Telefunken TW 504

Just received this changer. It seems to be stuck in a "loop" where the arm lifts, retracts, then goes back and resumes play in the middle of the record. The stacker arm was bent in transit; it is visibly crooked. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Ken

It is because the stacking arm is being prevented from dropping fully which is where it trips the shut off cycle. The stacking arm must be able to raise and lower unhindered in order for the changer to operate properly. The tonearm falls in the middle of the record because no record has dropped to trip the size selector so the mechanism assumes a 7" or 10" record (depending on model)has dropped. You will want to true up that stacking arm first to get that part of it working.

Thom

Hi Thom!
I checked the mechanism you mentioned and after some careful tinkering I got the thing to work! Now I'm trying to put together a base for it. This changer was pulled from a console. I wish they had sold the board it was mounted on! Do you know where or how I could get a template?
Thanks!
Ken

I just start in the center of the turntable and measure out in all directions where I see the need for clearance. I run the changer through a cycle by hand to take in account the movement of the various pieces. Lay it out on paper, then I cut it out and try it. If I am satisfied with it, then that's my template.

That's a good suggestion. Thank you! Now for another question. This unit has a 3-pin DIN type plug which I am connecting up to a 1964 SABA Wildbad 12 radio. The SABA has a phono input which accepts a 5 pin DIN, but this one seems to fit because of the location of the pins. Anyway, I've noticed that on stereo records one channel seems to be very muted.
I'm assuming the SABA was designed to accept stereo inputs from record changers and tape recorders and reproduce FM in mono only. What could be the cause of this problem?
Thanks!
Ken

I would first make sure that the turntable's cart is putting out a stereo signal. Then I'd check the wiring from the tonearm to the termination point. One way to do this is to adapt a temporary pair of phono plugs to it and then try it out on a known receiver or amp. I am however, suspecting that the pins on the TT are not matching up with the proper pins on the SABA.

Hi,
I was able to test the cart. on the changer by running an adapter to an old Akai receiver. Both channels are ok. The Telefunken's stability impresses me; it's almost as good as my B&O 9500. Of course, the frequency response was way off since I had to use a "tape" input to do the test. The old receiver I'm using does not provide for ceramic or crystal phono cartridges.
The problem with playing through the SABA was that I had plugged into the "tonband" connection by mistake!
Now to construct a proper base and repair the cosmetic damages done in shipping...
Ken

Ceramic cartridges use an aux or tape input.

When you make the base, make sure you leave room for the change cycle slide. It moves toward the tonearm pivot during the change cycle, and can get very close to the edge of the plinth. Most V-M changer bases have a nearly square cutout in the right back corner. The TW series is based on V-M changer parts.