Denon DP-47F arm return problem? Help needed

Hello from Russia, Sochi!
Many thanks to Pascal from France, your help very much helped. My friend's Denon DP-47F had a similar problem, after replacement of the faulty photoresistor the turntable began to function adequately.

I too am having a problem with my 47f. When I push start the arm begins to move over but after moving about an inch it returns to the rest. Could this be the same as another post where it involves some photo electric cells on a board under the tonearm?

Thanks Pascal from France.
I believe your correct that it is a voltage adjustment. I should have tried re-calibrating it, but on a whim sold it as a defective unit. My mistake.
Mike from USA

Hello from France,
I had a similar problem with my DP-47F : after a while ( between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the room temperature ) when reaching the end of record position ( or when pushing on STOP ), the arm returned to the rest position but didn't lift down and the motor didn't stop running.
I hope you have the same problem because I found the origin of that problem : it seems that on some DP-47F there is an inversion between photo resistors CD2 and CD3 ( they are located on the little print board under the arm ). That makes that when being on the rest position, if you measure voltage on IC2 pin 4 you will find about -2.50 Volts. As the microprocessor needs -2.64 Volts for detecting the rest position, that works when components are new but fails after several years.
Inverting CD2 and CD3 photo resistors solves the problem. Be very careful when unsoldering / soldering those components. You can check that the CD1 and CD2 values should be the same on the part list of the service manual ( ku-5580 servo control unit ). I had to install a removable connector on the main board for checking the values of CD1, 2 & 3. After making the mod, the resistors values should be about for CD1 & 2, dark 1.5 MOhms and 1kOhms when lighten, for CD3, 6MOhms when dark and 2.5 kOhms when lighten. You should get about -2.80 Volts on IC2 pin4 after the mod and everything works fine :-) .
Let me know if you need some additional help : pascalvoisin38 @ free.fr
Sorry for my English :-( .
Pascal from France

I sold the Denon as a defective unit needing repair. I'm using my Technics SL-D2 (with an Ortofon Super OM10 cartridge) and it is quite a nice budget table, maybe even better than others in the same price range. I'd like to upgrade to the Technics SL-1200 MkII instead of an "audiophile" table. The Technics sound great, are reasonably priced, and last forever.

My comparison between the Denon and Technics direct drive TT are as follows:

Technics has amazing pace, rhytm, and clarity. Nothing beats its timing and quickness. like a CD.
Denon is warm, smooth, musical, easy to listen to, but not the final word in detail. If you like it smooth and warm a Linn or Thorens would be an upgrade. Linn will have better detail.

I've got a DP-47F also. I'm currently considering replacing it. It functions fine but it's starting to look a little long in the tooth. I wonder how far up the food chain I would need to go to hear significant improvement over the DD Denon?

I've had, and still have the 47F. The problem you described most likely is a problem with the micro processor board, not the mechanical parts. I doubt it is a voltage adjustment. If you find a replacement from a parts machine that would be an inexpensive fix. Otherwise, you should contact the Denon service center in New Jersey. They may have the part. I've purchased two of my 47's directly from them thru a contact there a few years ago. The 47 is a great machine. I've given them to my kids to get them interested in vinyl. Since the machine is totaly automatic, ruined cartridges are a thing of the past.