Pulley for AR-XA (and how to polish your spindle)

by **ar3a** » 10 Jun 2008 15:09

Hi Marc,

I cannot find any crocus cloth here in Vietnam, but has great result with 2000 abrasive paper. My spindle is now having mirror finish.

Many thanks to you.

VA

by **danieldust** » 10 Jun 2008 22:44

Marc: What is your special technique for cleaning the pulley? My new one is dirty and seems to be the cause of a ticking noise.

If it's not one thing with my TT, it's something else.

by **OldRelayer** » 10 Jun 2008 23:24

Hello Scott. I am sure that Marc and others will have a better way, but a cheap way is to use #000 Steel wool, seems to do a good job, I am no expert but I suspect you really don't need to polish it, might be self defeating.

Something to try, if nobody has a better idea.

Take Care,
Barry

by **danieldust** » 11 Jun 2008 01:59

Ah, another use for those ScotchBrite pads!

I'll try that and report back.

And I'd be happy to try your customized pulley, thanks!

by **danieldust** » 11 Jun 2008 02:28

Well, I'll say this: the ScotchBrite pad and the alcohol take off a LOT of black stuff from the pulley, and even more from the side of the inner platter. Try it. Unfortunately, the ticking is still there, though possibly a bit quieter. I don't have the crocus cloth, but I have a feeling that wouldn't make much difference.

The ticking does seem to come from the area of the pulley, but it is not there if I run the motor without the belt, and it's not there if I spin the plater without the belt. It also ticks with either my old belt or my new one. I can't figure it out.

Any ideas?

by **ar3a** » 11 Jun 2008 05:43

now you need a thrust bearing for it to ride upon, as the delrin bearing has what used to be the finish (gouges and what not) that the ball end used to have. 2K W/D paper is fine

I'm using M/S Subchassis, and wonder if it has thrust bearing. Can anyone confirm this? If this is not the case, please give me some advice on how to install a thrust bearing on that subchassis.

Cheers,
VA

by **gkimeng** » 11 Jun 2008 07:27

OldRelayer wrote:GK, I didn't see an ball bearing

Just enter the word "ball" in the search window.

by **gkimeng** » 11 Jun 2008 07:29

danieldust wrote:The ticking does seem to come from the area of the pulley, but it is not there if I run the motor without the belt, and it's not there if I spin the plater without the belt. It also ticks with either my old belt or my new one. I can't figure it out.

Any ideas?

Sounds to me like your belt is too tight.

by **danieldust** » 11 Jun 2008 13:39

Sounds to me like your belt is too tight.

But it does it with the old belt too, and it's a little on the loose side.

I'm beginning to think this motor is yet another POS motor.

by **pivot** » 11 Jun 2008 14:17

ar3a wrote:

now you need a thrust bearing for it to ride upon, as the delrin bearing has what used to be the finish (gouges and what not) that the ball end used to have. 2K W/D paper is fine

I'm using M/S Subchassis, and wonder if it has thrust bearing. Can anyone confirm this? If this is not the case, please give me some advice on how to install a thrust bearing on that subchassis.

Cheers,
VA

It is a thrust bearing but the M/S "oil well" bearing is its own beast.
Woudn't hurt to polish the existing ball in the current shaft.

The upgrade path would be to get a subplatter with a new stainless steel shaft. Either a new subplatter or have the shaft installed in your current subplatter. Don't worry about the thrust plate. Be sure to use the Merrill Oil - part of the design.

Installing a standard thrust bearing would be a step backwards.

by **OldRelayer** » 12 Jun 2008 22:10

I haven't done the Spindle yet, but I did the tonearm shaft. I don't know what happened to the BB I had installed, gone, very strange. But Marc is sending me one, I hope that one doesn't disappear. I only had 1200 crocus cloth but it came out with a mirror finish and then finished it off with X-treme metal polish and lubricated. I didn't use a drill, although I could have, but all the small imperfections that I could feel are all gone, especially at the bottom where the BB meets the shaft. This table is getting close to perfect, thanks guys for you help.

Barry

by **OldRelayer** » 13 Jun 2008 03:41

It doesn't seem to be hurt by the process. It will probably be better when the mysterious BB gets replaced. I did it by hand which would be more gentle.

Thanks,
Barry

by **OldRelayer** » 20 Jun 2008 17:01

Marc all arrived in good shape. The pulley definitely adds mass bit I think if one had a 1.5w motor like mine, you must do the other things and add the thrust bearing. I have some 3w Haydon motors that I have been wanting to try, not sure if this is the best place, need to work that through.

I did polish to a mirror finish the shaft and the ball end as instructed. I use light synthetic oil which I think does a good job. My motor now starts up effortlessly and runs smooth. Hard to describe but the music seems more precise, could be because I know that it is being held at a better constant speed or whatever. It even takes 5 or 6 seconds longer to come to a stop. This is an amazing upgrade for little money and you can send me another one for my other turntable.

Thanks,
Barry

by **OldRelayer** » 20 Jun 2008 20:18

That sounds fair to me, I will send the check and your materials at the same time within the next couple of days.

Now, how do I do that to my pulley?

It is all these little things that added together make a big difference.

Please, either send email or PM with your address, it might be on the box, I just thought of that and it is 3 floors down, so I will check the next time I am within reach.

Thanks,
Barry