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AR - XA Rebuild

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Posted on July 19, 2016 at 22:08:46
jtpzenith
Audiophile

Posts: 607
Joined: November 4, 2002
 I have finished my complete rebuild of my AR-XA TT. Everything seem fine except for the fact that the platter needs a slight push to get things going. Is this typical or normal for these units. Or, is this unit junk ??

 

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RE: AR - XA Rebuild, posted on July 20, 2016 at 06:48:17
dadbar
Audiophile

Posts: 1675
Location: Portland OR
Joined: June 29, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 25, 2006
 Mine takes a bit of time to get up to speed, so I give it a slight push. That little motor has a lot of inertia to overcome. Think of it as the trade off for decent speed stability. I live with mine....and suggest you do the same....and enjoy it.

 

RE: AR start up, posted on July 20, 2016 at 09:34:41
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6600
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since: July 4, 2007
 I owned a couple and rebuilt a couple others. Never had any problems with start up other than with an early 2-motor version.

Is yours the single motor?

Are you certain the new belt is the correct size?

I believe you can find info online to rebuild or replace the motor if that is the problem.

Also, you never answered an earlier question. One photo showed a wire "strap" over the pivot block. I've never seen that, what is it?

Otherwise, very nice work.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

Yeah, it helps to give it a nudge., posted on July 20, 2016 at 09:39:59
ToddM
Audiophile

Posts: 1612
Location: Atlanta, USA
Joined: May 15, 2001
Contributor
  Since: June 13, 2005
 I think that's why so many people eventually go with lightweight oil. That little clock motor just isn't going to snap to 33 or 45 in half a second - in fact, I think that may be one of if not the only way the TT didn't meet or exceed NAB standards (IIRC, etc, from what the Internet has told me). I've gotten down a move that starts the platter and slides the switch in one smooth motion of my hand.

Also, you'll need to forget brushing while the lp is spinning ;)

 

I've "nudged" every belt drive deck i've owned since my first Rega., posted on July 20, 2016 at 11:29:48
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014
 It eases torque stretch to the belt, thereby increasing belt life.





Opus 33 1/3

 

Interesting . . ., posted on July 20, 2016 at 12:29:42
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6600
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since: July 4, 2007
 I only owned a couple of DDs between 1970 and 2010, all others (maybe 20?) were belt drives. They all had adequate torque to get up to speed on their own within one rotation. My last belt drive, a Kuzma Stabi, had sufficient torque that using a record brush was no problem. A few others prior to that failed that test but at least started up.

Regarding belt life, that is a questionable conclusion it seems to me. I've gone years on a single belt and so if it might have lasted another month longer with "nudging" who knows?

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

Same with my LP-12! (nt), posted on July 20, 2016 at 13:13:29
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001

 

Like. nt, posted on July 20, 2016 at 13:14:11
Travis
Audiophile

Posts: 6170
Location: La Grange, Texas
Joined: November 25, 2001
 .


"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok

 

Not with my LP-12! ..., posted on July 20, 2016 at 16:22:08
kuma
Audiophile

Posts: 10272
Location: IN
Joined: July 8, 2001
 Altho, my friend always gives a platter a slight push at the start claiming it will be easier on the motor in a long run.

 

RE: AR - XA Rebuild, posted on July 20, 2016 at 16:26:24
briggs
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Connecticut
Joined: April 16, 2002
 If it sounds good, the motor is doing its job. Your AR-XA turntable emphatically is not junk.

I believe the principle is that the mass of the motor, and therefore the amplitude of its cogging, is small in relation to the inertia of the rotating platter.

Mine will start up slowly without a nudge, but the nudge seems like a good idea to me, and I always do it.

Only an hour or so ago I listened to a Mendelssohn piano trio played on my AR-XA, with original motor and belt, and the solidity of the piano was impressive.

 

RE: Interesting . . ., posted on July 20, 2016 at 18:56:32
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
 My Nottingham requires more than a nudge....it needs a good hard shove or it'll just sit there motionless. It's by design, and once up to speed, it stays there. Lots of different approaches to spinning a platter I guess...

 

RE: I've "nudged" every belt drive deck i've owned since my first Rega., posted on July 20, 2016 at 19:53:57
barhead
Audiophile

Posts: 725
Location: Australian West Coast
Joined: September 6, 2009
 I even give a nudge to my idler before I engage the idler wheel. Even though the motor is big enough to run a cement mixer I think the slight nudge takes the load off it at start up.
BH

 

Did you talc the belt?????, posted on July 20, 2016 at 20:22:47
dogwan
Audiophile

Posts: 871
Joined: December 16, 2004
 I've owned 4 different AR's. They all needed a bit of a nudge to some degree or other. What I've found is that counter-intuitively the small amount of slippage from the talcum powder helps the motor get the platter going. It's kind of like a clutch.

