vv-330

[bingchen1]

Listed on craigslist for $200! So I picked it up during lunch. It has a Sonora No. 5 Reproducer rather than a No 2. Other than that everything is working. The tone arm is a bit stiff? I'm not sure what the problem there is. Are 330 suppose to not have caster wheels? the bottom of each leg is sealed with something.

[yankmycrank]

THE humpback to own! Congratulations!!!

[whoopinola]

As far as casters are concerned I don't think that the VV-330 had them..I have a VV-210 , VV-215 , VV-240 , and a VV-405s , none of which had casters...The only Victor of this time period that has casters in my fleet is a VV-120...the illustrations in "Look for the Dog" don't show casters on the VV-330....a great find...well done

[gemering]

Very nice acquisition at a great price.
I love the curves on the 330!
Gene

[Jerry B.]

Lovely machine. Thanks for sharing. Jerry

[CDBPDX]

Nice acquisition! The Sonora reproducer is not original but a No 5 should produce great sound, better than the original Victrola No 2. Wonder how it got on this machine? Congratulations!

[m0xiemama]

Wonderful find! This beauty is on my short list. We are actually fans of this style cabinet and the 330 is the best one to have! Congrats.

[CDBPDX]

The tone arm is a bit stiff? I'm not sure what the problem there is.

A couple things can cause stiffness. The tone arm is supposed to glide smoothly on 5 tiny ball bearings inside the tone arm support/base. There is an adjustment screw at the top of the tone arm support/base - it might be too tight. Try loosening that a little and see if that helps. However, your problem most likely will be grit and grime making the bearings sticky or perhaps one or more bearings is missing. First, remove the reproducer from the tone arm, then remove the tone arm base from the turntable. Loosen the adjusting screw at the top of the tone arm support enough to remove the tone arm. Be sure to do this over a pan or bowl in an upright position or you could loose the tiny ball bearings. Also, the ball bearings can stick to the bottom of the tone arm so look there, too. There is also a metal race (ring) in the base with 5 little slots to seat the ball bearings. Take that out and clean it up and clean the ball bearings. Reinstall and adjust the screw on top so that the tone arm will swivel easily but not allow up and down movement. Too much up and down play and the peg that sticks down from the bottom of the tone arm will drag on the turntable deck and scratch it. Reinstall the tone arm and base assembly to the turntable and reattach the reproducer.

Hope that helps!

[bingchen1]

The tone arm is a bit stiff? I'm not sure what the problem there is.

A couple things can cause stiffness. The tone arm is supposed to glide smoothly on 5 tiny ball bearings inside the tone arm support/base. There is an adjustment screw at the top of the tone arm support/base - it might be too tight. Try loosening that a little and see if that helps. However, your problem most likely will be grit and grime making the bearings sticky or perhaps one or more bearings is missing. First, remove the reproducer from the tone arm, then remove the tone arm base from the turntable. Loosen the adjusting screw at the top of the tone arm support enough to remove the tone arm. Be sure to do this over a pan or bowl in an upright position or you could loose the tiny ball bearings. Also, the ball bearings can stick to the bottom of the tone arm so look there, too. There is also a metal race (ring) in the base with 5 little slots to seat the ball bearings. Take that out and clean it up and clean the ball bearings. Reinstall and adjust the screw on top so that the tone arm will swivel easily but not allow up and down movement. Too much up and down play and the peg that sticks down from the bottom of the tone arm will drag on the turntable deck and scratch it. Reinstall the tone arm and base assembly to the turntable and reattach the reproducer.

Hope that helps!

I Just took it apart for a look today, all the bearings are missing...So maybe it was a bit more than a little stiff. What should i use for a good replacement for them?