to vinylengine for suppling these manuals !

The groaning is normal if it is barely audible. If it is louder, check the following:

- Someone tried to raise arm lifting height by adjusting the cam follower on the arm control lever. If adjusted to move the lever too far, it strains the drive parts. If adjusted to move too little, the arm will not move horizontally. (the real arm height adjustment is on the arm assembly, above the plinth).

- The cam needs new lubrication, for both its shaft and the cam tracks.

- The arm control lever needs lubrication.

- The arm control lever spring is dragging on something.

- Since the record dropping parts also work the change cycle brake at the end of the cycle, check the lubrication on the record dropping lever. Also make sure the spindle is properly inserted.

I am pleased to report that I've got the mechanical problems solved after a lot of cleaning and lubing. Now I notice that although this unit is equipped with RCA-type (cinch) connectors, I don't see the ground wire that would normally be found on turntables. When I connected it via a DIN type adapter to a B&O receiver there were no humming problems. Now I hooked it up via RCA's to my Adcom preamp and the thing hums like crazy. Should I simply attach a wire from some point under the 1219's chassis and use that as the ground wire?
Thanks!
Ken

I have a seperate ground connected to my 1229 with no problems, so I say give it a shot.

Well, I tried running a wire from the chassis to the ground connection on my preamp. The thing hums like crazy. It only seems to work well via a DIN-type adapter with my old B&O. What's up with this? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Ken

WoW. You got me. Did you try flipping your AC plug over? Sometimes this helps. Duals may wire their chassis differently than most. Why that worked for me I'm not sure. I''ll take another look at mine tomorrow. Thom

Guess what! I pulled off the Monster Cables I was using (I thought the original cable looked ratty) and replaced it with the originals. Humming gone. Why should this be? Isn't the basic design of all RCA-type audio interconnects the same? Any thoughts on this?
Ken

Bad cables or bad fit possibly. To tell the truth I'm not a big fan of Monster. A lot of money for... I guess I'm getting to old to hear the difference... if there is any. If the old cables are bad try a set of OEM cables. That's what I have on mine. Hint: Composite video cables are higher quality on average then OEM. Thom

Changing the cables back to the original cables seems to have cured the problem. Probably the shielding on the new cables was acting more like some kind of inductor.

Now I have a new problem. The table's auto start cycle has stopped working. The arm lifts, sets down, and the table clicks off. Auto return at the end of play functions, but the arms does not travel all the way back to the rest, stopping about 1/2 to 1" away from the rest.

I was advised that a plastic part called a "steuerpimpel" was the problem, and that it should be lubricated. The problem became worse. Then I was advised that it was too slippery; that there needs to be some friction at this point for the mechanism to work properly. I'd like to get this thing working properly, since it sounds great with the Ortofon OM10 I installed. In fact, it sounds much nicer than either of my B&O tables (equpped with MMC4s). Any help on this will be appreciated. I have a service manual, but it hasn't been of much help.

Ken

I'm not sure what a "steuerpimpel" is but if it is a little black button at the end of a vertical pin underneath which contacts a friction plate then you don't want to lubricate it. It needs that friction to move the arm. Sometimes the rubber button is missing and you will have to locate and buy one or make one like I did out of a piece of rubber. If it is there, give it a good cleaning along with the plate and see if that helps. Did you download a copy of the service manual from vinylengine? You should also take a look at the shaft the arm pivots on. There is a rubber band that fits on the shaft that holds several very small ball bearings in place. It is critical that this band be in place and in good condition. Otherwise the arm's horizontal friction will increase which will cause at the very least, tracking error. or the problems you are experiencing. You will need that manual. Good luck. Thom.