Double Pulley Assembly

by **gabriel1998** » 05 Jul 2011 16:17

bacobits wrote:Aww it's not that bad. I think it's shitty of Rega using wood screws on the tonearm 3 point mounting and no set screw on the pulley. Hell, why do some of the Rega's have plastic pulleys anyway?

There are too many different sub-platters out there. Michael also makes one. If you look at the GT offerings the difference of the Reference and Deluxe models are the Delrin tabs. The Deluxe model has about 1/16 tabs machined in to raise the platter. Is this hub a bit thicker to keep the original VTA height for the platter? I didn't check it when I had one here but more than likely it is or higher on the spindle to adjust. SO I would say on all the Sub-platters there could be at least 3/32" adjustment necessary on that Pulley. That is about the total I took mine down.

After adjusting mine shorter and reinstalling I noticed a tick noise from the motor. The Pulley was too low on the motor shaft. I took it up a bit and it is perfectly silent now.

Also, the left motor attaching screw is slotted for belt adjustment I presume. The belts are adjusted to just kiss that sub-platter and not stretch at all. If you see a stretch on the belts when installing the Pulley they may be too tight and the motor should be pushed in a little. This adjustment was this way before I took the motor all apart. Also don't tighten too much either of the screws. Just enough to lock the motor in place. It does sound better.

Some posters here have ordered Michael's motor Isolation piece. I'm interested in how it looks in set up and how it sounds.

Sorry for being long winded, but if your doing this pulley set up on a P5 especially, you should know what you're up against.

But, it sounds damn good!!!!

Den

When you buy a upgrade like this, it should be plug in play. Period. If you email the guy and he says, Yeah it works with your Turntable but than it doesn't, than what? What if you are not handy with tools? Its the little things and attention to details that makes all the difference. Does your allen bolt stick out and is not flush with the pulley? Look at it when it spins and tell me its not annoying. I'm thinking about shaving that allen key bolt down also. I wish groovetracer can put out this product. Frank you listening?

and The sound? Oh yeah!! its worth it.

by **bacobits** » 05 Jul 2011 16:52

Agreed! But if you have a turntable in the first place most of us are a bit handy, just to run it, is hands on especially cartridge setup. There are not many places that will do it or even carry turntables. So, we revert to boards like this and there is just variables involved.

Hey, I'm easy.

Your funny. The grub screw holding the pulley drives you nuts? I can't see mine, it's in the back of the sub-platter. My GT Acrylic Platter does not allow me to see the sub-platter or pulley. The glass platter does. The set screw on the pulley does stick out a hair.

I will E Mail Frank. (Done)

Den

by **gabriel1998** » 05 Jul 2011 19:25

bacobits wrote:Agreed! But if you have a turntable in the first place most of us are a bit handy,

I guess the prerequisite to cut steel is owning a Turntable

bacobits wrote:Your funny. The grub screw holding the pulley drives you nuts? I can't see mine, it's in the back of the sub-platter. My GT Acrylic Platter does not allow me to see the sub-platter or pulley. The glass platter does. The set screw on the pulley does stick out a hair.

I will E Mail Frank. (Done)

Den

it reminds me when I used to put baseball cards in the spokes of my bike.

the double pulley lowered my floor noise and add abit more swing and slam. Here is a video with the DP. There is no postprocessing of the sounds, you can still hear the hiss from the hi-8 camera. Its not even close to what you experience in my Living room but you can get an idea. Cheers

http://www.youtube.com/user/Migkiller19 ... 6wC_7Rb5Bk

by **Michael Lim** » 06 Jul 2011 00:47

Hi Gabriel1998,

I am sorry that my little pulley had caused you so much trouble. It was machined based on the plastic pulley I had here. Thanks for the feedback from both you and bacobits which surely would enable me to make adjustments for the new units.

As for the set screw, I have intentionally made it slightly protruding so as to compensate for the loss in mass of the allen key hole in order that it balances up.

Cheers!

Michael

by **gabriel1998** » 06 Jul 2011 02:03

Michael Lim wrote:Hi Gabriel1998,

I am sorry that my little pulley had caused you so much trouble. It was machined based on the plastic pulley I had here. Thanks for the feedback from both you and bacobits which surely would enable me to make adjustments for the new units.

As for the set screw, I have intentionally made it slightly protruding so as to compensate for the loss in mass of the allen key hole in order that it balances up.

Cheers!

