LP12 transportation "help"

SaltyDog · Posted: 2010-02-23 01:13 Post subject: LP12 transportation "help"

An individual (left unspecified for reasons of domestic harmony) has done me a "favor" and moved my LP12 for me. It was transported by car in the lap of unsaid individual. No caution was used other than locking the tonearm in place. The outer platter was left on and the inner platter remained in the use position. (Other than that Ms. Lincoln how did you like the play?)

I'm still not ready to use the TT as I will need the space on the rack that will be available when the new active ATC 50 Towers arrive so I've done nothing except set it on a level shelf for now.

I would like to know where to go from here. (Me not unspecified person Wink

)

How would I know what, if any, damage was done to the bearing?

What would the fix be? Would a new circus be needed?

To add to the above when I got home to the new house I found the music room freshly painted. The painter had moved my keltiks which took me many, many hours of positioning.

My solution to this is to just get by until the ATCs arrive and not frustrate myself repositioning the keltiks. I will have a hard time comparing the sound of the LP12 since it's been so long since listening and it will be a different room, amplifiers and speakers.

What should I listen for when evaluating damage?

Looking forward to any and all advice. A little humor might be appreciated too.

Tony Tune-age · Posted: 2010-02-23 16:30 Post subject:

Perhaps one option for evaluating the condition of your Sondek, is having a Linn technician look it over for possible damage. Sounds like it might be awhile before your system is ready, so your turntable could be properly examined in the meantime Cool

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Tony Tune-age

SaltyDog · Posted: 2010-02-24 00:36 Post subject:

Would be a good idea. Probably will come to that. Has anyone else had any experience? Remember if you can't brag about it, call it experience.

lejonklou · Posted: 2010-02-24 00:36 Post subject:

Sorry to hear about that unwanted help, Salty. If it was a careful move, it doesn't necessarily have to be damaged, however.

One way to check the smoothness of the bearing is to remove the outer platter and the belt. Then you spin the inner gently and watch the way it stops. Most probably, it will be a very smooth and slow stop. If not, the bearing is certainly damaged. If it is, you replace the bearing and the inner platter (always both at the same time).

One can also check the bearing surfaces under magnification, but that requires the complete removal of the oil and some cleaning. Not an easy task.

If your LP12 is not in good shape, it will be heard when you play it. If you are unsure about the performance, the only certain way is to bring a different LP12 for comparison. They will of course sound different unless they're identically equipped and have been set up by the same person, but it should be perfectly possible to distinguish better-worse from good-broken.

Sorry I forgot about the humour! Maybe this classic will do:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSINO6MKtco

Tony Tune-age · Posted: 2010-02-24 12:55 Post subject:

That is an entertaining video clip Lejonklou...good humor indeed Laughing

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Tony Tune-age

ThomasOK · Posted: 2010-02-24 20:02 Post subject:

Well, considering the controversy a similar post without the outer platter caused on the Linn forum (Urgent LP12 Question !!!) I'm not surprised you posted it here.

As was mentioned there and here it is possible it wasn't damaged (the spindle and thrust plate are more robust than some people give them credit for). Really the best way to tell is as Fredrik mentioned - removing all the oil and inspecting the surfaces of the spindle and the thrust plate. To do that adequately it is best to remove the bearing housing from the subchassis which requires the removal of the bottom and the wiring strap, not a trivial task. Also as mentioned a Cirkus is not necessary, just the bearing housing and the spindle/inner platter. But that runs about $550 for those two pieces.

I would think this would only be necessary if the spin check Fredrik mentioned looks bad or if things don't sound right when you get the system connected. Otherwise you can just have the bearing looked at the next time you bring it in for setup or upgrade.

ThomasOK · Posted: 2010-02-24 20:04 Post subject:

Tony Tune-age · Posted: 2010-02-24 20:16 Post subject:

Well, maybe they made enough money for the day and wanted to have some fun Razz

. Although I wouldn't want to be treated that way Sad

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Tony Tune-age

SaltyDog · Posted: 2010-02-24 21:49 Post subject:

Maybe just a series of bounce tests were performed.

Might I suggest a thread for hifi humor? Laughing

SaltyDog · Posted: 2010-02-24 22:45 Post subject:

Wow! Thomas I just read the thread on the Linn forum. So much going on there that it's hard to keep up on all the posts. I had not seen it till now.

I'm glad you responded, but would understand if you decided not to have posted here. Rolling Eyes

ThomasOK · Posted: 2010-02-25 00:28 Post subject:

I did have a bit of a tussle with that one guy, didn't I? At least I had one of my customers standing up for me too.

I figured here I'd be much less likely to get sniped. Smile

k_numigl · Posted: 2010-02-26 10:54 Post subject:

Here's another demand for checking the LP12 bearing. (Just as a
routine measure, not as a consequence from an 'accident'.) As it is advised to
change inner platter and bearing housing at the same time, I wonder
whether it suffices to check the spindle pivot (and leave the oil in the
bearing housing - this makes the procedure fairly easy).
If I see marks on the spindle, I guess it is high time to
exchange the two parts. But up to date I could not find any information
_how_ to inspect the pivot. Just looking without a magnifier will not be
very reliable, I guess. I checked various spindles already, using a
8x magnifier. With this, I could detect some wear (rings on the pivot), but
was told that the condition of such a pivot is beyond what Linn considers
to be worth for repolishing (is this service offered to date?). An ordinary
uplight microscope provides bigger enlargements, but the picture
was not much clearer to me (as depth of focus is so terribly small).
If it is true that Linn judges a spindle in order to decide whether or not
it can be re-polished, there must be reliable methods to check this.....

As the lower plate in the bearing housing cannot be accessed
by a microscope or magnifier, I wonder how to check it at all.

Because the quality of the bearing is of such central importance for the
performance of the LP12, I would appreciate much to find a
reliable indication whether it is ok or not.

Regards, Klaus

SaltyDog · Posted: 2010-02-26 17:28 Post subject:

If we can determine the hardness specification for each part of the bearing I think that the less hardened part is where the wear would be found.

Tony Tune-age · Posted: 2010-03-12 13:33 Post subject: Re: LP12 transportation "help"

SaltyDog · Posted: 2010-06-24 13:30 Post subject:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuKrQokjzmE&feature=related

Is this the Studio Master Trac(tor)? Laughing

lejonklou · Posted: 2010-06-24 13:42 Post subject:

Tony Tune-age · Posted: 2010-06-24 13:44 Post subject:

Charlie1 · Posted: 2010-06-24 21:59 Post subject:

That was just what I needed - thanks Salty!

ThomasOK · Posted: 2010-06-24 22:58 Post subject:

And here I thought the drum machine was invented by Léon Theremin. Smile

Nice way to pick up the day.

It seems that, very appropriately, there is even a Swedish tie in...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqatMdB5vu4

Mr. Green