Someone that can recap/refurbish/recalibrate a direct drive turntable motor?


My daily driver is a JVC TT-81 in the dual tonearm JVC plinth, but lately it's been pretty flaky, e.g. noticeable flutter, along with an occasional speed runaway and strobe not reporting correctly even though the speed is clearly close. Pretty sure it's never had service so I'm looking for someone to do the work. I scoured the forums and only came up with one place (Fidelis Analog) that appears to be currently in business. Bill Thalmann used to be The Guy but Music Technology looks to be out of business now.

Does anyone here know of shops that still do this kind of work?

armstrod

If being confident about Rotation Speed is important to you, investing in a strobe not controlled by the Mains Power will offer improved readings.

A dedicated Strobe such as the Key Strobe will give peace of mind.

I am not suggesting the following is something you are experiencing, it is made known to show how a dedicated strobe can be an additional value as a speed measure tool. 

The strobe will also have the capability to show anomalies, where further investigation has for myself in the past, proven Platter Spindle Bearing Wear was present and a eccentric rotation was the result, the strobe was capable of showing the fluctuations in speed. A friend who specialises in refurbishing DD TT's has discovered many TT's with Platter Bearing Wear using this same method. For those who use his service, the option of having the Bearing rebuilt using modern materials, machined to extremely tight tolerances and bespoke produced suit each Spindle/Housing Interface. The end product is one where no more metal on metal is able to occur at the Spindle/Bush - Spindle/Ball-Thrust Pad interfaces.

This type of bearing mod' has become quite popular and for those that can swap out a bearing housing reasonably easy, there are many adopting this approach to utilising a modern bearing design.

DD TT's are a little more difficult, but this is a modification very much worthwhile investigating. 

 

 

pindac,

I'm interested in anything that can improve my motor. Is your friend currently taking new business?

Fidelis Analog is the only game in town. If JP ( the proprietor) will agree to work on the TT81, go for it. There is no second best.

By the way, the problem most likely resides in the servo mechanism, not in the motor. 

I'm UK based, their is a Member of the Forum Lenco Heaven and DIY Audio who's user name is 'BillWojo'. I believe he is residing in the US and is very well versed on TT's from this Brand and a selection of other Vintage Japanese TT's.

I would also include somebody who is not a business in any inquiries to be made, it is not strange for a proprietor of a Commercial entity to not have made discoveries they charge for as a result of enthusiasts publicly sharing information.

Most Bearing modifications and replacements that are offered be a Commercial entity are only available as a result of what has been learnt from investigating forums where DIY enthusiasts are offering up information about their undertaking the servicing or additional engineering required to improve / modify these. mechanical devices. 

The TT 81 is a TT that is very worthy as a donor to undergo a modifications.  

   

Pindac, as I understand it, the OP has a TT81 with speed issues. He needs someone who is expert with the servo mechanisms of vintage Japanese DD turntables. In the USA, that person is JP Jones at Fidelis Analog. He doesn’t necessarily need a new bearing or even Panzerholz.