I have a Frankenstein Rega Planer 3 with all the aftermarket upgrades and I also have a Technics SL-L3. I have to say that the Technics stands up pretty well.
My main deck is a Technics SL-J300R. Pretty much the last in the line of the linear trackers Technics released. It's fully auto, direct drive, quartz locked and has direct track access. Never had any issues with the audio quality. There are a lot of bog standard more expensive decks available today that frankly wouldn't perform much if any better.
Thank you so much for this thorough service video. I found one of these turntables at Goodwill. Hopefully, it will only need a belt, cartridge, cleaning and lube to make it operational.
Thanks so much for this detailed video. I've been searching in vain for something similar but specific to an SL-J3 bought in the US in 1986, which gave me decades of enjoyment till it stopped during the pandemic. I now live in India, where no service centre for this product exists. I do want it working again--I have an emotional connect with it. My qualified and trusted technician checked it with the service manual that I bought from the US and observed: 1. When switched on the cueing LED glows on the front panel. 2. As shown in the manual, I removed the bottom cover and checked all voltages at the respective points as instructed. The voltages were found okay according to the circuit diagram. 3. I dismantled the top cover to check the arm movement mechanism. The belt between the arm movement mechanism and motor pulley lay in pieces inside the compartment and the motor was rotating free when I switched the set on. I attached a suitable belt and the motor stopped rotating. The arm movement mechanism visibly seems okay. 4. I fitted the top cover and bottom cover back to check the system. I placed an LP on the platter, but there was no change in status. Only the cueing LED came on and no other switches functioned on the front panel. Seems like an IC/microprocessor issue. How can we set it right again? Thank you for any help you can provide.
Thank you so much for this. Been able to service my dad last TT. Still waiting for both belts, but it seems to be working fine. Can’t wait to test it for real!
I don't normally comment on your use of pliers, I always keep in mind it's not my turntable but I had to cringe watching this video. If I'm unfamiliar with a component I'm working on I tend to look for info before tearing into it. In this case there's plenty of info available. I would find chewing into that bearing to be unacceptable. Even if it's just cosmetic it wasn't necessary.
Good effort. They all can't be easy. I'm fighting with a very early 1219 with a broken deering ring lifter. Already completed a full service, just waiting on the part. $45.00 + shipping. Lame.
The grease for the arm shaft needs to be very thin. I use a very thin coat of oil. Some people use graphite. I have sldl 1s. Best linear for the money.
Thanks for review I can understand. Got a programmable J33, direct drive. Clean old grease & new tone arm belt, new stylus. Sounds nice. Like to switch off with my MA1 & 1600 Mk2. Yeah, a Technics fan. Just put a Shure V-15 type 4 on 1600 with Jico SAS, sweet
Great video! I have the same equipment, it has the orange needle and I I would like to change it for a better one. What is the blue needle you put in it?
Hi, wondering if you can help. I've revived an old one of these that hasn't been used for 20 years and I've replaced the broken belt and its run great for about 1 hour and then has started jamming. So on a 12' record it goes about 1' in and then jams and repeats the same second or so of song and doesn't move along and then when you hit start and it goes back to the beginning of the deck and stops but then you can hear the motor whirring but there is no movement. Any ideas?
have a problem with my sl-3. It is not auto detecting my records. With the switch set to auto, the cartridge drops right there at the parked location. If a 7 inch is on, the cartridge is dropped straight down onto the platter. If a 12 inch disc is on it also drops straight down just off the outside edge of the record. The arm you pointed out that detects a record's size seems to be functioning, that is to say, it moves back and forth as you'd expect it to by hand manipulation. The auto return and stop works fine. Any suggestions on what to check?
I have a SL-V5 vertical turntable that looks like this SL-3. But the rubber mat is glued onto the metal disc. How do i proceed to change the belt, re-grease the center bearing etc.
Thank you for the video, will start doing this sometime soon! I was wondering, and you may know... How do I connect a ground wire to this record player?
Any chance you'd be able to tell me how thick the mat on this one is? I have an SL-D4 which I believe is the same mat but unfortunately the mat is missing and I'm hoping to make a new one for it. Would be a lifesaver if so
Another great overview and repair. I ordered motor mounts (Voice of Music) for a Kenwood KD-2500 from a video repair you did 2 years ago. Much appreciated subscriber from West Coast of Canada. What area of Canada are you located?
