Same problem, different TT. My Townshend Rock 7's motor pops loudly every time. i've tried everything can think of. This is annoying as it adds two more steps to my ritual, which looks like this when I switch sides:
1. Mute
2. Lift tone arm
3. Stop motor
4. Move arm to armrest
5. Swing trough away
6. Unclamp record and put clamp aside
7. flip record
8. Screw clamp down on record
9. Turn on motor
10. Dry brush LP
11. Shoot LP with Milty Zero Stat gun
12. Clean stylus with Zero Dust Onzow
13. Swing trough to locked position
14. Position stylus over lead groove
15. Unmute
16. Arm lifter down
I CANNOT BELIEVE IT TAKES 16 STEPS!!! I never counted before. Glad the music is worth it or I would have quit analogue in the 80's...
BTW, I can't just pluck the LP off as you do, Elizabeth, because it's clamped down.