Hello,
I've recently acquired an SL-65B from the local mega thrift store. Craigslist and eBay have seen to it that no one will ever stumble across a mint condition $10 bargain at a local thrift store, so when I found this neglected, dirty machine for $30, I grabbed it.
Citrus cleaner and Brasso made light work of the built-up gunk on the platform and trim pieces. The stuck spindle was freed easily with a surprisingly light rap with a rubber mallet. I pulled the platter and was quite pleased to find that the idler rubber is very supple. This machine seemed to be neglected but not worn out or abused.
I can manually trip the pawl on the cam and everything cycles properly; it even sets the tonearm down in the right place. So far so good!
Underneath, the grease is sticky (and very, very orange…I can't decide if this is age, nicotine staining, or both) but not yet cement. Most of the mechanism moves fairly freely other than the trip rod for the tonearm.
Back story complete, we finally get to my questions!
I've removed the circlip but can't remove the main cam. (It cycles fine, albeit a bit slowly and obviously it needs to come off for a proper cleaning.) I've tried heating the centre pin with a soldering iron, tried dripping isopropyl into it and heating it again, and tried to gently lever it up with a flat head screwdriver, with no success. Should I try penetrating oil on the centre pin? Can I disassemble the mechanism from the bottom and gently knock it out with a punch from underneath?
There's a clearly audible scraping sound as the platter spins. I've greased the centre hole of the platter, the exterior of the spindle shaft, the thrust bearings, the ball race…it just won't go away. As far as I can tell there's no scoring on the spindle shaft or the platter. If I run it at 78 RPM and cut the power, the platter spins for a good minute and a half, so I don't think it's the bearings…but it makes this horrible "slk-slk-slk-slk-slk-slk" noise with each rotation.
Thanks everyone!