Technics SP-10 mkII speed adjustment question


Hi,

I'm on my way to complete my Technics SP-10 mkII project. Actually, a friend of mine, a professionnal audio technician, is working to upgrade the PSU, which is done but a small adjustment on the speed must be done and he need some cue on this issue.

We already asked Bill Thalmann, Artisan Fidelity and Oswald Mill audio. Plus, I'll post on DIY Audio today. We'd like to get the answer as quickly as possible to finalized this for the week-end. Hope someone on Audiogon can help.

Here's the message from my technician:

"Hello,

I'm an electronic technician and I do repair for audio equipments, vintage, hifi pro and more. I have a client here that brought me his turntable Technics Sp-10 MKII to fixed. I have a little question about it and he gave me your email because he pretended that you have some experience with this kind of materiel. So, hope that you can response my technical question.

I replaced all capacitors in the power supply and a big solder job. I checked for defect solders or capacitors on the circuit boards inside the turntable and I tied to do the adjustments . Everything seem good right now, the turntable work fine. I tried do do the period adjustment with the VR101 and VR102 potentiometers like in the service manual ( see attachment, Period adjustment method). When I looked the stroboscope at the front of the turntable, It's pretty stable but I can see a tiny rumble at 33 1/2 and 78 speed. 45 is the more stable speed for the stroboscope. So, I fixed the phase reference with T1 at 18us of period and I try to do the period adjustment at the point test T and S on the board with the O point for reference. When I put my scope probe on the T point, I can observe the stroboscope running. It is not stable at all. If I pull off my probe, the stroboscope is stable again. So When I have the 2 probes at point S an T at the same time to do the adjustment, it's impossible to fixed the wave T because it going right to the left on my scope. When I turned the VR101, the T wave going faster or slower but never stable. I tried to ground lift my scope, plug it into the same power bar and try to pull off the reference at the O point. I can't have a setup that I can see a stable T wave in my scope with the one that I can do the right adjustment. Why? Is there a problem with the turntable or maybe it's a incorrect probe or ground setup? Please let me know what you think.

Best regards"

Thanks for help,

Sébastien
128x128sebastienl
Lewm,

Sonofjim has not heard the Krebs mods. His comment about Bill Thalmann mods and Dobbins mods referred to electronics.

There are (to my knowledge) only two people capable of doing the Krebs mod. Richard Krebs in NZ and Bill Thalmann in USA.

I had Richard in my home for a week, I'm pretty sure this information is accurate.

I have NO financial connection whatsoever to either of these mods or shops other than being friends with both.
Albert
Thank you for clarifying this. You are quite correct, only Bill and I know how to do the Krebs upgrade.
Dear Richard and Albert, As you both know, Bill Thalmann would be the one to upgrade my Mk3 with the Krebs mods. (Until 2 days ago, I did not know Mr. Krebs' identity. Nor did I know enough to credit him; now I do.) Bill's shop is about 30 minutes drive from my front door. Perhaps I was misunderstood to have stated that Dobbins does the Krebs mod. I only meant to say that it would appear that both approaches (Dobbins and Krebs) are targeting the same issues as regards the operation of the Mk3 motor and servo system. I fully realize the methods may be very different. I am curious to learn more about the specifics of the Krebs mod, as Richard knows from our recent private correspondence.
I guess I will ask another question and also bump this thread. Albert, did you have any truly objective way to know that the Krebs mods made a significant improvement in your Mk3's performance? Or are you reporting a subjective impression, which is perfectly OK?
Lewm, if you are looking to potentially use a Dobbins plinth for your Mk3 you can check out my add for Mike Lavignes original plinth.