Pionner PL-516 - Motor Problems

[Bob in STL]

Thanks Bob! I really appreciate your advice. The belt is probably only 18-24 months old and is pretty snug around the platter but I'll get a new one when I can. Every little helps!

I'll keep going with the oil on the motor to get it running smoothly. Doesn't sound too complex to oil it from the bottom, so will give that one a go too! Attack it from both ends!! It's probably never had any oil in it's life so I imagine it's well overdue!


The platter spins great still. When the belt isn't around the motor pulley the platter spins forever. When I get some time to do it properly I'll give a good clean and re-oil too. I'm guessing I can use the same Sewing Machine Oil I've used on the motor for the spindle, yeah?

I'll report back once I've had a chance to work on it some more...

Thanks again!

If the platter spins as it should then I would leave that part alone. Don't fix things that are working is my motto. Maybe one drop on the spindle, then work it in and done.

If the belt is that new it is probably ok as well. The belt that came on mine looked ok but turned out to be very stretched out. I was surprised at how much tighter the new belt fits. Works great now though.

Yes - check the bottom of the motor for another place to oil and put it in a little at a time. Usually there is another small hole on the motor for oil. Don't drench it either. One drop at a time, give it a chance to work in. Run the motor to work it in. Keep the excess wiped up.

When you work from the bottom secure the tonearm. I lock the tone arm and then use a twist tie to make sure the arm does not come loose. You can make a stand out of four soup cans so that when you flip the TT over you have a stable place to put it. Be careful, work slow, and be thorough.

Whilwe you are in there make sure you clean up any dirt and dust.

You will get it.

Bob

[vincitsemper]

Bob is absolutely right, the motor's bottom bearing could also do with lubrication.
Unfotunately I have never opened a PL-516, but if the motor is anything like the one on the PL12D it would require you taking it apart to access the bottom bearing.

I still think it would be worthwhile to clean and lubricate the platter's spindle, though. It would take a maximum of half an hour and, in my view, a necessary part to service after at least two decades of use.

Cheers,

Victor.

[rock_dude86]

Thanks guys - I really appreciate all of your help!

I've been away this weekend, but I'll try and get round to working on it soon. I'll definitely make sure to secure the tone-arm, and will remove the head shell / cartridge / stylus from the end to make sure no damage happens to that during my tinkering!!

I'll keep you all posted on my progress...

[rock_dude86]

Okay so after tinkering I've got the turntable up and running again, only problem now is that the speed seems to fluctuate a lot speeding up and slowing down.

When I had the top off, I did tweak the speed potentiometers on the circuit board as it was running a little slow so turned them to speed up both the 33 and 45 rpm speeds. Now the turntable is running pretty well but just the speed seems to fluctuate from fast to slow and if I adjust it with the fine tune speed control knob it'll sit steady for a few seconds, then will go the other way (either fast or slow depending on which way I just adjusted it!)

Would this be solved by getting a new belt, or is there something else that needs adjusting?

[vincitsemper]

The fine adjustment control may need a clean, you can buy something called de-oxit to do that.

Messing around with the electronic settings may not be a good idea till you know the switches are clean and the right belt fitted.

Have you cleaned and lubricated the platter's spindle? If not this is where the problem might be.

My rule of thumb is to leave the electronics well alone, so far I have never had to ajust any potentiometers.

Good luck,

Victor.

[SteC]

I had similar issues with my Pl-516. I have now solved them completely by doing 2 things:

1 Lubing the motor
This requires you to take apart the motor assembly, as pouring some oil into the shaft does not get the oil to the actual top bearing. The motor itself is inside the casing, so the only way of effectively lubricating the motor is taking it apart. The only thing you have to pay attention to is the brushes of the motor, located at the motor bottom. When you put it back together, you have to make sure that they are on either side of the axle (otherwise your motor won't spin).

Mine had also a lot of dust in the bearings, so they really needed cleaning.

1 the power PCB
There is a power PCB under the platter. To access it, you have to remove the platter and the metal cover under it. I have replaced the electrolytic capacitors on them (make sure you solder the new ones in the right way around). I have also cleaned the 2 speed adjustment pots with contacta.

I have not cleaned the velocity setting on the tonearm assembly, and that seems OK for now