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Few problems on "new" tt

I just bought a Sansui sr-222 turn table, and, of course, there are a few problems... I just hope you guys can help me out.

First, it sounds awful... I gues the cartridge is'nt in to good a shape, but I could'nt tell (because I know nothing about turntables). It sounds "heavy" : the bass is kind of deap... The cartridge is a ltd-250 (?). I did not find any information on the setup (weight) it requires. If anyboby as any idea.
I will soon buy a knew one, but if I could have working meanwhile...

Second : it grinds. The belt seems to rub on its guide (speed selector). I tried to chang the adjustment, but it also changed the speed. So I set the speed again, and its noisy again. I tought about trying a silk wire.

Also : the motor shaft is spring loaded (I did not know that :-) ), The belt pulls on it when I start the tt, but on the short (and less restricive)side of its float, causing the shaft to rub on the rake (speed selector) and the belt to move on it. Could it be mounted with the float pointing in the wrong way?

I know these are pretty technical questions, and not fun to anwer at all. If you could help me, though, I would be glad to get to know how this thing works.
remi

Showing 6 responses by remi

remi OP
15 posts
 
Nope.
I wont cheer with that.

There is obviously something wrong with -- else than "it's just not good enough". Any 5 bucks-garage-sell-turntable would sound better than that, so "throw it away" is to me either an inconsiderate or snobish answer (you choose).

I was hoping that I could get a little help to get to know how it works and how to diagnose the problem.
No comment.
remi OP
15 posts
 
OK!
Thanks for those constructive answers.
Since I did not know exactly where to look and since everyon told me the thing was about due for the dump, I did what the self-learned mechanic I am always did to learn how things work : I pulled the whole thing appart, looked how I tought it was supposed to work, and pulled it back up.

Jameswei : there is no spring, there sould'nt have been any kind of float. The motor is mounted on rubber bushing, and what I tough to be a float was just the motor being loose on its bracket. Now it's tighten, it moves only by what is alowed by the three-points bushing.
Also, the motor is back up to right height, so the belt does not rub on the rake anymore : SILENCE!
Speed is also right since the belt centers well on the motor shaft.

Finaly, I took the head of, cleaned its contact points, clands the cartridge and stylus.

It now sounds OK. Not great, but as it should considering the old cartridge.

No need to throw away the Sansui. Some of you would because not satisfying, but I wanted something cheap to get me started, that is now what I have, and it works.

Thanks to those how hepled :-)
remi OP
15 posts
 
John, you posted your reply as I was writing mine : here's to you :

I did not spend a dime in that repare, and would'nt have considered paying no one to work on that old thing. Hey, if it is'nt worth that much, it's my chance to work on it with very little risks.

Now it runs fine, I do think it is going to be worth a new cartridge.

Thanks again.
remi OP
15 posts
 
Would you please explain how it could kill my records?

I thought that a correct cartridge with a good stylus and all this properly tuned could not arm my records... Seems I am misting, but I do not see where. I would really like to know.

(I'm almost glad I bought the sr-222 only to see all those different opinions...)
remi OP
15 posts
 
Thank you for that last bit of information on LP wear.

I've been recomended a Grado Black cartridge, but other told me it might be a little too heavy for the already heavy SR-222 arm wich is said to weight 11 grams... ( + 5.5g for the cartridge, wich would be .5grams over the 12-16grams total effective mass cartridge recommandation). However, I find this model interesting -- as far as I can trust the descriptions I had : good quality, rich sound, not too bright, affordable. Is .5grams over specs a big issue?

Note that I am not shure about the numbers I was given...
remi OP
15 posts
 
No mistake : I can not assume it in good shape, and I don't have the tools to set it right (yet). So 'as it is', yes, it might be in a shape to kill both my anthusiasm and my records.

But I do not intend to run it like that way.
I have pretty much made my mind on a Grado Black cartridge, I will set it up right (or the best I can), I intend to solve a ground problem (I got a pretty exaustive checklist) and to put it on a solid rack.

When it will all be done, I should not have spent more than 200 USD on the whole setup (excluding tools and cleaning equipment) witch I think is reasonnable.

(I'm sorry you had to (sic) me so much : english is not my first language, but I am working on it :-) )

Thank you for the helping me getting started!
Regards
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