Use real talcum powder, not corn starch.

 

Pictures!, posted on July 21, 2016 at 04:46:14
MannyE
Audiophile

Posts: 2088
Location: Miami Beach
Joined: March 4, 2001
 We need pics!

 

Speaking of the XA, if I may hijack the thread for a moment, posted on July 21, 2016 at 13:24:46
Batman
Audiophile

Posts: 4194
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Joined: March 31, 2000
Contributor
  Since: June 16, 2000
 Has anybody used one of these aftermarket headshell's for the XA? I'd rather pay 50 bucks for one of these than for a used one of uncertain quality. I have a unit just waiting for a headshell

Aftermarket XA Headshell




 

RE: Not with my LP-12! ..., posted on July 21, 2016 at 13:27:15
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 Mine is an early 70's model that is all original.

Dave

 

RE: Speaking of the XA, if I may hijack the thread for a moment, posted on July 21, 2016 at 14:22:28
dee eye why
Audiophile

Posts: 1148
Location: so. ohio
Joined: March 20, 2003
 Your link is for a used original. I bought one of the 3-D printed new ones for $50.00 and it is a nice quality piece. Looks identical to the original except for the 3-D printed texture and the contact pins are of better quality than the originals. It is a really tight fit in the tonearm, but I figure that is a good thing. Recommended.

.
Freak out...Far out...In out....

 

I take your friend's approach, posted on July 21, 2016 at 14:41:08
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37589
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 My '76 Ariston Rd-11s will start slowly by itself, but I usually give it a nudge.

Just 'cuz. :)

 

Screw threads?, posted on July 21, 2016 at 15:29:51
valvesonly
Audiophile

Posts: 755
Location: Ontario
Joined: May 27, 2005
 My original broke off at the threads and I had to drill through. Considering a replacement on principle (new), or slotting the original to allow better cartridge alignment.
.
must..NOT..resist..."upgraditis"

 

RE: Speaking of the XA, if I may hijack the thread for a moment, posted on July 21, 2016 at 18:25:45
Pix4work2
Audiophile

Posts: 39
Location: Middle TN
Joined: March 1, 2014
 If you are looking for increased performance from your XA, I would heartily recommend upgrading the sub-chassis with a newer design of poly or acrylic design. Vinylengine.com contributor snfrosten has information on sub- chassis information and mods for AR tables. This will allow you to change the stock tonearm for a more user-friendly, modern tonearm with a better headshell. I made the change-over years ago and have never looked back.

 

ah that explains it..., posted on July 21, 2016 at 18:41:27
kuma
Audiophile

Posts: 10272
Location: IN
Joined: July 8, 2001
 mine are approx. 5 and 10 years.
Have you thought of replacing it ?

 

Really?, posted on July 22, 2016 at 00:11:25
bare
Audiophile

Posts: 1879
Joined: April 14, 2009
 Bought My thorens New in '72 It has Always started by itself.. sans issue. Still on it's ORIGINAL belt too.
So much OCD behaviour :-) re what are Very simple contraptions

 

RE: Speaking of the XA, if I may hijack the thread for a moment, posted on July 22, 2016 at 12:55:16
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 I will check it out. I have my father's XA and a thrift store XB, and am not very fond of the stock AR arm.

Dave

 

RE: ah that explains it..., posted on July 22, 2016 at 12:57:13
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 I actually like the sound, but I do have a few other turntables that I am working on.

Dave

 

RE: Speaking of the XA, if I may hijack the thread for a moment, posted on July 22, 2016 at 14:10:35
Plavcan
Audiophile

Posts: 27
Location: Chicagoland
Joined: January 14, 2014
 I've used one of the aftermarket headshells for about a year now. Highly recommended.

 

I just meant replacing the old AC motor..., posted on July 24, 2016 at 16:39:12
kuma
Audiophile

Posts: 10272
Location: IN
Joined: July 8, 2001
 not replacing the Sondek.
I actually prefer the sound of their AC motor over DC motor. ( Radikal )

 

RE: I just meant replacing the old AC motor..., posted on July 26, 2016 at 13:38:46
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 It will start-up without pushing it. I just give it a nudge so it does not have to strain. It does not seem to be worn out in comparison to what they were new. The theory is for a low powered motor driving a heavy platter. That is how the Linn and the AR are designed.

Dave

 

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