Bent Spindle. Easy fix? Please advise!
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 6:38 pm
Hi there! I recently purchased a turntable and when I received it, the spindle was bent. It is a VM 560A. Any suggestions? Thanks! :)
I have actually fixed that. But there are some complications:
- I can't tell which changer is in the 560 phonograph. VM made three different spindles.
- The three spindles are:
1. The early spindle activated by pushing up on a pushrod.
2. The later long spindle with a single pusher blade, which is pushed sideways to activate it.
3. The short spindle, which is also activated by pushing the pusher blade sideways.
All three are held in place by a large nut under the turntable. The turntable center bearing is part of the spindle.
The trick is to remove the spindle and take it apart before trying to straighten it. Drive pins hold the pusher blade, the record guide (in the top), and the pushrod (oldest spindle). Remove the drive pins that hold spindle parts in the affected area.
I use a vise to straighten spindles. That way I can apply a gentle even force to the body. If the spindle parts are also bent, use the vise to straighten them too.
The worst place for the spindle to bend is right above the record shelf. The metal is very thin there, and will very likely break.
One trick is to find a nonworking changer of the same kind, and use it for parts.