Garrard 301 speed issues

Posted by Eddie T (A) on January 31, 2014 at 02:10:42

My grease bearing 301 was working just fine till very recently, with the speed at 33 starting to get very erratic. On close examination, the problem seems to be like this: The ON/OFF switch when turned ON, recedes back a little, causing the idler wheel to pull back and no longer make contact with the motor spindle. Once the platter is put in place, the pressure of the rim does move the idler wheel towards the spindle, but it's not enough, causing the speed fluctuation. At 45 and 78, this is not a problem as contact does get established owing to the larger diameter of the spindle at those points.

I've opened the unit and checked that all the levers are functioning smoothly, and also confirmed that all the springs are in their 'normal' state - nothing extended or stretched. The idler wheel is also in fine condition. It all seems to come down to the ON/OFF switch - why does it move back a little? And what does one do to make the movement firm? I'm pretty certain that none of the levers or the springs are exerting any kind of backward pressure on the switch. So it must be something else.

I'm too much of a mechanical klutz to be successful in dismantling the entire thing, remove rivets, etc. Is there a simpler way of fixing that switch? Incidentally, this is not a much-abused 301, but one that's had minimal use. Any help would be much appreciated.

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Topic - Garrard 301 speed issues - Eddie T 02:10:42 01/31/14 (11)

RE: Garrard 301 speed issues - mbhcid 07:05:31 01/31/14 (4)

Problem solved - Eddie T 01:03:17 02/02/14 (0)

RE: Garrard 301 speed issues - Eddie T 23:33:44 01/31/14 (2)

In case you need a rebuild - mbhcid 05:51:10 02/01/14 (1)

RE: In case you need a rebuild - Eddie T 21:00:38 02/01/14 (0)

RE: Garrard 301 speed issues - frankwm 03:43:32 01/31/14 (1)

RE: Garrard 301 speed issues - Eddie T 23:23:01 01/31/14 (0)

RE: Garrard 301 speed issues - Fred J 03:35:41 01/31/14 (3)

RE: Garrard 301 speed issues - Eddie T 23:16:18 01/31/14 (0)

I doubt the power switch is the issue. - nocoastjazz@gmail.com 06:30:08 01/31/14 (1)

RE: I doubt the power switch is the issue. - Eddie T 23:05:02 01/31/14 (0)

Garrard 301 speed issues

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