Technics SL-5 - Series Intro
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- This is the first installment of the Technics SL-5 repair series. A quick overview of the unit, a basic explanation on how it works and some of the things I'll be covering in the series.
Next installment we'll be grabbing the screw drivers and getting our hands dirty.
*Yes, I know audio is a bit fuzzy. I decided to grab my old S5 for this, just for kicks. I wont repeat the mistake.
Excellent video. Thanks for mentioning the plastic pin underneath. I had removed it but could not find the hole where it went back in. The hole is not round, it is just a gap in that lower right molded in clip. I had good results simply removing the screw on the left side of the guide bar, sliding it out, cleaning off the sticky grease and putting it back in with new grease. There are small rubber boots at each end of the bar. The only trick is getting the upper part of that carriage back in the slot , up by the window, when the bar is reinstalled. The whole assembly drops down with the bar removed. With the old grease on the tone arm linear track bushing, the friction is too much for the motor drive and the belt wears out.
I just acquired one from Ebay for $70. It was listed, "For parts...," because the seller wasn't able to test it. It works well, except the stylus drags, just a little, when returning automatically, at the very end of the record. It came with a GRADO cartridge (a major reason why I bought this particular one), and sounds fantastic! I'm looking forward to using these videos for info on tweaking my SL-5.
That's good to hear. I hope these videos are useful to you!
Just got an SL-5 from a wonderful local couple. Seemed to play great on demo, but currently waitng on a new LP Gear carbon fiber cartridge/stylus to arrive before using myself. While I hope this lasts for quite some time before I have to do any repairs, I wanted to thank you in advance for sharing all of your knowledge here. As a new SL-5 owner, I truly appreciate being able to access your videos. Thanks again!
Thanks! May your vinyl be clean and unscratched.
@@felix_da_katze Well, I literally JUST bought a new Spin-Clean unit, so... 😂 Same to you, my friend!
I just scored some vintage Techinics gear that included this tt and an integrated amp, eq, double cassette deck and a pair of Cerwin Vega D7s.
Nice score! Enjoy!
Very good explanation, congrats! One big question: where do i put the pushpin at the panel of the tonearm drive motor? I could'nt see it properly. Even in the service manual you can't see it. After cleaning and relube, the machine works, but I still have this pushpin left.🤔 Thanks for these videos!👌
If it's the one I'm thinking of...there's a hole for it on the underside towards the right on the panel that comes off. It is a bit of a pain to get back in, and I thought it is explained in a bit more detail in one of these videos, if not in the series, perhaps an earlier one? Might have been left on the cutting room floor...
@@felix_da_katze thanks for the fast response! its the unnumbered pushpin in the service manual beside the two numbered screws for the tonearm motor lid. I failed finding the hole in the panel.🤔
Open the lid, and feel under with your finger, you are bound to find it. If I get a chance I'll take a photo and post back tomorrow.
i.ibb.co/BzmNPGH/IMG-20240119-150555.jpg
i.ibb.co/C2DFGpM/IMG-20240119-150658.jpg
thank you very much! 😀The pin seems to be positionend behind the last clamp on the right. I'll try but i think, it's not necessary for a propper function. My SL-5 ist working fine. maybe need a new needle.@@felix_da_katze
Just got one from eBay and the seller said tested, but when I turned on and put a record on, the needle wiggled and also jumped tracks. I didn’t plug into a receiver and just plugged in . So I looked at the needle and there was nine. So I was wondering how to pull off the cartridge and at first thought to just pull straight out, but there’s a thing that you can turn and seems to loosen up. Anyway, I didn’t want to break anything, so I left alone and why I’m checking yt now.
Also, I can’t tell which cartridge is on there and if it’s a replacement or original until I learn how to get the needle or cartridge to come out. But in eBay when putting the SL-5 needle, a bunch show up and not knowing if all the different cartridges for this turntable are compatible with others or if you have to stick with the same brand. Anyway, I’ll look around yt and look for other videos.
Many thanks for these videos, really helpful. I've had my SL5 a number of years and previously a few pictures from a vinyl engine link was the best available for some of these pieces. This series is now the best resource on the internet for SL5 repairs, great job sir.
One question though please? You mention in one video the height adjustment, something you'd not had cause to adjust. Is that because you found the measurement was Ok?
In all honesty, I can't understand how to even take the measurement based on the service manual ... I'm not sure what the top line they're measuring 27.7mm is supposed to be? Working back from the stylus nothing seems to be at 27.7mm!
Any chance you could show how to take that measurement please?
And even stupider question please? Does that 27.7mm actually effect the weight of the stylus on the record? Or is that just the needle drop?
27,7mm is the distance between stylus tip and guide rail. There is a diagram in the service manual describing. I've never bothered primarily because the turntables I've done have all worked fine. I suppose I should at least measure it for completeness. I'm out of the country at the moment, so not possible to make a measurement vid at the moment.
Thanks very much for your kind words. I do hope this is a useful resource. I spent far longer on making this series than I expected. When I get back in the country, I hope to tackle a few other models in depth.
It might. So far I haven't had any issues that have led me to adjust it, so I suspect if it was easy to skate across the platter, it might need adjustment, not sure what the symptoms might be if it was a bit low. When I return home, I will investigate this a bit more thoroughly.
Thanks man!
I do what I can.
Do you have, by any chance, the 25 cm record adaptor that came with the SL-5 to be able to play 10" records? I can't find it anywhere for sale new or used. I had to put a tape on the back sensor so it can play 10" records. But I have to press the play button continuously first time I press it to move the arm to the 10" record, 'cause if I don't the needle will think a 12" record in on the table and drop directly on the mat.
