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Help: Records too big for the VPI 16.5

Just bought a used VPI 16 here and it appears to have the 16.5 upgrade (has a grey lid and a swiveling, self adjusting arm on a spring.)
Something strange is happening. I cleaned 30 LPs just fine but today, while brushing, the platter was actually moving around. I lifted the platter off after unscrewing the 3 screws (which were very loose) and exposed the metal sheet with the motor's silver disc attached. The metal had 4 holes BUT NO SCREWS.
I placed 4 screws in to the already drilled holes and everything solid. I threw on a few records but now the records seem too large for the VPI. The wand's black base bezel gets stuck on the LP and cant contact the LP. Do I let the platter roam again? Shave material off the bezel? Seen this before?
ryanlesser
theo's avatar
theo
2,675 posts
 
If I understand you correctly, you are stating that the larger disc that the spring pushes against from beneath is actually contactimg the edge of the LP? Are you sure you have a genuine VPI wand. Although I have never seen anyone else make on with the exception of Walker. I can't imagine that the center hole pin has moved closer to the wand/vacuum port. Are you sure you got everything back in place when you re-installed the platter? Contact Mofimadness, he has an older 16 or 16.5 and knows these things inside and out. He may be able to direct you to a solution.
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,977 posts
 
Sounds like you either put the platter on wrong or somehow the platter has shifted towards the pickup tube. Once you screwed in the missing four screws, that assembly was probably off just enough to shift the whole platter. You might need to redrill those four screw holes to move the platter back to the other side a little. That was probably why the screws had been taken out. Shouldn't be to tough to do.
theo's avatar
theo
2,675 posts
 
One thought now that MoFi has brought it up. Is it possible those 4 holes are drilled off center and is it possible to rotate the plate and refasten it. It may be a
excentric position from the center to the edge. It doesn't sound like you are that far off. What about 1/8" ?
ryanlesser OP
3 posts
 
The only holes under the platter are the original 4 holes on the black surface of the VPI. The platter appears to be solidly fastened to the circular disc on the motor drive. If this is in fact an upgrade, is it possible that the person that did the upgrade put the new wand in too far to the left?

Here is a video of my VPI in action, with a record that shows the problem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB7kDOXrKQw

And here are some pics of the guts of my VPI:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/ryanlesser/127_0061.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/ryanlesser/127_0062.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/ryanlesser/127_0066.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/ryanlesser/127_0060.jpg
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