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Linn LP12 Bearing Lube

A question for LP12 owners who have replaced their bearing lubricant. I have an early LP12 (1978 or 79, bearing with silver housing and white liner), and need to put new lube in the bearing (it is absolutely dry, I just discovered!).

Several hours (!) of searching various Linn threads proves that you can find diametrically opposed recommendations for anything! The recommended lube, of course, comes from Linn, but the U.S. importer, Spinning Dog Records, is out of stock, and doesn't know when new stock will arrive. The recommendations for alternatives in various threads run from "spindle oil" which is very thin (according to one thread, the Linn oil is "velocite #6 spindle oil") to the opposite, 80 weight gear oil, which is pretty thick, and various synthetic motor oils in between.

So, turning to my trusted A'gon-ites, has anyone who owns a Linn tried any alternative, and what are your recommendations and experiences? Thanks! (If I'm lucky, the responses will at least be consistent...)
palewin
theo's avatar
theo
2,665 posts
 
Contact Rick at Audioalternative.com, he is a LP12 Guru. Anything you need from oil, to mats, belts or full tune up, Rick is the best. He has my LP12 sounding as good as it can without adding more upgrades.
rdavwhitaker
173 posts
 
I have an LP12, and have used Singer sewing machine oil as the lubricant on the bearing for years (got the suggestion from another long-time LP12 owner). It works fine.
palewin OP
58 posts
 
Stan & Everyone Else Who Has Responded: The saga has reached a good conclusion, with some discoveries along the way.

First, Stan is (unfortunately) correct, Spinning Dog is indeed going out of business. I spoke with them on the phone today, after emailing them over the weekend. Two things happened. First, very appropriate for the season, Kelly found one last vial of Linn black oil, which is now on its way. She also provided a recommendation for the future, Stan Zedine (if I have the spelling correct), at Shelley's Stereo & Video (California), 818-716-8500. She said that they have a good stock of Linn parts, and she has been referring customers to them.

I also got two other alternative recommendations, first from Theo's post above, Rick at Audioalternative.com (Colorado) , and from AA, Thomas at Nokturne Audio (Michigan). Since Kelly came to my rescue, I didn't have to use either of these, they were next on my list.

I also tried two contacts closer to my home in NJ, but neither the Linn dealer in the state, nor the U.S. distributor, TC Group in Buffalo, NY, has gotten back to me yet (left voice mails with both).
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