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VPI Scout running FAST...help?

Ladies and Gentlemen-

For your consideration, I present my very first world but very real audio problem.

Proud (sorta) second owner of a VPI Scout One. 11.5 Acrylic platter, 600rpm motor. Approx 3 years old, appears very little previous use.

At the present, the table is running at a steady and consistant speed of 34.6 and 47.1. I have tested the speeds using my ears (songs sound too fast), a strobe, the old fashioned counting RPM's over a 3 minute period, and even so far as to have a friend bring over a centerfuge calibrator from a medical lab. So I am certain that these are the speeds it is presently running.

Things I think I have ruled out:

Belt is new, but not brand new

Table is on a flat, level surface

Pulley is attached soundly in the motor

The reported speeds are at the top "rung" of the pulleys, I am aware that the higher up the pulley the belt is, the slower the platter turns.

Outlet power is ok, I have tested the table on multiple outlets and it is the same, also, my older Pro-ject table ran a consistant 33.5 on the very same outlet.

This is where I run out of ideas. I have placed an e-mail and call to VPI, but have not heard back yet. Anyone have any ideas? Goin crazy here...

Thanks in advance-
thebambino
brf
1,715 posts
 
Is the 11.5 inch platter standard for the Scout? It sound like you have a motor pulley designed for VPI's 12 inch platter or the pulley is out of spec. You have a couple of options. Replace the out of spec pulley for a 11.5 platter pulley or upgrade the motor to a 300 rpm motor which comes with a new larger pulley. Don't forget to mention to vpi that you have the 11.5 inch platter.
thebambino OP
19 posts
 
The 11.5 platter was standard on the original Scout. I have mentioned this to VPI, but will make sure they are aware when they return my email...thanks for the heads up.
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
Brf is correct, there is something amiss with the geometry of your set up. VPI's motors are designed to run in multiples of the 60 Hz coming out of the wall so it unlikely to be motor RPM. It must be incorrect motor, pulley or platter.
thebambino OP
19 posts
 
Thanks BRF- I agree. It's gotta be either the motor running too fast (faulty motor), the pulley is designed for the 12" platter (most likely I think) or possibly the platter was switched at some point(most unlikely)

Thanks again, hopefully I can get ahold of someone at VPI soon, I need my LP fix...
dtc's avatar
dtc
1,047 posts
 
For reference, with the 600 rpm motor, I was at the very top of the pulley to get 33.3. When I changed to the 300 rpm motor I got much better speed control.

The 600 rpm motor uses a pretty small pulley. The 300 rpm motor uses a significantly larger pulley. For reference, my 300 rpm pulley is 1 and 1/4 inches across the top. The 600 rpm pulley is significantly smaller. Do you have the right pulley? I believe there is also a different pulley for the 12" platter versus the 11.5" pulley.

When using the 300 rpm motor, a capacitor needs to be changed. Is it possible that the original owner changed the capacitor?

If possible, I would ask the original owner if they had made any changes to the motor, capacitor, pulley or platter.

It sounds like you may have the wrong pulley. I would ask VPI to send you the right pulley for your platter/motor. It may be that the setup has never been right.

You are not the first to have this problem. Rest assured, you will get it right.
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