left speaker problem when playing records

I just recently purchased a Motorola console stereo and it works fine when playing the radio, but when I play a record the left speaker turns on and off during playback...like there would be a short in the connection, but I does work fine when playing the radio. I am new to vintage record players and really don't know much about them.
What would cause this and what can I do to repair it?
Thanks

You may need a new cartridge and needle.
-Tony

Check your connections from cartridge to terminal block or RCA jacks at the amp. Sometimes you can check the cart or amp by pulling one connector at a time off the cart and with the volume low touch it while listening for a hum. Hum means that channel is working on the amp. and the connection is good. Also, you can reverse the left and right channel connections at the RCA jack or the cart, being careful about writing a diagram of those connections, before you change them. If the problem moves to the other channel then you know it is either the cart or the wiring to the cart. The trick is to start at one and and move forward and not to jump around.

Thom

New guy here but frequent AK.

+3 on the RCA jacks under the TT. Also sounds like dirty contacts in the function switch / pots.

Make sure your vinyl is clean before listening to.

I did replace the needle but not the cartridge. It seems to only happen around the beginning of the first song of the lp...like it warms up. The one thing that will clear it up is to press down on one side of the turntable deck...all the way down to the wood deck. Once it gets past the first song it really never has this problem. I'm thinking a new cartridge may be in my future??

If you're pushing down on the turntable deck to the wood frame, you may be flexing the wires from the turntable to the amp inputs. This sounds more like broken wiring than a cartridge problem. Use a meter to check the continuity from the cartridge to their connections and then from those connections to the amp/receiver. Also check the Thingie cantaliever (sp) on the cartridgeto make sure it's aligned straight and the needle is snuggled in where it should be.


Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

to follow up, it has nothing to do with the first song, it seems to do this anywhere I happen to place the needle, but after approx 30 seconds it is fine. Not just the left speaker. Sometimes it will go from one speaker channel to the other but never completely off. It's like it takes a few seconds for a connection to happen...warm up? Bad cartridge?

This is either a wiring problem that is caused by the flexing of the tonearm wires, or a muting switch problem.

Note that it could be either a short circuit (two wires touching that shouldn't be touching) or an open circuit (a wire failing to make connection).

Check to see if the tonearm wires are rubbing against the tonearm hinge assembly in a way that cut through the insulation.