AT LP120 Cue arm damping problem

[Adcom2018]

Really what solves the problem is to go to Ebay and get some RC car silicone grease. It's cheap! 8 bucks! You decide on the viscosity. I used 1,000,000 Cst..and it worked like a charm! Get a syringe and put the silicon into the syringe and put some silicone in all three holes. Problem solved!

[Quartz_Lock10729]

Funny I stumbled upon this thread, because I've been experiencing the exact same thing on my LP120...

In my situation, I find that the arm drops slowly and "dampened" when playing the first record upon turning the deck on for a listening session -- from there, it drops like a rock hitting a pond, though it doesn't seem too hard in that it just grabs the lead-in grooves with a mild "knock" and begins play. I haven't seen any damage as of yet to the AT95e's stylus because of this...

That said, here's the real kicker based on what's being suggested in this thread: I DO keep the arm in the UP position using the cue lever while it's turned off and waiting for the next listening session, yet the arm still drops quickly after playing the first record. I'll have to try the pumping up and down thing...

[Adcom2018]

One million Cst silicone man! Problem solved! Ebay...RC car silicone. 8 bucks!

[Boltman92124]

http://www.turntablebasics.com/silicone.html

$10! What I used.

[karateman]

Put a bit of the silicone fluid in both, and put the bar back on. Do not screw it in very much. Instead, put the cartridge body back on and then, with a record on, adjust the cuing arm down to the desired height with the screw.

You say put the fluid in both the holes....in an earlier post the guy said put the fluid in the hole with the screw in..then one said all three holes....of the three holes which hole or holes does the fluid go in?

[Boltman92124]

I think it's about time to add some more on mine. Been about a year.

[akimmet]

This is an extremely common problem on this model, in many cases the silicone oil has already leaked out new in the box. It wouldn’t be so bad if the queing arm on this model wasn’t so touchy. Much harder to drop slowly than any other turntable I’ve experienced with a dry cue arm damper.

[Quartz_Lock10729]

This is an extremely common problem on this model, in many cases the silicone oil has already leaked out new in the box. It wouldn’t be so bad if the queing arm on this model wasn’t so touchy. Much harder to drop slowly than any other turntable I’ve experienced with a dry cue arm damper.

I agree; when I attempt to drop my 120's arm slowly (after the first couple of cues and my arm won't drop smoothly anymore) it's a total crap shoot -- I can get it down about halfway and then it wants to drop the rest of the way harshly. Very hard to control.

[karateman]

so anyone no which holes to put the gel in?

[Boltman92124]

This is an extremely common problem on this model, in many cases the silicone oil has already leaked out new in the box. It wouldn’t be so bad if the queing arm on this model wasn’t so touchy. Much harder to drop slowly than any other turntable I’ve experienced with a dry cue arm damper.

I agree; when I attempt to drop my 120's arm slowly (after the first couple of cues and my arm won't drop smoothly anymore) it's a total crap shoot -- I can get it down about halfway and then it wants to drop the rest of the way harshly. Very hard to control.

Silicone gel solves the problem. In fact, if you use a little too much, the arm will drop VERY slowly! (and then loosen up a bit over time).

[Boltman92124]

so anyone no which holes to put the gel in?

Here's what I did>

So after you remove the arm lift with the screw, make sure to grab the spring and keep it safe. I advise removing the headshell first of course. Move the arm over enough so you can slide out the lift.

I just put a drop of the gel right into the opening, which has a hole in the middle(where the spring goes) and a surrounding area..I just tried to put it in the surrounding area.I think a little went down the middle too. I put the spring back in and screwed it down tight all the way....then loosened it up again. Worked very well! Careful, too much will really make it sticky.

Here's the link.http://www.turntablebasics.com/silicone.html

[Mico]

Silicon fluid viscosity depends on the cueing mechanism design but most often it is in 500.000 range.
Synthetic silicone is extremely stable over time and only way to loose the dampening is by loosing the fluid itself e.g. having turntable positioned upside down or sideways for extended periods of time.

[Quartz_Lock10729]

Right now, I am dealing with my damaged AT95E, which I bent accidentally when attempting to clean the surface of the deck...

In all fairness, it was time to upgrade the cart anyway, but I don't know if I am going to have the funds to upgrade to a micro line right now...gonna have to probably get a replacement stylus for the 95 body at my local Frys, which carries it...

[Boltman92124]

Right now, I am dealing with my damaged AT95E, which I bent accidentally when attempting to clean the surface of the deck...

In all fairness, it was time to upgrade the cart anyway, but I don't know if I am going to have the funds to upgrade to a micro line right now...gonna have to probably get a replacement stylus for the 95 body at my local Frys, which carries it...

Check out the CF95se stylus from LP Gear. About $50. Nice upgrade.

[Quartz_Lock10729]

Right now, I am dealing with my damaged AT95E, which I bent accidentally when attempting to clean the surface of the deck...

In all fairness, it was time to upgrade the cart anyway, but I don't know if I am going to have the funds to upgrade to a micro line right now...gonna have to probably get a replacement stylus for the 95 body at my local Frys, which carries it...

Check out the CF95se stylus from LP Gear. About $50. Nice upgrade.

Thanks Boltman.

Fifty is still a little high for us, being that we just upgraded some home theater equipment (a new Samsung 4K TV and a Cambridge Audio UltraHD Blu-ray player), and this kind of put us in the poorhouse temporarily...