Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Turntable working on and off

As others have said, you need to clean and lube the TT. I'm sure the bearing has a ton of grime in there after 10 years. I clean and lube mine every few months. 

You may also have a power supply that is going out, Pro-Ject makes a "high power" replacement, it's like $50. 

Of course there is a lot of people complain about TT issues. This is an entry level TT, that is sold almost everywhere, and it touted for being someones first TT. Most people have no idea how much work playing records is. That analog things need more maintenance and love. My first TT was a Debut Carbon EVO, loved that TT, kept it for about a year before upgrading to a much better one, that cost over 3x the EVO. Now my kid has the EVO, we are sharing out love of music and records. 

Don't knock entry level components, they are the gateway, and a great place to learn.

@mswale - that's terrific. Thank you!

I've been searching online and on YouTube for good tutorials on how to care for a TT, but not coming up w/ anything too good. It's all about how to set up a TT.

For example, I don't know to properly clean the grime from the bearing, as well as knowing what type of regular maintenance should be done.

Can you point me to an article, site or video that will fill me in?

Yes, this entry level TT sounds really good to me, and has sparked my vinyl listening and collecting a lot. I will upgrade when the time is right, but as always there is a cue of things and projects to spend $ on, and a new TT is not top of the list now. But, I appreciate what you said. I upgraded the cartridge about a year ago and love it.

@kbmr 

Not sure if there are any places that show how to clean and maintain TT's. First get your supplies...

1. q-tips or other swabers to clean out the bearing and other little areas

2. Glass cleaner, furniture cleaner, isopropyl alcohol.

3. 2-3 microfiber towels, maybe some paper towels

4. compressed air

Remove the TT cover, put it aside

remove the main platter, put aside,

remove belt, try not to touch it much with your hands, put it aside

remove sub platter, put aside

Spray the TT deck off with compressed air. Then take a MF towel, spray with cleaner, clean the entire deck.

see, that little hole where the sub plater went into? blow some compressed air in there, then take your swab, dip in the iso, clean that area. Might have to do it 2-3 times till the swab is clean. Then use a naked clean swab to get anything left over. Blow in more compressed air. Then use the paper towel with some iso on it to clean the sub platter shaft, also the sides where the belt goes. You can also clean off the belt gear on the motor.

Use a little bit of lube on the shaft, and a little bit of lube on a swab, swab the bearing. Insert the sub plater. It might hang in the air when lubed, I "spin" it on, it should spin very freely, and slowly go down into position. 

Reinstall belt, try not to paw it too much 

Clean the platter on both sides, reinstall

Take the compressed air, and blow out the tonearm bearings, try to put a tube on the compressed air, to get into the little areas. 

Take your glass cleaner, spray the other MF towel, clean the dust cover, reinstall

Then check all the settings on the tonearm. Anti-skate might be off, as well as tracking force. If you haven't in a while, might as well clean the needle. A blast of compressed air is good, but not too close, and do it from the back forward. Then use your needle brush. 

Re-lube the bearing every few months. But always clean it first. 

@mswale thank you! Great, easy, simple directions. Fantastic.

You've helped me to up my game, and I appreciate it.

I will do all of this as soon as the lube I ordered arrives. Will be here in a day or two.

You rock!

@msale - I want to thank you, again for writing out those directions for cleaning the turntable.

I finally got to it last night.

OMGosh, I went through 10 or so Q-Tips in cleaning it out. But it's good now, and after I put the fresh lubricant on and placed the inner platter, it spun and spun freely. Terrific.

Actually, I had realized that just taking it out a couple of times and re-placing it is what had freed it up enough to work for a little while. That's why it was working on and off. So - hopefully the motor hasn't been too stressed and it should run for a good while. I have plenty of other things to spend money on rather than a new TT at this point. And it sounds damn good.

I was befuddled.

You set me straight. And all is cost me was $32 to buy the proper lubricant. Probably didn't even need to spend that amount.

Much appreciated.