How to Adjust the Automatic Start Position of a Technics SL-D3 or Many Turntables 

Fantastic! Merry Christmas!

Glad it helped Eddie. Subscribe to my channel. I'm always making videos about turntable maintenance. I have several in my archives. Enjoy your music!!!

+Robert Edwards Thanks for watching! RU-vid is amazing for instructional videos! I fixed my drier and alternator courtesy of RU-vid! I plan on doing more how to videos in the future so keep in touch!

You are welcome! Did you just get back into vinyl?

I did, I have a new Audio Technica in my office but decided to start using my old Technics in the family room.

You're welcome!

That’s great! Thanks for sharing your results!

You’re welcome! I figured most of these turntables have mechanisms in the same neighborhood.

Thanks for watching!

May I know which switch helped you to solve the issue

This worked to me. I was some frightened ‘cause the tonearm was starting in the middle of a 12”LP and even using the adjust screw didn’t work and thought that some band or internal mechanism could be broken when it was only set on the wrong size position. Thanks!

@@krish8216 The size selector switch at the front of the turntable

That’s amazing!

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

That's awesome! Let me know if I can be of any help!

@@StillSpinning3 thank'for the reply. I got it back to work by now. Your video was very helpful! I fixed a few Philips turntables from the early 70's but this was a little different. Played several records of all sizes and everythibg works fine. It's a really nice turntable, not gonna sell it.

I've had mine for over ten years. I love it!

Excellent turntable, about 40 years old.

You're welcome!

Thanks for leaving a comment! I’m so glad this helped you! I do all sorts of “How to” videos related to turntables so please subscribe!

@@StillSpinning3 Do you have any instructional videos regarding the arm lifting half way through the record and returning to the cradle on an automatic turntable? I'm struggling to find anything. 😃

Hmmm, I could make one on how to fix the return position. Does this happen on every spin?

@@StillSpinning3 Hey there. I have 2 turntables that do this at present. I have a cheap Kenwood P 100 tiny turntable as it fits in my workshop. Also a Yamaha P 17 that i'm working on for a pal. This was dumped. We rescued it. It's the one I mentioned your video helped me with. They both play half the record and the tonearm lifts up and returns to the cradle. I first tried an album then a 7". No dice. 😦 I wouldn't worry so much about the Kenwood but my workshop is packed and this is a good size. Also we have garage thieves in our neighborhood sadly. The Yamaha however is a thing of beauty and I'm working on it for a friend. I've not worked on a turntable for a long time and I'm a bit rusty 😃

@@StillSpinning3 That would be great if you could. Look forward to it and I'm assuming lots of people would too x Thank you x I am subbed 😃

You’re welcome!

Glad I could help!

You’re welcome!

You’re welcome!

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

Thanks for the feedback! Glad it helped you out!

@@StillSpinning3 My SL-D3 is starting about 10 seconds in on the first song... and, also, the sound is sounding very muffled and staticky and a lot of pops... will fixing the "10 second" problem probably fix the other "sound" problem?

NO

@@len9518 hah yep... I fixed the poppy sound and everything... but, still, about half of my records start a couple seconds into the first song while the other half play perfectly. It's the weirdest thing.

You’re welcome!

You’re welcome!

Thanks for watching! Let me look around and I’ll get back to you.

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First, make sure the turntable is level.

First off, make sure the turntable is level. Very common issue.

Check the anti-skate. Also, one thing this turntable lacks is adjustable feet. You may be able to find a turntable leveler to make sure if the surface is flat.

The tension screw could be too loose.

I had that issue and discovered I had a fully manual turntable.

Hmm, do you have the service manual for your unit?

@@StillSpinning3 indeed I do.

No mine has always worked. Maybe it is too loose or too tight?

+margaretsville For start position it is the same screw. For return position it is a different screw.

@@StillSpinning3 Could you make a video to adjust the return?

Sorry not 7 rpm it is 45 rpm ie 7 inch record . When I adjusted 33 pm correctly, 45 rpm starts in 10 inch size. Pl help me to rectify the start up issue 7 inch record

Yeah that doesn't sound familiar. Email me a picture of it. Send it to stillspinning3@gmail.com

@@StillSpinning3 Ok thanks. I asked him for further detail and he said that it came with the turntable originally to reduce vibration. He has it taped on there because the the little prongs to hold on to the arm deteriorated. I would have gotten one already perfect but I am impatient and had to work in my budget. He said I can still adjust the antiskate with the dial. I'll email a picture.

There was an auxiliary weight with the parts, that screwed in to the rear of the arm. It's only needed, if the cartridge is too heavy to balance the arm. That may be what you have. It has nothing to do with the antiskate. If you can balance the arm properly, you don't need it.

Sorry you are having issues here. Sounds like the lift mechanism may be having trouble. I recommend getting the service manual for your until below to see if there is a way to adjust this. www.vinylengine.com/

@@StillSpinning3 Reading this thing is like greek to me. I'm more watch and learn kinda guy lol

Understood. Let me play around with mine and see if I can figure it out. Will follow up if I find anything out.

No, it returns correctly.

Phono preamp?

Yes still works, not enough volume

Still Spinning , Yes phono

You can’t turn it either way to adjust the arm to the left or the right.

It can turn either way. It depends on the individual's turntable. One turn direction adjusts the starting position away from the center and the other direction adjusts the starting position towards the center.

⁠@@StillSpinning3 yes, I tried both the directions, I could fix only one ie, either 12 inch or 7 inch. I could not fix the both 12 and 7 inch size

What model is your turntable?

Still Spinning technics SL-B1

You should be able to adjust it so it plays properly.

Still Spinning i was really worried earlier coz i bought a second hand turntable and when i was spinning the 45 record, the automatic tonearm hit the rubber mat .. my stylus is the plug n play 2m blur ortofon... and it means a lot...

I wish I could help you!

@@StillSpinning3 I was actually being sarcastic, think one would have to take it all apart and do a lot of rewiring. I miss that automatic function!

What's your budget?

Here are some suggestions... magazine.vinylmeplease.com/magazine/five-best-cartridges-to-boost-your-turntables-performance-on-a-budget/ They do have cartridges that cost around $40-50. Here's a video how to install them: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-e_4o2d7SPN0.html

Does your return not go back to the correct resting position?

@@StillSpinning3 no it stays on the run out

It's a model SL D2

@@StillSpinning3 I finally found the manual, there's a screw under the mat... Counter clockwise... Thanks.

Go to vinylengine.com, create a free account, then search to see if they have a service manual for your model turntable. It should give you detailed info on fixing things like this.

@@StillSpinning3 will do.. Thank you!

This is true. This video is just a tutorial for when anti-skating doesn’t fix the issue.

So I have this same SL-D3. When I do all that and I set the tonearm and anti-skate to 1.75g (which is required for this TT) the weight seems to heavy now (yes I’ve adjusted many ways) and when the tonearm moves towards the plater/record it doesn’t lift high enough to sit on the vinyl. Please help.

@@06DeuceLet me clarify, your 1.75g does not required to that TT but it is required to your stylus tracking weight. You probably haven’t zeroed it properly, or you might get to buy a stylus weighing scale. The only reason it doesn’t touch your vinyl grove by your stylus is probably the weight you put is too light you just need to add more weight , most stylus tracking weight safe tolerances is up to 3 grams.

@@redbishop71 after a long process of messing with it I finally got it. But I am going to upgrade to a better cartridge. Thank you for the response.

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!