New Maplenoll Ariadne owner needing advice

I would highly recommend while you're at it to investigate rebuilding your existing platters (both of you) to heavier platters. Mine is 90# and was a significant improvement in speed stability and bass solidity. The two parameter that need to adjusted to suit this are the oil trough height and the arm height. The oil trough height is adjusted by procuring longer mounting bolts available from any good hardware store. The arm height is adjusted by either the VTA bracket or using longer manifold standoffs.

Oilman, removing the motor was definitely an improvement and not very difficult to accomplish if you're at all handy and have the tools. I can make a mount for you if you like. Perhaps I can work up a design that improves on mine and make three of them. I've considered sourcing a motor and housing from one of the many turntable manufacturers that sue stand-alone motors.

Q : Where do we source 90 LB. lead platters ? If my memory is correct , the last one I recall sold for $1,000 on AG several years ago. They are rare byrds ...

charlie, yep follow the progress every day. Starting to get the itch to tweak some more. I like how the roma has smoothed out all of the nooks and crannies. can't wait to see the finished product

Piedpiper: thanks for your information. I tend to agree that the heavier platter will help with speed control. I will not have any problem with the vta or oil trough since i have already modified those components and they both are easily adjusted. I would love it if you would work up the design for the motor mount. I am looking again at your system to see how to mimic it. Thanks again to both of you for your insight and passion to improve this table

I believe I could make a lead platter with a bit of work, especially if I had one to build up from. IOW, take an existing 50# platter and add a layer of lead by creating a casting form that extends its perimeter and then truing it up on a milling machine. It may even be preferable to simply build up the edge inch or so and leave the inner dimensions. This would only work on the later models that used a higher speed motor and perimeter belt rather than riding the belt on the bearing subplatter which this version would obscure from access.

Re: the motor mount, I'm thinking the easy way would be to use 3" diameter PVC pipe, glue a hard plastic cap into the top with holes for the spindle and mounting bolts, screw another into the bottom with a hole for the wire, and fIll it with lead shot.

Piedpiper: An alternate might be stacking of Rega-type platters with the lead unit(s) ?? Or, if Bob Dilger would come forward , he may have unused foundary casts in need of turning. From observation I believe my lead platter was a foundary cast , no small feat , a challenge to reproduce.