Hacked Link & Pin Assembly in my Continental 2?

Hi!

I have some "wowwing"-effect with my Continental 2 Mono. In other words the pitch is changing a bit.

I have heard that replacing the idler wheel would be a good idea. I have procured two different idler
wheels for this purpose: one with 3 mm hole (length 9.5 mm) and the other with 4 mm hole (I believe
the length is 14.5 mm).

However, neither of these idler wheels seem to fit. I think someone has made
their own Link & Pin Assembly for my Continental. Have a look at the picture attached. I have also included
a side by side picture of the old idler wheel and the new 14.5 mm idler wheel. The 14.5 mm idler wheel is too
tall and the 4 mm hole is too loose for my link & pin assembly. The idler wheel with the 3 mm hole does not go to the
spike - it is too tight.

How do you suggest I would go forward here? Anybody have an original link & pin assembly (F-8005 A) for sale?

Also, which replacement speakers (and where to get them) would you suggest me to procure in order to replace
the old 6 x 9 inch oval speakers I have in my Continental?

Thank you for any info!

I'm surprised no one has answered this yet.

Speed irregularities can be caused from several sources.

1) Inadequate contact between idler and motor shaft. Check that the rubber is not riding up and partially off the motor shaft.

2) Contamination of the surfaces with oil. that does not appear to be the case in your machine.

3) Inadequate, or no lube in bearings.

4) Excessive tracking force combined with warped records. the AMI tonearms had a crude torsion spring to set the tracking weight. This setup was bad from several angles including that when a record lifts the arm upwards in a warp the VTF goes up as the spring has less effect.

5) Poor/damaged turntable bearings. This will result in a "wow" that recurs at the same points of rotation. Hold the idler away and let the t-t coast to a stop. It should be reasonably free and coast for a few seconds.

Rob/NYC

I would suggest you check with the suppliers listed above, for the correct parts--
As for the speakers, IMHO, "originals" are matched to the cabinet, and therefore the "best" for use in it. If the cones are shot, re-conning is my preference. Ron Rich

Hello Poire,

Welcome to the forum.

I have just checked out a continental mechanism the idler wheel is on a very short spindle that I estimate at being 9mm long the diameter is around 42-43mm.

My advice is to remove the clip on the idler wheel in the left of your picture (this looks similar to a 1100 or 1200 Rowe Ami idler wheel which is also the same diameter as above.

If you carefully remove the clip from the new idler wheel and do the same with your idler wheel boss you will have the correct spindle on a new wheel.

I see you are from Finland, if you want to send your used idler wheel to us in the UK we will refurbish it for you.

Regarding the speaker I agree with Ron get the correct speaker from a used supplier or get your speaker reconned.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Hi!

And many thanks for all the tips!

The spindle indeed seems to be 9 mm long, but the diameter is larger than 3 mm:s, but narrower than 4 mm:s. The new idler wheel with the 3 mm diameter hole does not fit onto the spike and the idler wheel with a 4 mm diameter hole is too loose, when put onto the spike.

I have attached a picture where the old idler wheel is next to the new wheel with a 4 mm diameter hole and a separate picture of the idler wheel with a 3 mm hole. If I understood this correctly, I should remove the idler wheel rubber from the idler wheel with a 4 mm diameter hole and replace the old idler wheels' rubber with that? I can try it, but I could send it to you to get refurbished. Yes, I am from Finland.

Thank you for the tips regarding the speakers. I think I can use the old speakers for now, but I will have to starts looking at ebay to get a "new" one to replace the old. According to the manual it is L-2719, but I cannot find those speakers on ebay, well, I guess they will show up on some other day then.

ami-man wrote:I have just checked out a continental mechanism the idler wheel is on a very short spindle that I estimate at being 9mm long the diameter is around 42-43mm.

My advice is to remove the clip on the idler wheel in the left of your picture (this looks similar to a 1100 or 1200 Rowe Ami idler wheel which is also the same diameter as above.

If you carefully remove the clip from the new idler wheel and do the same with your idler wheel boss you will have the correct spindle on a new wheel.

UK

In the end the other of the new idler wheels was just fine and fitted nicely to the link & pin assembly. I had just not pressed it hard enough to its place... Thank you, problem solved and it seems that my link and pin assembly isn't custom made after all!