Nude Turntable Project

Dear victor tt 101 owners:

Mine is currently at a shop and I'd like to return the table to its original condition, but unfortunately previous owners seemed to have messed with it. In particular,

1: the bearing seal has been opened even though the manual asserts that it does not require lubrication. Since it has been compromised already, I'm looking to see what kind of lubrication I should use. Evidently, there is a distinction between grease and oil. Should I care? The guy who runs the kenwood l07d site says the best oil for that table is Redline pure synthetic 20 weight racing oil. Anyone care to offer an opinion on this? I literally don't know a single thing about this matter. I see, Aigenga, that you have opened up the bearing casing and used Mobil 1. Was there a reason for that choice?

2. In the service manual, it shows a round 'rubber sheet' (part 45_ that sits below the platter (surrounding the motor casing). Does everyone have that piece? Mine doesn't. If yours has it, can you do me a favor and measure the thickness. I'll try to rig something. Aigenga: you note above that you cut some 3m material to place under the platter (you linked to a pic of it). Did you replace the stock rubber sheet with the 3m?

thanks.

Hi Banquo,
My TT-101 appears to be original and untampered with?
HEREis a photo of the rubber sheet (part 45) glued to the underside of the platter. It appears to be approx. 1mm thick?

Regards

I was wondering how the sheet was placed. So, it's glued. Thanks, Halcro!

Halcro: you wrote,

It is now possible for me to design a circular aluminium frame cut and welded out of 10mm thick flats into which I can just 'drop' the Victor.

I think this guy 'stole' your idea. Looks very cool.

Banquo,
I have the sheet under the platter as Halcro described. I also covered the entire interior of the chassis with the 3m product as I described along with the underside of the rim (which is how I describe the silver ring that the controls are on), and of course 80% of the tin can at the bottom. I couldn't be happier with that work.

Another thing that I did more recently is to put steel/neoprene washers between the motor and the chassis. I realized that the chassis is actually a plinth of sorts as the motor and bearing are self-contained and supported by the chassis. So the table isn't really nude after all.
The new washers replace a double layer of steel and copper washers that were there. Most TT motors that reside inside a plinth (both idlers and belts) are shock mounted, now mine is too. If anyone wants instructions on how to do this, let me know. Highly recommended.

As for your open bearing area, no big deal - I recently reopened mine to measure the ball bearing so I can replace it with a ceramic ball (it is 4mm - considerably smaller than I remembered). I refilled it with Mobil One. I don't think it matters which synthetic oil you chose - any good one will run in a car engine for 10 - 15,000 miles without breaking down so a turntable won't ever effect it.

My TT-101 is running better than ever. Starts right up from a long hiatus. Don't ask me why. Makes me smile.