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Any Sota Sapphire experts out there?

I've recently purchased a used Sota Sapphire series 3 on which I installed an SME series V arm. I have to say, this 'table almost blows my VPI Scoutmaster with many improvements (including 10.5 arm and periphery ring) out of the water. Deep, tight, effortless bass. Tracks anything. Extremely musical.
However, I can't seem to find any basic maintenance information for the table. Specifically, spindle bearing lubrication, what kind, and how. And motor bearing lubrication, same, what kind and how? I need some tips on these assemblies; how do I disassemble to access for cleaning, oiling, etc?
Surely, some of you Audiogoners can lead me in the right direction... (The Sota folks are nice, but seem that they would much rather me send them the table for inspection and upgrades; I just want to know how to maintain the gear I own.)
seantock

Showing 3 responses by mijostyn

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,252 posts
 
Seantock, I got my first SOTA, the original Sapphire in 1981. I have never done anything to it except dust it once in a while. It needs absolutely no maintenance otherwise unless it develops a problem. I still have that turntable and it still runs just like it did almost 40 years ago. Enjoy!

Mike 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,252 posts
 
Lewm, The Sapphire came out long before the SME V. Back in 1981 the trick combo was the Sapphire with a Syrinx PU3 which arguably was the first real modern tonearm. Fat stepped arm tube totally adjustable everything including arm length! Separated horizontal and vertical masses. Beautiful precision bearings. The modern incarnation of this arm is the SAT arm. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,252 posts
 
You can always level the table with the bottom feet, always loaded with record and record clamp. The issue is that you drop the resonance frequency of the suspension too low which might cause the suspension to over react with foot falls and such. The Older tables you could adjust the mass with lead shot. They used a lighter MDF sub chassis. The newer tables use a much heavier aluminum sub chassic so the mass of the tonearm is a far lower percentage of the total mass. Still, you can't put really massive arms like the Kuzma 4 point on. Won't fit under the dust cover anyway. 
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