Michell Gyrodec Drive Belt - can't get it on

by **Celestion** » 28 Sep 2006 10:27

Just got my Gyrodec this week and trying to set it up.

I've never owned a turntable before and I can't stretch the tiny little
drive belt all the way around that 12" platter and motor spindle.

How do you do it? I'm almost dislodged the whole Gyrodec from the table when I stretched and it keeps on coming off ;(

by **johnfromnorwich** » 28 Sep 2006 11:13

Doesn't sound like the right drive belt to me. It should be an easy fit. How long is it?

by **Celestion** » 28 Sep 2006 11:17

Hi there,

I've just measured it - it's 18cm long on a rule i.e. 36 centimetre circumference unstretched. I can barely stretch it over the platter let alone platter and motor spindle.

Is there a reference for a standard elastic drive belt length for the Gyrodec?

by **Celestion** » 28 Sep 2006 15:49

I've worked it out - just phoned Michell Engineering and asked for their advice instead.

Seems I was trying to get the insulating rubber belt for the drive motor around the turntable. This has a diameter of around 18cm and even with sheer willpower won't fit around the turntable and the spindle!

The little thready looking elastic didn't look like a drive belt - for someone who's new to vinyl, they could've labelled it. Duh!

PS - the sound is very deep in the bass and the dynamic pace is fantastic. I'm getting lots of crackling and some siblance. Any ideas how to solve this appreciated.

by **padego** » 28 Sep 2006 15:49

I agree with John, it sounds a little short to me, it should slip on fairly easily. You should check with the seller.
Cheers
Padego

by **Mark E Smith's Dentist** » 28 Sep 2006 16:14

Celestion wrote:PS - the sound is very deep in the bass and the dynamic pace is fantastic. I'm getting lots of crackling and some siblance. Any ideas how to solve this appreciated.

Sibilance could be a VTA problem or it could be a brand new cart that hasn't broken in yet. Don't know about the crackling - are you using new records? It might be static I suppose.

JT

by **Celestion** » 28 Sep 2006 17:04

Thanks guys -

the 'drive belt' I was trying to fit on was not a drive belt. It belongs to the power motor and insulates its base.

Now I've sorted the drive belt out, I can't get the tracks nearest the centre of the LP to play. The angle of the tone arm jams against the edge of the protruding LP and then starts skipping. I can't raise the tone arm any higher.

The LPs which crackle look like they have cat hair all over them! The dust and hair won't shift when I use an airgun. I can't seem to get rid of it. I guess that contributes to the crackle.

All of this is completely new to me so it's a learning curve.....first turntable and I'm behaving worse than a preschool kid with the plasticine at break time..

by **Mark E Smith's Dentist** » 28 Sep 2006 19:56

I'd suggest uploading some pictures if possible to give us a better idea of what's going on. Does the arm move freely when it's not on a record?

JT

by **Celestion** » 28 Sep 2006 21:39

Jon -

I'm getting there!

Just read up the internet and realised it was a cueing problem. The tone arm jams against the vinyl's edge as the arm reaches closer to the centre. I've found out that the tone arm has a micro-foot which can be screwed to level it. That's that problem sorted now.

The other one about siblance - at eye level to the stylus, there's a hair that's being trailed along the track which might explain it.

This Gyrodec is fing awesome!

Just discovering REM's 'Out of Time' on vinyl for the first time - the cd just don't compare

by **padego** » 28 Sep 2006 22:42

Ain'y vinyl fun?

by **johnfromnorwich** » 30 Sep 2006 18:58

Celestion wrote:Thanks guys -

The LPs which crackle look like they have cat hair all over them! The dust and hair won't shift when I use an airgun. I can't seem to get rid of it. I guess that contributes to the crackle.

All of this is completely new to me so it's a learning curve.....first turntable and I'm behaving worse than a preschool kid with the plasticine at break time..

Dirt can be easily removed by careful, manual washing (plenty of online descriptions of how to do it without inflicting damage). I've recovered many grubby 2nd hand pressings to a respectable state. Glad you're getting somewhere. My Gyro/Orbe is the best bit audio investment I've ever made. Hours of fun ahead...

by **padego** » 01 Oct 2006 17:54

Celestion
Don't worry about the learning curve or if you're making a fool of yourself, most of us have had our share of embarrasing moments when it comes to all things vinyl.
Thats what makes it fun, its much more than sticking a cd in and pressing play, you now have a lot more influence and control over the sound coming from your speakers.
The Gyrodec is a fabulous rig with lots of room for upgrades. Enjoy rediscovering your LPs!
Padego

by **Celestion** » 16 Oct 2006 12:16

Hey Padego -

the vinyl sound is so much more lively - energetic and beautiful bass that I'm really taken with. I've sorted the belt drive - the rubber seal I stretched almost doesn't fit the power housing as a result of me trying to stretch it 3x its natural diameter to fit the belt drive. Still it's okay.

Some absolutely fabulous vinyl music out there. With my cd player, even though the bass keeps tight with the music, the turntable carries it off effortlessly. Just listening to Charlotte Gainsbourg's 'Jamais' which I don't enjoy - yet on vinyl, it feels like I can enjoy a lot of music I'd normally pass over

by **JRC** » 16 Oct 2006 20:58

Hi celestion, Now you know why places like this forum exist, some of us were never convinced that digital was THE way to go :lol:

My new turntable has been sort of finished for around a month now, and in that time the CD player has not been switched on once !