Phonoland

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Does anyone know what could be wrong with my mothers 1976 Magnavox dry sink style turntable? When you go to play an album, the turntable moves very slowly and subsequently does not play the record. I know nothing about how to fix it but if it is the belt, where would I find one? Would love to fix it for her for Christmas. Thank you for any help!

Don't wait too long if you need it for Christmas.
Best bet is to get it serviced earlier in the year - parts have to be ordered since it's decades old, and now in need of restoring.

Matt's right. You will need to have it gone over by a Tech. What you are experiencing is normal in that the lubricant is dried out as well as the rubber on the idler wheel. Nothing short of a thorough cleaning, lube and a renewed idler will put this in proper order. I advise against running it this way. If you damage the motor bearings be prepared to spend $$$.

Thom wrote:Matt's right. You will need to have it gone over by a Tech. What you are experiencing is normal in that the lubricant is dried out as well as the rubber on the idler wheel. Nothing short of a thorough cleaning, lube and a renewed idler will put this in proper order. I advise against running it this way. If you damage the motor bearings be prepared to spend $$$.

Yepperz.
I've seen enough of rattling loose worn motor bearings in my life as a result of no lubrication.

I'm currently working on a Webcor changer - 152 - with a sloppy armature.
Hopefully some thicker oil will calm down the rattle.

Matt,
My very "1st job", was working for a "con man"--I liked the guy very much, as he gave me a job, at his gas station, when I needed it--but I sure "objected" to his "methods"--and stated so--
He would purchase "junk cars" "fix-em-up" and re-sell them --but only if the person was from far away. His "noisy bearing cure" was sawdust---
One night, about 15 minutes before closing time, a guy drives in and wants 4 new tires---BUT--his tires were not bad ! I "smelled a fish" said so, to my boss.
Well, in those days, it was about an hour's time to change 4 tires, so the boss asked me if I could stay and help him with the job. I agreed, and we did it. The "customer" handed me an oil brand (the same as the station's) credit card. At that point I smelled a, really rotting "fish", and so told my boss, once again. To which he answered--"call it in"--well, this "wise guy" must have known full well that the credit card office was closed at that time.
Bottom line, I opened the station the next AM, and the phone was ringing--it was the "Credit Dept." with a "warning" not to sell this guy anything, and should he show up-call the cops, or at least attempt to take his card from him. ( he "got to" six stations in the last day or so).
When my boss came in, I told him, at which point, he just laughed, and said--"well, the con man, got conned--and you got a raise ---"
Ron Rich

Well, Ron, to justify my use of heavier-weight oil to quiet that Webcor...
It's a cheaper, tabletop phono, even has a "shock-hazzard" el-cheapo amp.
I don't want to put a lot of time into it, and the motor is capable of running fine with heavier oil.
It's simply not worth the added expense of trying to source out a good motor for something like that.
Once the idler is putting pressure on the motor shaft, it's reasonably quiet.

I can picture you changing tires.... LOL!

Thanks for your comments. Who can I find to work on this old turntable? Recommendations?

See that's my problem too Ron. Everybody is very quick to say "Take it to a professional". But where are they? I've looked. They are few and far between. The closest reputable, recommended one I found is more than 4 hours drive away. My console is not worth the gas money and parts it would take to get it there and fixed "correctly". So, I'm left to try to scrounge around for technical information on the internet which is at best, questionable as to if it's accurate or not. My plan is to purchase shop manuals for my old stereos and record players (if I ever locate all of them) and become a "professional" myself. Hey, 43 years old isn't too old to learn a new side trade.

Hi Bill,
I commend your desire to learn.I do not mind, in fact I like, helping anyone who has invested in the manuals, AND, who has read them. Unfortunately, it appears to me that most people, going to a forum such as this, just want a "quick fix" for their own, immediate problem. It seems to me that the majority of persons will say "I have the manual", but when questioned, I know that either they have not read it, or they don't have it, and I am not about sitting here, and re-writing it, exclusively for that person.
Also, if the person can not display any of the necessary skills needed, I feel it's best to advise them to seek a "pro", rather than tell them to try something that may hurt either the person, or machine. Ron Rich

Well said and I agree with you completely. It just seems that some people on this forum are downright mean and condescending to some of the questions asked. I've always been the type of person to at least try to help someone. Even if it's frustrating sometimes. As far as the manuals what is, in your opinion, the best place to purchase them?

Hi Bill,
Sorry--I don't work on "home units"--just commercial "Jukeboxes", so I don't know where to purchase them--Hopefully, someone will post that info here---- Ron Rich

Ron I found some free manuals over at http://www.vinylengine.com. They didn't have my exact model's manual but they had the micromatic. My model is pre- micromatic. I'm sure there will be useful material in it though.

Take pictures. Lots of pictures. Make notes and diagrams. When I get into trouble it's usually because I fail to prepare and just tear into it. Then I get called away and a few days later... You can purchase manuals here: https://www.samswebsite.com/ Not cheap but some can be downloaded immediately and worth their weight when you need answers.

That's awesome Thom. Thank you so much for the link! I found my model there and I will make the purchase right away.

Yeah, some folks say that they have the "manual", but they don't specify whether they have an owners/users/operators manual or an actual "service" manual.

I learned how to repair my own stuff out of frustration when shops would laugh at me when I brought in an old piece of equipment for repair. "We don't work on Antiques", and snickered.

I was on the World Wide Web when it was only text-based, before Windows and all the graphic capabilities came into play, downloading hundreds of pages of advice from the old-timers back in the day. Went to used book stores and bought many of those old hard back books on electonic circuits, transistors manuals, tracing signal paths, learning about semi-conductors, using meters etc. I was on fire back then and went at it with a vengeance. "I'll show those snooty SOB's that it can be done."

How much education does it take nowadays to just swap out a faulty circuit board and snap in a new one? Just like taking out an old set of dentures and swapping in a new set.

I don't know what's out there nowadays as far as repair shops go, but it seems like they're getting away from working down intimate to the "component" level anymore. Replace a failing capacitor, diode or resistor?...No, just swap out the whole circuit board. What a waste.

These old units just keep on giving inspite of their age, and certainly will outlast all those nasty Crosley and wanna-be units out there. With proper restoration and TLC, these units will make the Energizer Bunny jealous. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona