RC 121/MKii last disk shut off problem.

[sean21228]

I'm new to this forum and rather new to the vinyl world. I have 4 Garrards now (love Garrard so far) and my RC121/Mkii is giving me problems. I tore it down, cleaned it, lubed it, reassembled it. It was working fine, shutting off after the end of the last record, after I adjusted the sideways screw off the switch at the base of the "platter's spindle plate" if you will. I Theb removed that plate and spindle as to have access to the platter bearing so that I could oil it (I didn't get it oiled too well the first time) and after reassembling I had some assembly issues, thatbI was able to work out. It now works completely again, except it will replay the last 30 seconds or so of the last disk over and over, until manually stopped. I've tried to adjust that screw again, but to no avail. Any suggestions? I've searched the forum a bit and couldn't find a lot about the RC121 yet alone, my particular problem.

[LPfan]

Welcome to VE.

You can download the RC120 service manual from the library.
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/emi/rc120-4h.shtml

This has the same mech as the 121. Everything is same except the tonearm that has a detachable headshell in case of the 121.

Regards,

LPfan

[sean21228]

Ty Lpfan. I downloaded the manual, and it does discuss the mechanics, but to be honest, the RC 120 looks to only share the spindle design with the 121, the rest of the mechanics of the 120 look a lot more like that found on the RC 88/4 that I have. The selector mechanics are different and as such, the rest of the system is build to work with them. I'm noticing that Garrard didn't share much between there tables. They could have saved a lot of money if they would have. But, that is what makes them fun for me. They all achieve generally the same goal, but in no where near the same fashion. Lol

[Steerpike_jhb]

By the last 30 seconds, do you mean the tone arm swings all the way to its rest, then returns to the centre of the disc?

The 121-2 use a swing arm to detect record size, and if that arm moves all the way over to touch the over-arm (the manual arm that stabilises the stack), then it should shut off. The interlock that keeps the tone arm at its rest position requires that the tone arm moves ever so slightly further to the right than its rest position - this happens just about the time the record drops.

Try running it at 16rpm - so its all slowed down - then as the tone arm moves to its right-most position, pull it a little further by hand (maybe 5mm) then let go, you should hear a soft click, and the arm will lower onto the rest. Unfortunately my 121s are in storage right now so I can't look at them and tell you exactly which lever is out of alignment.

Other than the start & stop levers and links, the 121 is very similar to the 209 and 210 in its automatics and components.

[sean21228]

Well, I did manage to get it working again, but I don't know that it was the proper way at all.
I adjusted the over-arm do thatbit could swing all the way over and when it came into contact with the spindle, its at the end of its horizontal sweep and then goes all the way down. When it (the over-arm) was all the way down the size checker would hit the over-arm with the broarder, lower section of the plastic "flag." It was running as steerpike mentions, the tone arm would go just past its rest, the return to the center of the disk. Then I adjusted the over-arm again so that it could slide all the way back down on its inner position, but just down slightly. This allowed the size checker to make contact with the over-arm on a higher, narrow part of the plastic flag. That then allowed the size checker to move in just a couple mils more, shutting it off.

[Steerpike_jhb]

Ahh, all's well that ends well!
The 121 is a very solid changer, yet not too rough on records. Nice big 14 watt motor too!
I think they would do well in a solid plinth, dispensing with those conical suspension springs.

[sean21228]

What I have was pulled from a console, but has a top board cut and mounted to it via those springs. One of them is shot and sags bad. I was just going to add four sides to the top board to make a plinth. Maybe I'll just eliminate the springs and try a solid mount and see how it goes? If that turns badly, do you knowof a readily available supply of those springs? I must say, they are very effective on my SL95.

[LPfan]

Hallo sean1228,

Good that it is sorted out. My apologies for the incorrect info. I have a 120 and had a brief chance to examine a 121 a few months ago and that looked identical to me. Parahaps there are various versions of 121.

Regards,

LPfan