Parts arrived for new 2 pce. motor mounts for my Kenwood KD-2055. Completed (and serviced the bottom bearing too - but it was very clean and in good shape) Like your results now super quiet. Great service from Voice of Music. Thanks again for the 2 great videos on the Kenwood KD-2055
Hello , i have SL L3 , does not take the play command automatically technics SL-L3, it only works in manual mode, I start it, the disc starts spinning but it doesn't play, only if I press cuering it starts, it doesn't search for tracks, be the reading sensor, or an idea where to start, thanks
You don't. This turntable uses a p-mount cartridge. The p-mount was an attempt to standardize cartridge weight, alignment, and tracking force. Tracking force is 1.25 grams and is not adjustable. some T4P tables had a small adjustment built into the tonearm, .25 grams in either direction. A P-mount (technically called T4P) cartridge is not designed to run at more than 1.5 grams.
@@mescko I have found the adjustment screw is on the top not user adjustable normally, but I have put it to max only about 1/2 gram difference but tracks better with the Technics cartridge!👍
Does that Turntable have the 4 pin Syncro lead socket that the Syncro lead plugs into and then plugs into the back of the Cassette Deck that puts the Cassette deck into pause mode while you turn over the record and once play is pressed the pause on the Cassette deck releases and record recommences.
@infinityvideoprod please keep your negative comments to yourself. Just because you dislike an item doesn't mean it's no good. It's possible you're having a bad day so just sit back relax and listen to your record player and that's if you have 1, if not maybe buy 1 of these and them make a review about it. Have a great day. 😊
@@grasshopper6896 please keep your negative attitude off this channel. Perhaps you've heard about freedom of speech. I have just as much right to my comments as a person like you. I'm sure Turntable Guy can choose who he wants commenting on his channel and doesn't need you to moderate on his behalf. Apparently he was not "offended" like you as he chose to respond to my comment. Have a great day.
Loved those 80s turntables, way better quality than those expensive audiophiles atrocities of today.
Thank you for taking the time to record and upload this. I successfully serviced my Panasonic version of the SL-3 today, using your video as a guide.
I have a Frankenstein Rega Planer 3 with all the aftermarket upgrades and I also have a Technics SL-L3. I have to say that the Technics stands up pretty well.
My main deck is a Technics SL-J300R. Pretty much the last in the line of the linear trackers Technics released. It's fully auto, direct drive, quartz locked and has direct track access. Never had any issues with the audio quality. There are a lot of bog standard more expensive decks available today that frankly wouldn't perform much if any better.
Thank you so much for this thorough service video. I found one of these turntables at Goodwill. Hopefully, it will only need a belt, cartridge, cleaning and lube to make it operational.
Thanks so much for this detailed video. I've been searching in vain for something similar but specific to an SL-J3 bought in the US in 1986, which gave me decades of enjoyment till it stopped during the pandemic. I now live in India, where no service centre for this product exists. I do want it working again--I have an emotional connect with it. My qualified and trusted technician checked it with the service manual that I bought from the US and observed:
1. When switched on the cueing LED glows on the front panel.
2. As shown in the manual, I removed the bottom cover and checked all voltages at the respective points as instructed. The voltages were found okay according to the circuit diagram.
3. I dismantled the top cover to check the arm movement mechanism. The belt between the arm movement mechanism and motor pulley lay in pieces inside the compartment and the motor was rotating free when I switched the set on. I attached a suitable belt and the motor stopped rotating. The arm movement mechanism visibly seems okay.
4. I fitted the top cover and bottom cover back to check the system. I placed an LP on the platter, but there was no change in status. Only the cueing LED came on and no other switches functioned on the front panel.
Seems like an IC/microprocessor issue. How can we set it right again? Thank you for any help you can provide.
Thank you so much for this. Been able to service my dad last TT. Still waiting for both belts, but it seems to be working fine. Can’t wait to test it for real!
I don't normally comment on your use of pliers, I always keep in mind it's not my turntable but I had to cringe watching this video. If I'm unfamiliar with a component I'm working on I tend to look for info before tearing into it. In this case there's plenty of info available. I would find chewing into that bearing to be unacceptable. Even if it's just cosmetic it wasn't necessary.
wow -- I use to have a Technics stero set up with the turntable. 50 years ago. Hope they are still good quality today.
Great vid. I just scored a SL-L3.
Technics quality.
Check those belts!
@@TurntableGuy New belt. Platter is direct drive. Really nice shape.
Good effort. They all can't be easy. I'm fighting with a very early 1219 with a broken deering ring lifter. Already completed a full service, just waiting on the part. $45.00 + shipping. Lame.
The grease for the arm shaft needs to be very thin. I use a very thin coat of oil. Some people use graphite. I have sldl 1s. Best linear for the money.
Thanks for review I can understand. Got a programmable J33, direct drive. Clean old grease & new tone arm belt, new stylus. Sounds nice. Like to switch off with my MA1 & 1600 Mk2. Yeah, a Technics fan. Just put a Shure V-15 type 4 on 1600 with Jico SAS, sweet
Great video!