Yes, there is a plastic hub for singles. Unfortunately, I don't have a spare, but I suspect almost any would do, so long as it centres the record properly. And I am sure I have seen some generic aftermarket ones. However, the centre hub doesn't have anything to do with sensing whether a 33 or 45 is being played. Good candidate for 3D printing.
That is all down to the sensor at the back and if you are taping it over, then you are fooling the machine that an LP is on. Default behaviour should be to move into the single position, if the arm activating the sensor was broken for instance. Actually calling it a sensor is a bit of a stretch, it is a fairly generic switch operated by a plastic lever.
@@felix_da_katzeNo, I'm not referring to that hub for records with larger center hole. I found out about the 25 cm record adaptor on the manual itself. It's an adaptor that has to be installed when you want to play 10" records with a normal hole as in the 12" records. It is to be installed near the plate on the back. Anyway, I found out that even with that adaptor you have to press the play button continuously first time I press it to move the arm to the 10" record. Thank you for answering. :)
Glad you have it sorted. I've got service manuals, but maybe not the user manual, so I might have to dig one up to understand this properly. Thanks for sharing!
When are you doing the video showing how to lube this? FYI, I fixed my tonearm really well, but i'm not an electrical engineer that knows how to solder well, that's why I haven't changed the capacitors in vintage hi fi gear. mine has a really bad wow and flutter even without warped Albums.
Patience my pretty...
Actually I shot the video of this today, I've just sat down to start putting it together. I am trying to keep things to about 10 minutes, and targeted at specific areas. Maybe in a few hours, maybe tomorrow...
Good news it is quite easy to do, and I don't think you'll have any problems if you follow along.
I've opened, and closed a defective Technics SL-5 Linear Tracking Turntable up to five times; the motor, gear, worm gear cover is badly designed. There is this plastic rivet that is almost impossible to put back in place; and that cover once in re-installed, and fully in a correct position, mysteriously stops the top lid from fully closing! And I was considering on a purchase of a Technics SL-1500C Direct Drive Turntable, new if possible; I think not. No way. Perhaps it is better to get a Thorens Direct Drive Turntable.
Technics has done a disservice for a turntable owner, user to service a record playing system that is defective in design; and has eventual problems with correct functioning of its linear tracking tonearm. Broadly described, there are discrepancies with correct function! I've got up to four different turntables, three of which are going to be connected to my main hi fi audio system.
And I have a Rega Planar 3 mostly bought as a plinth; Linn Basik Plus Tonearm, and I mounted a new Audio Technica AT95E MM Cartridge; not the newer VM Series, by the way. Sounds good, musicality without resonance is what it has, and what you are supposed to hear.
Previous owner had drilled a larger tonearm hole on that Planar 3 early 1980s plinth; and I had problems with restoration; but not as much as this linear tracking turntable - the SL-5 by Technics!
At least three of these turntables work, and function well! Although I restored, repaired, and eventually upgraded a Rega Planar 3 by installing, soldering in a Rega 24V Motor Upgrade; at least it spins, and works well enough.🔉🎵🎶
I have a sl dl5.I am having an issue where the sled advances full speed when the needle goes down instead of normal playing speed. Any suggestions or a video coming soon addressing this?
You mean it just drags the needle across the surface of the record? If it is a similar system then my guess would be something fouling or wrong with the opto sensors that send the advance signal. If you look at my SL-5 servo adjustment video it might help visualise all the relevant bits, as they are exposed in that video. ]
I'll have to look into this, as it isn't something that has happened to me (yet!). DL-5 is a bit bigger, but looks to have similar internals and service procedures. Maybe I can induce this behaviour and we can work out a solution. That won't be for a week or two, as I am planning to do the platter and PCB side this week.
I have a sl sl 5. My issue is the linear tracking goes full speed across the record instead of slowing down to play speed once the needle drops. What is the issue with this, or are you going to show a future video addressing this?
answer as previous
@@felix_da_katze I came here for the same reason! Am going through your videos now. Have read your posts on AK and was thrilled to see that it's you on here as well! Have you found the cause of this yet? Seems to be a recurring issue. On to video #2...!
Unfortunately I haven't experienced this issue, and I haven't been able to induce this behaviour either. The only question I have is, is the needle actually engaging with the track? Is it scratching across the platter or just moving across without getting in the groove?
@@felix_da_katze It does scratch across. Like something is preventing it from fully dropping. I haven't yet delved into the plunger oil, maybe it's contaminated and preventing it from getting down far enough?
Ok, there is an adjustment screw for the tone arm height, from memory it is a basically a stop screw and prevents the arm dropping too far. It could be the record is too low for the needle to engage. If you had a thinner, aftermarket platter mat, that could do it. There is a procedure for adjusting this, but I have never needed to, and I might even mention (briefly) in one of these videos it is something I haven't looked at. It is definitely covered in the service manual available on vinylengine: www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-5.shtml
Arm lift height is the appropriate section. Maybe give the adjustment screw a quarter turn anti-clockwise until it engages, and fine tune after that.
If this works, please comment back so that others can know, and I'll make a video covering it when I get back home in a month or two.
You just like torturing yourself with odd designs :-D
I used to be determined to repair things when i was 18, at 55 ive lost the drive lol.
Can you repair my brain please lol.
Get me the service manual, I'll have a tinker... :)