Zenith Micro Touch Arm ReSetting

Just picked up this approx '70 Zenith Console with turntable and Radio, actually my wife's Grandmothers, and other than the Left Speakers not working (switched wires in the back, and it's not the speakers left worked, right didn't when switched, so need to do some more searching when I get time tonight) the arm on the record player keeps re-setting. I am replacing the cartridge, and stylus, from wear only, and know this will have nothing to do with the problem, tbu, spending $50 for a new cartridge, extra stylus, and new needle selector knob, doesn't make much sense if it's something more major, which I don't imagine it is..


I may very well have something "set" incorrectly, but I place a record on the top, turn it on, the record drops, the arm comes out, starts to play, and then resets, comes out again starts to play and then goes back to home again, and again and again..


Any ideas?


Thanks!

Due to age, it's now crying out for service.

The changer mechanism lubricants are gummed up and it needs flushing out and re-lubing.
Unless you're a professional and understand VM changers and what to look for, I'd suggest getting someone experienced in that type of repair to work on it.

As for the cartridge, leave it alone if it plays out both signal leads, just change the needle.

Check you trip mechinism to see if it is binding or sticking. It can be found under the platter or under the turntable proper. ( I don't have my service manuals on hand right now.) Look for a paw and link assembly near the spindle, which is triggered by both the tonearm and the On-Off-Rej switch. It should move freely back and forth. Do not lube it. It is meant to operate clean and DRY. As for the cartridge, unless you are certain it is faulty leave it alone. They are a little mean to replace. Just change the stylus. Start working your way back from the speaker to the amp and so on to locate your bad channel problem . Only if your radio plays through both speakers should you suspect the cartridge and this can be verified by plugging the changer into a different amp or plugging a different turntable into the Zenith. Good Luck

Thom, you beat me to the punch. I concur with your comments, and you pointed out some excellent issues in your posting a day or two ago.

I've had some VM (can't remember) changers that kept cycling repeatedly or would shut off when only one LP was on the spindle. It would play a stack of albums, but never the last one. I thought the shut off issue had something to do with the height of the over arm not making contact with the proper link underneath. Two culprits at play here, the first being a sticking trip mechanism at the spindle base, the second was a sticking (I don't know the proper name) that was attached to the long flat assembly that moves during the change cycle.

On a side, I know some folks stated that they use sewing machine oil. I use Hammond Oil made for these old B3 and C3 organs, which is even finer, and was originally manufactured to some millitary specs. Just my two cents. Works great! --BB


Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona
rwbasham@yahoo.com (lower case)

I also use Hammond oil when I can get it. When I had a Hammond and couldn't get Hammond oil it was suggested to me by an old organ repairman that I substitute sewing machine oil however, Hammond oil is still the best. As for the changer shutting off before playing the last record on my Zenith Microtouch I found, after a few false repairs, that the culprit was a loose record stacking arm that allowed the shaft to dip low enough to trip the shut off. I put a drop of loctite on the set screw to cinch it.

Do not oil the trip mechanism. It there is oil or grease in it, that IS the problem. Clean it with solvent.

The usual cause of a repeating change cycle is a bent trip slide. If someone tries to keep the changer from turning off the motor by holding the control knob, it bends the trip slide. Unfortunately, once bent, it can't be straightened to the point where it will work right again. It must be replaced.

Another cause is a wire caught on the trip slide.

The automatic shutoff mechanism can also cause this if it is not fully returning to the normal position when the overarm is raised, but not swung all the way out to the single play position. It drags on the trip slide, causing it to trip when the cycle ends. Check for gummed dirt or grease in the pivots.

Bobby Basham wrote:Thom, you beat me to the punch. I concur with your comments, and you pointed out some excellent issues in your posting a day or two ago.

I've had some VM (can't remember) changers that kept cycling repeatedly or would shut off when only one LP was on the spindle. It would play a stack of albums, but never the last one. I thought the shut off issue had something to do with the height of the over arm not making contact with the proper link underneath. Two culprits at play here, the first being a sticking trip mechanism at the spindle base, the second was a sticking (I don't know the proper name) that was attached to the long flat assembly that moves during the change cycle.

On a side, I know some folks stated that they use sewing machine oil. I use Hammond Oil made for these old B3 and C3 organs, which is even finer, and was originally manufactured to some millitary specs. Just my two cents. Works great! --BB


Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona
rwbasham@yahoo.com (lower case)

If the changer shuts off when the last record drops, the delay stop is not working. This is a little spring loaded flag on the cycling slide cam. It reminds me of the Castrol motor oil logo in shape.

The delay stop holds its end of the shutoff lever in the raised position until after the pickup arm swings in, so the last record will play. Originally, it was a solid piece of the slide cam, but if someone raised the overarm during the cycle, it jammed the slide cam. So they made it spring loaded to prevent that.

There should be no lubrication on the delay stop. Lube and dirt make it stick in the position that prevents jamming, preventing it from delaying shutoff. Its return spring might also be missing.

Hey ckbailey97, Are you getting any of this or are we just talking amongst ourselves here?