The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello to everyone.

My Victor M seems to have a turntable alignment problem. Turntable doesn't appear to be parallel with upper side of cabinet - when it turns, it makes a "hill and dale" effect. How can I adjust this annoying problem? (sound seems distorted, too... - see video)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuIldfPb0pg[/youtube]

Humm, assuming that the turntable lies completely flat when removed, I am guessing that the spindle shaft might be bent?

Clay

the spindle might be a little bent, but I've seen other machines with bent spindle play quite good. maybe the speed adjustment is just a tad too slow? but I'd check with another record before doing anything to the machine.

That wobble is causing a subtle, but annoying (to me, anyway) periodic speed variation, which in turn is causing pitch variation in the playback. This pitch variation is especially noticeable on long notes, i.e., sustained notes on one pitch. The problem is either a bent spindle, as suggested above, a warped turntable platter, or (less likely) the center hole in the turntable is not at a true vertical to the plane of the platter. Straightening the spindle and/or truing the hole (precision machine shop task) , or replacement of the defective part(s), should eliminate the wobble. Good luck!

For what it's worth, I have a front mount Victor M and a rear mount Victor II that do the same thing to a certain degree. I've decided that the hole is not drilled true in the cast iron turntable platter.

If the spindle were bent, the spindle itself would also appear to wobble. You can test this by holding something stationary next to the spindle while the turntable is spinning.

On my machines the spindles appear to be true and not bent, and do not wobble. One small adjustment you can make that might help lessen the TT wobble is to lift the turntable, rotate it 180 degrees, and then re-seat it on the pin. That might not do any good, but worth a try just in case there's a little slack in the fit. (I don't recall off hand if these have the pin or if it's just a press fit.)

If the spindle is not bent, and the bearing is OK, you should be able to shim the turntable slightly so that it runs level.

Bill

Lucius1958 wrote:...you should be able to shim the turntable slightly so that it runs level.

Thank you, friends. My spindle is not bent; it appears right.

Bill, what do you mean with " to shim the turntable slightly"?
Thank you again.

doublemike wrote:

Lucius1958 wrote:...you should be able to shim the turntable slightly so that it runs level.

Thank you, friends. My spindle is not bent; it appears right.

Bill, what do you mean with " to shim the turntable slightly"?
Thank you again.

Well, Eric Reiss covers this problem in his Compleat Talking Machine: you can use a little shim (a very thin piece of metal, either glued or soldered in) on one side of the turntable hole to bring it level.

A question: does the turntable rest on a pin through the spindle? In that case, you could shim the slot on the lower side to correct the wobble. If the turntable is threaded on, that might make things more complicated.

Bill

Retrograde wrote:...One small adjustment you can make that might help lessen the TT wobble is to lift the turntable, rotate it 180 degrees, and then re-seat it on the pin. That might not do any good, but worth a try just in case there's a little slack in the fit. (I don't recall off hand if these have the pin or if it's just a press fit.)

Just did it. I won!
Thank you!!!

Sometimes, the best solution is the simple solution. I'm glad it worked for you.