Time to Clamp Down


I have several record clamps that I use with my turntables, but I have a Thorens TD-160 with a spindle that is too short for a clamp to 'grab'. I have a very heavy turntable/record weight that probably weighs around 24 ounces, quite heavy. I would have no problem using that on one of my direct-drive tables, but I am skittish about using it on the belt-drive TD-160. Logic tells me it would put an extra-heavy load on the motor, causing undue wear.....is that a valid concern or not? The spindle clears the record just enough for this monster weight to work and right now it's my only option.
discnik

Showing 1 response by millercarbon

The load is on the bearing not the motor. The reason is physics. The weight you are adding presses straight down directly onto the bearing. The motor on the other hand is way off to the side. The motor applies torque. Torque is a lever arm. The further from the center you add mass the greater the lever arm and the more the torque so the harder the motor has to work to turn it. Your record clamp is very small diameter, it hugs the axis of rotation. So it could be 240 ounces even, it will not be hardly any different in terms of torque. 

Also the motor really only has to work harder to accelerate this mass. Once spinning at speed the extra power is all down to bearing drag not rotational mass. This is why my turntable with lead shot filled platter at 28 lbs uses the same motor as a plain acrylic platter without lead that weighs a fraction as much. Only difference is how fast they come up to speed. Once at 33 there really is no difference in motor load even in spite of the two to three times greater mass. 

So experiment and use whichever one sounds the best, and no worries about the motor. 

The bearing too by the way should be fine. They are usually so over-engineered there will be no difference in wear just as long as the lube is there.