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VPI Single Motor Flywheel / SDS / Aries 3

I just purchased a new VPI Single Motor flywheel for my Aries 3. I have an SDS. It seems like I get answers a little quicker from this forum than VPI, although I have a call in to them.

Here is my dilemma: When I have the Single Motor Flywheel plugged in to the SDS or the wall outlet, the motor turns the flywheel too slowly and I am several HZ below the 60Hz/33RPM on my SDS. The sound is very slow and clearly under 33 rpm on the platter. The flywheel seems we lubricated and turns easily. The motor is quiet. It's just slow. So slow, I have to turn the SDS up to 65-66 HZ to approach strobe disc accuracy and acceptable sound for 33 rpm. Haven't even tried 45 rpm yet.

The motor is placed within proper distance to the flywheel. It came with two small brown belts for the motor to spin the flywheel and one larger black belt which appears to be the same size as the belt used on the Aries 3 regular 300 rpm motor.

Is this normal? Anyone with VPI single motor flywheels or experience with them that could give me advice would be greatly appreciated.
philb7777
philb7777 OP
401 posts
 
Joe, I agree about the SDS. My Single Motor Flywheel was sent with a different pulley (I think made for people without SDS).

Here is a pic of it and my current setup:

http://www.me.com/gallery/#100009

Mike from VPI sent me the HRX pulley that is shown in your pic from your previous post.

I wanting to replace it, but no instructions were sent on how to. Of course I could wait until Monday and shoot Mike another email, but I'm hoping someone out there has replaced a pulley on a VPI motor and can give me some advice.
philb7777 OP
401 posts
 
Sorry, link doesn't work. Its the pulley that has two circumferences, with a little larger on bottom for 45 rpm play.
philb7777 OP
401 posts
 
Here is a pic of my current set up with a link that works:

http://s854.photobucket.com/albums/ab101/philb7777/?action=view¤t=IMG_4509.jpg
tobes's avatar
tobes
436 posts
 
Philb7777, I haven't got your pulley but I think you'll find 2 hex grub screws on either side of the pulley near the bottom.

Simply loosen the hex screws and the pulley will slide off. Put in the replacement pulley and evenly tighten up the grub screws on the new pulley.

Regarding the SDS voltage.
I use the original 20lb(?) acrylic/lead TNT platter with the single motor/flywheel. I also used two belts between the motor and flywheel and 2 belts between the flywheel and platter - because it sounds better IMO. However, turning that heavy flywheel, platter and 4 belts is perhaps too much for the single motor used at 72V (which no doubt reduces the torque of the motor). The motor will do it, but some bass impact and speed appears to be lost. This may be why Harry went to the dual motor setup with the Scoutmaster/TNT-6/HRX.

In any case, I use the SDS set to 115V with my single motor/flywheel setup and find the sound much 'snappier'. I can't detect any increase in noise - if anything the the motor appears to be running smoother (to the finger test).
It may be worthwhile trying the higher voltage settings on the SDS to see if you derive any benefits.

System Details
philb7777 OP
401 posts
 
Thanks for the info Tobes. It is a 2mm allen wrench. The screws have a green nylon tip. I replaced my dual sized pulley with the HRX one and it now works perfectly. My Hz required for 33 rpm is 60 with two belts and 45 rpm is 80.75 with two belts. I may experiment with one belt as Mike from VPI said it would be less noisy. That said, my speed is rock solid and dead on, and the music to my ears is back to the original sound of the regular 300 rpm motor, yet more air, more dynamics and slightly lower noise floor. Images are more rock solid. Subtle improvements over what was already fantastic, but you know us audiophiles, always looking for more....

Thanks a bunch for everyone's feedback, responses and help. This is a great community and I'm thankful for it.
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