To adjust ride level of springs on SOTA turntable

First, get new springs

Do you want the repair/assembly instructions?
email me emfoods at yahoo dot com
audiogon won't allow me to post my actual email

The Cosmos is nice. The motor is fixed on the sub-chassis. I'd love to get one; but with one son in med school and one a freshman in college, it is going to be a while. And part of the fun of this hobby is making your own mods and tweaks.

Digepix:
My old Sapphire Vac was 25 years old, and I had the same sag issue. Kirk will sell you an inexpensive new spring kit with instructions. I am quite handy, but I botched the job. Replacing the springs was not difficult, but compressing them while screwing the long screws into the nylon nuts ended in my stripping the nuts, which caused the table to not come into level. Anyway, I ended up sending it to Kirk.

Then I was confronted with the 'upgrade question', as most all parts of that older TT have been upgraded. You can spend a good bit following the upgrade path. I decided to trade mine to Kirk for a new Cosmos Vac. Not cheap, but I am very happy. Whatever path you choose, Kirk and Donna will help you get there.

Tony-I read your system page with fascination, what you said makes perfect sense I often wondered about the horizontal oscillation of the subchassis on the Sota during loud passages in the music. I figured if the tension on the belt changed due to this so would the pitch of music. I guess it's more pronounced with a hanging suspension and the whole pendulum effect that it causes. I'm not as mechanically inclined due to disability but I'm sure I could get some helping hands. Thanks for the suggestion

You can adjust the height of the sub-chassis by turning those screws at the four corners. Don't try it if you do not feel comfortable trying it. I just did a mod to my Sota that I wrote up on my system page and I talk about the springs there.

your correct in your thinking about the four hex screws. You can soften or harden the suspension on the SOTA table by adjusting it by turning the hex screws. Turn them slowly until suspension has a proper feel or bounce using a spirit level. I'm sure there is much info on this table with a more comprehensive instruct tuning the unit to an optimum performance level. The best its a good table.

My table is over 25 years so it may be time to get it checked out. I still don't have any clue what the four hex head screws two in the front and two in the rear are used for. They're not the two transit screws so I assumed they had something to do with the suspension. The box and the manual are long gone when I bought the turntable. I was given the table with the arm and a nice cartridge as a gift by my neighbor who was getting out of vinyl. I'll give Kirk and Donna a call and even if I have to buy a box I'm ahead of the game.

The suspended plinth is supposed to be at or near the level of the cabinet; 3/16" offset would be pretty average. The suspension is not adjusted by screws. There is a void under the arm board that is filled with lead (old) or steel (newer) shot to a greater or lesser extent depending on the mass of your arm & cartridge combo.

Do not, under any circumstances, unscrew anything other than the feet from the bottom of your table without specific information from Sota. The plinth requires external support for shipping or repair. The two small grub screws and lock nuts on either side of the bearing assembly are screwed in to support the jeweled bearing during transit and loosened (not removed) to allow it to spin freely.

To properly level the table, put a round sprit level on each corner, in roughly an inch. Check all 4 corners. If it's off, adjust one of the 3 feet as required to get them all within a reasonable distance of each other. Now, put the level on the arm board near the cueing mechanism. It should also be level. If it is showing off, press on the board or lift the chassis to see which gets it closer. If pushing down helps, you need to add weight and lifting = removing weight.

You don't say how old your table is, but the springs do give up after 20 years or so. Sota sells replacements, update kits and does refurbishing, too. You can give them a call with the serial number of your unit to see what they might recommend. They are very, very good with services and parts reasonably priced considering the value of the tables. Lots of info is on their Website as well.

Good luck & happy listening!

It has been awhile but the screws on the bottom are for shipping protection and to protect the bearing. They should be empty if the table is in use.

The springs may have sagged due to frequent movement/age,etc. In the old days they could be re-tempered and brought back to spec.

Short of having a very good analog guy check it you can get ahold of Kirk and Donna at SOTA and they will square you away. Great to deal with and I had an old Cosmos brought up to current specs. They did a magnificent job and I paid them off on a long term repayment plan. Cannot recommend them more highly.

Happy Spinning