I have the same equipment, it has the orange needle and I I would like to change it for a better one. What is the blue needle you put in it?
Hi, wondering if you can help. I've revived an old one of these that hasn't been used for 20 years and I've replaced the broken belt and its run great for about 1 hour and then has started jamming. So on a 12' record it goes about 1' in and then jams and repeats the same second or so of song and doesn't move along and then when you hit start and it goes back to the beginning of the deck and stops but then you can hear the motor whirring but there is no movement. Any ideas?
have a problem with my sl-3. It is not auto detecting my records. With the switch set to auto, the cartridge drops right there at the parked location. If a 7 inch is on, the cartridge is dropped straight down onto the platter. If a 12 inch disc is on it also drops straight down just off the outside edge of the record. The arm you pointed out that detects a record's size seems to be functioning, that is to say, it moves back and forth as you'd expect it to by hand manipulation. The auto return and stop works fine. Any suggestions on what to check?
I have a SL-V5 vertical turntable that looks like this SL-3. But the rubber mat is glued onto the metal disc. How do i proceed to change the belt, re-grease the center bearing etc.
Thank you for the video, will start doing this sometime soon!
I was wondering, and you may know... How do I connect a ground wire to this record player?
There is a ground lug hole in the back near the RCA jacks.
Use the belt for a tape counter on a Reel 2 Reel tape deck until you get the one that is required.
The MARANTZ TT143 uses an Optical Size detect there the mat has to be aligned
I had a Kenwood or might have been Pioneer Linear Turntable that programable numbers it was really neat! But the switches never worked right!
Any chance you'd be able to tell me how thick the mat on this one is? I have an SL-D4 which I believe is the same mat but unfortunately the mat is missing and I'm hoping to make a new one for it. Would be a lifesaver if so
It's quite thin - 2 mm
Another great overview and repair. I ordered motor mounts (Voice of Music) for a Kenwood KD-2500 from a video repair you did 2 years ago. Much appreciated subscriber from West Coast of Canada. What area of Canada are you located?
Thanks. I'm in London.
Parts arrived for new 2 pce. motor mounts for my Kenwood KD-2055. Completed (and serviced the bottom bearing too - but it was very clean and in good shape) Like your results now super quiet. Great service from Voice of Music. Thanks again for the 2 great videos on the Kenwood KD-2055
Hello , i have SL L3 , does not take the play command automatically technics SL-L3, it only works in manual mode, I start it, the disc starts spinning but it doesn't play, only if I press cuering it starts, it doesn't search for tracks, be the reading sensor, or an idea where to start, thanks
Link to the service manual: www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-l3.shtml
Great, How do i adjust /check tracking weight on the SL3? cheers
You don't. This turntable uses a p-mount cartridge. The p-mount was an attempt to standardize cartridge weight, alignment, and tracking force. Tracking force is 1.25 grams and is not adjustable. some T4P tables had a small adjustment built into the tonearm, .25 grams in either direction. A P-mount (technically called T4P) cartridge is not designed to run at more than 1.5 grams.
@@mescko I have found the adjustment screw is on the top not user adjustable normally, but I have put it to max only about 1/2 gram difference but tracks better with the Technics cartridge!👍
Does that Turntable have the 4 pin Syncro lead socket that the Syncro lead plugs into and then plugs into the back of the Cassette Deck that puts the Cassette deck into pause mode while you turn over the record and once play is pressed the pause on the Cassette deck releases and record recommences.
It's a one pin socket.
@@TurntableGuy On the MARANTZ TT143 it is a four conductor Syncro Cable with two 4 pin connectors on each end.
Can you service my TT Akai 206?
The MARANTZ TT143 was very much the same, You mean the REVOX B975.
NO, the Revox is way different inside the tonearm, and its movement,
If only there was a way to track the groove using a laser and use that to move the tonearm so that it follows the groove exactly.
Pronounced Technics, there's no "Techniques"
Who cares?
Actually it is pronounced differently in different regions, but one thing is certain.....you are a D-BaG.
What complete crap they made in the 90's
This turtable was in production in 1982/1983.
@@TurntableGuy it only took 10 years for the industry to get that bad? Shameful. Thanks for the info.
@infinityvideoprod please keep your negative comments to yourself. Just because you dislike an item doesn't mean it's no good. It's possible you're having a bad day so just sit back relax and listen to your record player and that's if you have 1, if not maybe buy 1 of these and them make a review about it. Have a great day. 😊
@@grasshopper6896 please keep your negative attitude off this channel. Perhaps you've heard about freedom of speech. I have just as much right to my comments as a person like you. I'm sure Turntable Guy can choose who he wants commenting on his channel and doesn't need you to moderate on his behalf. Apparently he was not "offended" like you as he chose to respond to my comment. Have a great day.