Help: Records too big for the VPI 16.5

Sounds like you either put the platter on wrong or somehow the platter has shifted towards the pickup tube. Once you screwed in the missing four screws, that assembly was probably off just enough to shift the whole platter. You might need to redrill those four screw holes to move the platter back to the other side a little. That was probably why the screws had been taken out. Shouldn't be to tough to do.

One thought now that MoFi has brought it up. Is it possible those 4 holes are drilled off center and is it possible to rotate the plate and refasten it. It may be a
excentric position from the center to the edge. It doesn't sound like you are that far off. What about 1/8" ?

The only holes under the platter are the original 4 holes on the black surface of the VPI. The platter appears to be solidly fastened to the circular disc on the motor drive. If this is in fact an upgrade, is it possible that the person that did the upgrade put the new wand in too far to the left?

Here is a video of my VPI in action, with a record that shows the problem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB7kDOXrKQw

And here are some pics of the guts of my VPI:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/ryanlesser/127_0061.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/ryanlesser/127_0062.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/ryanlesser/127_0066.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/ryanlesser/127_0060.jpg

Weird...sorry about the picture links. Fore some reason they all posted as the video link. Here are the real links:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/ryanlesser/127_0061.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/ryanlesser/127_0062.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/ryanlesser/127_0066.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/ryanlesser/127_0060.jpg

Ryanlesser, Is sounds very possible that the person who modded your model 16 to 16.5 status made errors in assembly-installation?

I wish to help, with a list of measurements from a genuine VPI 16.5, and let's see how they compare? I should note, VPI should as well be able to provide, and confirm these simple measurements, particularly, what the Pivot-Spindle distance is on a 16.5 RCM.

Firstly, the inside width of my 16.5 from left to right inner wall is exactly 14.5".

The center of Spindle to center of Vacuum Tower Pivot is exactly 7-1/16".

The right side of vaccum tower bezel edge, to the right inner wall of my machine is exactly 1/4". (ample clearance that the bezel does not rub the right inner wall)

With Record mounted on my Platter, which is a custom acrylic platter, but exactly the same dimensions as the original 16.5 platter, the record's left edge is exactly 7/16" away from the left inner wall, and 2-3/16" away from the right inner wall of the machine.

I think what ever way you approach it, the Spindle to Vacuum Wand Pivot distance will be what's important, and will be largely dependent upon how wide the inside of machine is, to be able to re-mount the Motor Mounting Plate further to the left? (without the record now rubbing the left inner wall of the machine?)

It may mean slightly enlarging the hole for the Motor, with either a dremel tool, a sabre saw, or roto zip tool in order to slightly shift the entire Motor itself to the left, slightly away from the Vacuum Wand Tower? One could simply epoxy-bondo the existing mounting holes for Motor Mounting Plate, and start over.

Hope this helps, Mark