Michael

Hi Michael,

Like baco said, For guys like us that like tinkering around, its no biggy whatsoever but for people who don't than it might be a problem. I'm always soldering, cutting something

Cheers!!

by **Jpittman2** » 09 Jul 2011 00:45

Just rec'd my pulley from Mr Lim.....it took approx. 1 month from Malaysia to Michigan, USA.
Preliminary listening indicates it was worth the wait.
Better pitch stability and better delineation of instruments and vocalists within the soundstage.
Have Rega P25, removal of plastic stock pulley and installation of Mr Lim's pulley was a BREEZE.
Recommend this as a very cost effective upgrade and haven't even put the white belts on yet.
If you are on the fence on this upgrade.....just do it!

by **watercourse** » 09 Jul 2011 02:59

I'm waiting for my double pulley and motor isolation base to arrive. Went out last week from Michael. I'll post pics when I get them installed in a month or so.
My unmolested stock motor makes squeaking sounds right now, so I'm thinking that the double pulley change is a good time to give the motor a cleaning and checking up.
For those folks who have gotten the white belt upgrade: Did the belt need time to break in? Kinda seems like I lost some bass there when I installed the white belt last night.
Wilson

by **nabil** » 09 Jul 2011 14:45

I received my pulley a few days ago and after some initial trepidation I installed it yesterday (I was afraid that I might need to lower the motor .1" to make the pulley line up with the sub-platter). All went well and the pulley fit into place without any alterations to my P25.

Very, very easy installation-took me all of 5 minutes. I put on my two new white belts and after letting it run in for a few hours, sat down to do some critical listening. Several things immediately stood out: imaging is more stable, increasing in both width and depth, the sound is tauter without being constrained, musical timbres are more clearly defined allowing for subtle, but clearly audible, differentiation between similar instruments. (example: first and second violins in a string quartet). Substantial improvement is all I can say.

Michael Lam is a great guy and if his double pulley is any indication, his products are top flight too.

Bill

by **gabriel1998** » 09 Jul 2011 18:36

Jpittman2 and Nabil.

You guys didn't have to shave any of the pulley to fit the P25? he must of sent you guys shorter ones.

by **bacobits** » 09 Jul 2011 19:49

What Sub-Platters are they using? I don't think Michael shortened these because this came up when they were shipped and in transit. The P25 sub may measure a bit different. Maybe that would make Michael resist making 2 different length pulleys?

As they say it is worth the change over.

Den

by **Jpittman2** » 09 Jul 2011 20:30

My P25 has the GT subplatter and the GT acrylic platter....I will most likely try to shorten mine at some point in the future.
My belts could ride a little lower and I'd be happier....but not sure that would make it sound any better and the belts stay on and pitch is improved.
I waited almost a month for mine....so when it came I couldn't wait to try it........will most likely futz with it later and probably take too much off and have to order another one!

by **gabriel1998** » 09 Jul 2011 20:54

bacobits wrote:What Sub-Platters are they using? I don't think Michael shortened these because this came up when they were shipped and in transit. The P25 sub may measure a bit different. Maybe that would make Michael resist making 2 different length pulleys?

As they say it is worth the change over.

Den

Groovetracer Reference with the glass platter.

by **nabil** » 09 Jul 2011 20:58

gabriel1998 wrote:Jpittman2 and Nabil.

You guys didn't have to shave any of the pulley to fit the P25? he must of sent you guys shorter ones.

Hi gabriel1998

I received an email from Michael Lam about a week ago warning me that I might have to lower the motor .1" to get the belts to line up correctly. But mine fit right on with no adjustments necessary. The fact that he emailed me with a warning suggests that he didn't send me a 'special' shorter pulley. In fact there is approximately 3mm between the bottom of Lam's pulley and the plinth-lots of room.

by **gabriel1998** » 09 Jul 2011 21:10

nabil wrote:
gabriel1998 wrote:Jpittman2 and Nabil.

You guys didn't have to shave any of the pulley to fit the P25? he must of sent you guys shorter ones.

Hi gabriel1998

I received an email from Michael Lam about a week ago warning me that I might have to lower the motor .1" to get the belts to line up correctly. But mine fit right on with no adjustments necessary. The fact that he emailed me with a warning suggests that he didn't send me a 'special' shorter pulley. In fact there is approximately 3mm between the bottom of Lam's pulley and the plinth-lots of room.

WOW. mine didn't fit at all. I'll post a picture on how much I had to shave off. Mine sits almost perfectly on center. I posted a pic acouple post ago.