Thanks for this! I have a similar model (the 5 I think?), and your tour of the disassembly and inner mechanism is really helpful. Mine is working right now, but you know, some day it will need to be relubed and have the belts changed! Question for you on the tracking force... I've always read that the p-mount cartridges didn't need adjustment, but is there any way to confirm that the tonearm is tracking at the right weight?
An rubber band will not last very long, an actual drive belt will last years. I would be surprised if a rubber band would last a year. That belt sits motionless in the same position every time the tonearm returns to rest and until it plays another record. A rubber band will go oblong and slip in no time. Also, a rubber band is very stretchy, the tracking won't be near as precise. I've had a few dozen linears (no, you may not ask how many I have). I will often shut them off with the arm halfway back so the belt can sit in a different position once in a while.
Hi Andy, great video. I have a simple question, newbie question: are all p-mount cartridges the same? In my SL-J1 i have a broken Shure M92E, what can i use to replace it? I'm looking for an alternative/unoriginal cartridge but all the other p-mount seems to have different shapes! Thank you.
From my experience as another happy owner of a vintage Technics linear tracking turntable, most of the p-mount cartridges are easily interchangable, of course you need to adjust your phono pre-amp if you are going to MC from MM cartridges but for the physical interface it's all the same, and no need to re-adjust the tracking force, angles, etc. The only p-mount cartridge still in produce seems to be Audio Technica AT85EP and it's readily available on major shopping websites at a reasonable price.
I have this turntable and it admits a lukewarm feeling on the turntable mat. Once played a Vinyl Record it feels slightly warm. Is this normal? I have used this player for 5+ years and replayed many of the same vinyl records and it hasn't warped them. Just something I have noticed with this turntable.
I thought these were high end when they were new. I saw the price of a SL-15 and I think it was like $850. when it was new. I know that more a deluxe model and had programming tracks. I had I think a SL-5 around 85 I got used and loved that machine and worked well when I had it.
I don’t think this was a low end model and was the fist of the series of the compact technics tts. There’s a history of all the Techincs TTS on the internet and what it sold for back then.
I now have 2 working Technics SL-5 and I think it’s direct drive and don’t have a belt for me the platter. . I think it does use a belt for the tone arm.
I also got a Sony linear tt that ver cool and the size of quarter of the record and the rest spins outside of the unit. I can’t remember the model number but from the early 80’s to go with the Sony mini system that was popular back in the early 80’s.
I’m thinking of buying a non working technica SL 6 from eBay , but I’m not sure if it’s a small fix or a complicated big fix. So I’m wondering if these tts are easy to fix or to just pay more for a working one?
hello sir your video are so informativ so ty first of all. so here my question i have a technics sl-js1 so probably arround the same year model sadly he's not runing no more at the moment the arm can unlock from starting position but after selecting table format (45 or 33) and pressing play it doesn't moove to position( the arm). i'm kinda attach to the turntable and wonder if its "approachable" as a total beginer to fix. wonder if you ever work on such model ? and if you can provide me any lead on how to approach the problem. kind regard jim
99 times out of a hundred (more like 999/1000) the drive belt is slipping. If it's very quiet, push start and with you ear close to the lid, you will likely hear the DC motor that advances the arm whirring, trying to do it's job - and failing.
I wish I had seen your video before I removed the lid on my Technics SL-J33 Linear Tracking Turntable. I broke 2 of those flared pieces that the pegs go into and retain the lid and I can’t find them online. Any ideas on where to find these parts?
I see parts for these tts on eBay when ppl. break them up. Also, many part I think can be interchangeable I think for the many technics made on this style tt. Yeah, I hate trying to fix vintage audio equipment bc I alway end up taking off something and breaking. Or have a hard time figuring off how to get off without breaking. So it helps to have someone else show how they got it off. Like I was trying to pull off the cartrige and later found out why it wasn’t coming out and I needed to remove the screw on the side. I wish someone would take the time to do a full take apart on all the various models and I’m sure that'll get many views and be very helpful to many.
