I occasionally use my idler-equipped Dual 1219 turntable. I bought it new 33 years ago. The clip-in plastic headshell wore out after 15 years. This was no surprise because up until 1989 I replaced my cartridge once a year! Other than that, the Dual has never failed me. It has been professionally serviced once... in 1988 I got a tape deck. While transcribing LP's a recurrent low level thump appeared on the meters. A local shop which had once specialized in Duals polished the bearings, gave the 1219 a lube job and replaced the idler wheel. They even threw in a NOS wooden base at no charge! All this restored silent operation and the 1219 performs flawlessly to this day.
It's easy to spin the platter by hand while the wheel is disengaged. This makes record brushing a breeze. However, a word of caution: let the platter slow to near rest before engaging the idler drive or you may create a flat spot on the wheel.
Sorry I can't add more, but I've never owned any other turntable. It is nice to hear you're keeping the old Garrards going. They certainly were popular.
It's easy to spin the platter by hand while the wheel is disengaged. This makes record brushing a breeze. However, a word of caution: let the platter slow to near rest before engaging the idler drive or you may create a flat spot on the wheel.
Sorry I can't add more, but I've never owned any other turntable. It is nice to hear you're keeping the old Garrards going. They certainly were popular.