VPI motor - upgrade to 300 rpm?

Mark, sorry for not answering. I am ordering a 300 rpm motor and a new pulley from vpi, with the lower groove 10 percent larger than the upper groove, for a silk string. The reason I do this is, mainly, slight speed or pitch variations. For some reason, this problem comes and goes a bit, it is actually less now (having changed back to a clear belt, older type). The player rests on a complex arrangement - Black magic cones, Bright Star sandbox (split top, for the Samas), and even three small bike tyres under the sandbox (the air actually helps). Still using the springs, perhaps Tenderfeet would be better. As for the rest of the chain, it should be good enough (Titan i p-up, Sme V arm, Aesthetix Io preamp, Krell 600 amp, Dynaudio consequence speakers).

o_holter, did you ever get the 300rpm motor set up on the 19?  I have been having a lot of interest in doing this but everyone I talk to about it at vpi seems to discourage it.

Four things to look at:
1. Early 600 rpm SAMA came with a flywheel.  It looks like a large stainless steel washer that slides over the motor spindle.  VPI stopped using it at some point because it wobbles causing speed variations, flutter and rumble.  If your SAMA has one ditch it.

2.  Worn belts will cause speed fluctuations.  Don't get a third party belt.  Only a few dollars more to get the VPI belt.

3.  Dirty or dry platter bearing will cause speed fluctuations.  Clean it out with alcohol and q tips and oil it sparingly with a high quality oil.  I like sewing machine oil.

4.  I've had a couple generations of the VPI speed controllers (SDS) and was never pleased with any of them.  I now use a Phoenix Engineering Eagle and Roadrunner.  They keep speed dead on to within about .004.  Unfortunately Phoenix recently went out of business but if you can find the pair used for a decent price they are great.