Will a record weight harm the motor in a direct drive turntable?

@billstevenson I am a weight user over the Platter Spindle Only.

I have a range of metal weights that are ranging from 200g - 1Kgish 

Typical weights make a change to an End Sound, but it is not easy to discern where there is benefit as a result of adding the weight. 

I have tried many configurations for a Weight and today after many trials use a 1Kgish Composite Weight which is approx' 800g SS Metal and then a selection of other materials, with a Felt Base, creating and end weight near 1.1Kg.

I choose this weight in my System and Listening Environment over other configurations used for a Weight and the owned pure metal Weights.

The Composite Weight of choice, discernably tidies up the End Sound in Comparisons to other Weights and when not used, makes a LP Album without the Weight added produce an End Sound that is perceived as being extremely poor in comparison. 

I have no problems accepting the notion adding weights of a certain type can effect the sound, and long analysis may draw the conclusion there is not a betterment be created.

I would really like to see how the Composite Weight of Choice was able to effect the data produced by Analog Magic.

I'm not suggesting it doesn't distort, but what is the distortion that it may be producing looking like, especially in comparison to other weight types more typically used.

I have used record weights and like you have concerns about them damaging my motor and or bearing. So i went to a record clamp like this one years ago and no problems.

https://elusivedisc.com/sota-reflex-clamp-record-clamp/?srsltid=AfmBOorg2XaI4ZprlEztYs4dH6Tzbm9iisUg8GbdhV_7T0rMHZZ_q1yOmrI

@pindac Please forgive my delayed reply, I have been in transit from my Florida home to my New Hampshire home.  I'm answering from memory, can't duplicate results up here.  Anyway, used two weights: VPI and Stillpoints. Two TTs:  VPI HW-40 and Technics SL1200GAE.  Measured distortion change was on the order of a few hundreths a point.  More for the Stillpoints on the Technics TT than the VPI weight.  Very little difference on the VPI TT between the weights although it went up significantly more when I added the periphery ring to perhaps 0.1%.  It is very unlikely that any of this is audible, at least to this mere mortal.  

@billstevenson Thank You for including Florida in the reply, I am always promising myself a revisit to the State, I am a bit sold on the Tampa area and really enjoy hoe a visit during the UK's Winter Period can bring really good spirits to the forefront.

SAD is extinguished before the Hire Car Keys are handed over

Large Bowls of Grouper Nuggets at the Quayside, pure bliss. 

I'm stuck for audio talk after reminding myself what I am once more to miss. 

I have used a clamp and perceived a little better transparency in the sound. Whether that is real or some sort of expectation bias, I do not know.