Michell Gyrodec, main bearing lube

String...thanks for the tip!  Good idea!  I've been using rubbing alcohol and q-tips, but the Hoppes #9 will surely remove any type of residue! 

@quincy The Roksan TT's from the same era, also made a substantial effort to ensure their TT's were with Bearings that were above the typical goals being set for such parts in use on TT's.

It is good to hear that Michell in their own Wisdom addressed the Platter Bearing design in a similar way and the ling term rewards are still being discovered at the time of invasive inspections.

I am a little bit of a 'bearing eccentric' when it comes to my thoughts and intentions for a TT I am to use.

Well Jazz, it's been awhile!  Did you tackle the oil change yet!

I use Mobil 1 for my Gyrodec. And I replaced the original steel bearing with a ceramic one.  7/32 IN-C SI3N4 BALL GRADE 3 from bocabearings.com, they sell a 3 pack for around $5. 

It has been my understanding that the small ball bearing is only a 'catch bearing '.  The hydro dynamic concept used by Michael slightly lifts the platter onto a thin film of oil, and off of the balls contact surface. It ( the ball) comes into play when the platter is at rest.

Not really; the inverted pin marketed in 1991/1992 allows for uniform lubrication across the entire pin/sleeve/ball area and then back down through a small hole near the ball's support point; the oil is lifted through a spiral milling in the metal and when the platter rotates and it carries the oil uphill.
There is nothing that can lift the platter by thousandths of a millimeter as it is very heavy (in this case, magnets would be needed to lift it) but it is simply an optimal and more efficient system for lubricating all the moving metal parts.