Recortd changer tips:

A few tips for working with record changers:

- The best book I ever found on the subject of record changer mechanisms is the Gernsback Book (#59) "Servicing Record Changers" by Harry Mileaf.

- Two "don't"s for record changers:

--- Don't grab the arm during the change cycle unless you KNOW it has a safety drive. Most early Garrards and all RCA units do not have a safety drive.

--- Don't switch off the power during the change cycle and leave the changer that way.

- Two more "don't"s for V-M changers:

--- Don't turn the OFF-ON-REJ knob during the change cycle. If the changer is shutting off, turning or holding the knob bends the trip slide.

--- Don't move the overarm up or down by hand during the change cycle. Older V-M changers can jam when this is done.

- The Garrard Syndrome: The special lubricant in the trip mechanism has hardened, causing the pickup to jump grooves. Permanently fixed by cleaning and replacing the lubricant with graphite powder.

- The BSR syndrome is the same as the Garrard syndrome, for the same reason.

- The Dual Syndrome: Lubricating the trip mechanism causes the change cycle to keep repeating.

- A few small Collaro weak spots:
--- The knob springs of the TC and TSC series are brittle, and can break.
--- The muting switch has mica leaves that disintegrate. Make replacement parts from guitar picks.
--- The loading on the Conquest arm raising spring is a bit excessive. I made larger springs for this.

Good topic. Perhaps it could become a "sticky".

Thom wrote:Good topic. Perhaps it could become a "sticky".

DONE!

JDS

More record changer tips:

- Be careful when using a Miracord changer for the first time. Gently lifting the arm from the rest post with a finger under the finger lift and moving it toward the spindle will jerk the arm off your finger when the power switch comes on, throwing it toward the spindle. This can break the stylus off or bend the cantilever. Owners quickly learn to grab the finger lift securely when the arm is on the rest post.

- On a Dual 1200-series changer, holding the cue control up while the changer is cycling will cause the arm to move over the record label. The same part works both the cue control lift function and the record size selection. Raising the cue control prevents the record size index stop from functioning.

- Some users are confused by the behavior of record changers when the changer is started with a record on the turntable, but none on the spindle. Different brands and models behave in different ways:

--- All Collaro changers except the early ones with the falling record detector will turn themselves off. A record must be on the spindle for the arm to index. Larger records must be stacked below smaller records.

--- All Dual changers beginning with 1003 will index the record, play it, and then shut off.

--- Garrard RC 70 thru 98, Type A, and A-70 turn off without a record on the spindle.

--- Early Garrard intermix changers (AT and SL series but not SL-B, 1000 and 2000 series, models 30 and 40) will turn off if the overarm is down below the spindle ledge. if the overarm is over the rest post, the changer will repeat a 12" record.

--- Later Garrard intermix changers (3000 series) will index and play a 7" record one time if the overarm is down below the spindle ledge. It will index and play a 12" record one time if the arm is over the rest post.

--- BSR, Collaro, Glaser-Steers, and other changers with falling record sensors will turn off if the overarm is below the spindle ledge. It will repeat a 7" record if the overarm is over the rest post.

--- V-M changers other than the umbrella type will play and repeat 7" and 10" records correctly, but will index a 12" record at the 10" position, if the overarm is up. Later ones will move the arm to the restpost but not turn off if the overarm is over the restpost. This is a manual operation position. If the overarm is below the spindle ledge, the changer will turn off.

--- The umbrella V-M changers will turn off if no record is on the spindle.

I hate to rain on someone's parade here, but some of "recordchanger's" findings about the operation and mechanicals of these units - is simply incorrect information.
That said, I wouldn't consider the "bible" he posts as facts as to the operation of some record changers.

For one, the Dual 1200 mechanisms must be properly serviced/adjusted, or they're prone to odd behavior - posting issues of this behavior might be fine, but if one doesn't have a unit properly serviced and operating as designed, it simply is not considered as a "tip".

Also inaccurately posted are some Garrard "claims" - further confusing readers to believe the proper operation of some models.
Not all "3000" models are the same mechanism - and operate differently.

Without having the time to go into more details, my recommendation is if you're experiencing weird issues with a record changer - just have it properly serviced, and read the operating manual for facts pertaining to a given unit.

I have since determined that the behavior of the Dual 1200 series I cited is limited to the later two-speed changers where the speed control also sets the record size. It does not happen with the units with 3 speeds and 3 sizes on different controls. I have a Dual 1257 with this mechanism, and I spent several hours trying to find out why this effect happened before I realized it was designed that way.

This is not a matter of "improper adjustment." It is impossible to adjust it so the cue control works on a stack of 6 records without causing this effect. When the cue control is raised, it raises the index stop away from the tonearm index plate, because Dual cheaped out on the design. The same part raises to raise the arm for the cue control, and lowers to index the arm for automatic set down. When the cue control is raising the arm, the part is moved away from the position to stop the arm over the lead-in groove.

When the change cycle starts, the cue control flips back to the normal position. This prevents the anomaly I mentioned. You have to HOLD the cue control in the up position to see it.

I may be wrong about the Garrard 3000 series. Every 3000 I ever saw (including the one I own) had the pusher back-travel method for shutting off the changer after the last record. Those behave as I said.

if any 3000 series models used the overarm to shut off the changer, it would behave as the other Garrard intermix changers I mentioned behave. I have never seen one, but Garrard made many models that never made it to the US.

One other note: If the control lever is OFF on any of the Garrard intermix models I mentioned (either kind), and you cycle the changer by hand with no records (by turning the turntable by hand), it will index to the 7" position, even if the overarm is down. This is because the control lever must be in the MAN (on) position for the shutoff parts to be in the correct place to prevent the arm from swinging in.

ok...heres a question from a newbie that i never know where to start at. i know on VM changers, 10 lps and 12 45's can be stacked at a time. but what about amounts on a short spindle 70's BSR or Garrard? or in a classic multi speed 1959ish RCA??

trimline62 wrote:ok...heres a question from a newbie that i never know where to start at. i know on VM changers, 10 lps and 12 45's can be stacked at a time. but what about amounts on a short spindle 70's BSR or Garrard? or in a classic multi speed 1959ish RCA??

Older changers can usually handle a stack of ten records - this all depends on the manufacturer of course, each one's different.

The later models of BSR, Garrard, with the shorter spindle, are designed for 6 records.

thank you. i knew about VM's limit cause i have the manual to my Motorola multi channel portable. and i know that also goes for my VM 5060 and my early Trimline. i just didn't know about those types.

The original V-M Tri-O-Matic 935 was designed for ten 12" records, twelve 10" records, or fifteen 7" records, or ten 10" and 12" records intermixed, due to the difference in thickness of shellac records. I no longer have the changer, but I have the manual.