Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

Is the Old DD gonna grow fangs overnight and suddenly bite us? likewise are they gonna become explosive?
Just kidding guys - couldn't help it

Hey guys heres a useful link to a blog with details of the correct chips that can be sourced for the TT101!
https://audiocirc.com/2016/01/21/victor-international/

HAHA - DOH! ON MY PART :)

Hi Guys
yes - we are living dangerously!
My experience at present thus far...
I found a QL-10 for sale - from Columbia - very odd I know.
The seller was utterly genuine I might add. He showed it working in perfect order - i.e. stop/start pitch control etc.
That said he was a bit of a plonk insofar as I told him to remove the platter for sending. sadly he did not do this.
On receipt UPS carried out the kind of delivery from 'Ace Ventura Pet Detective'. The lid was smashed, the headshell was snapped off (the least of my problems). The platter had not been removed for transport. The led's go on - but the platter ain't rotating. In addition to this I think transportation with the platter on may have damaged the motor/bearing...
I am convinced that customs open-end the box up rather brutally as it looked like the box has been opened.
I am liaising with Wilkinsons HiFi in Lancashire UK to give it a going over - I can live with the lid, arm, and electrolytic - but - the motor... oh well.
You gotta speculate to accumulate I guess - LOL (whilst weeping miserably)

I meant plonker - not the sharpest pencil in the box

It turns but does not spin

Ups are coming to inspect the package. The seller, in fact, put it in a custom made wooden box. Border agency then repackaged it. Hopefully all will be well.😭

If that is the problem and a new recap - superb. TBH I had to recap a vendetta scp2a and my tech said that electrolytic caps can pop with changes in air pressure - that was sent by air.

I will try that and remit to you

Hmmm I wonder how they are to get out of this...

...Well...
UPS having received my package last Tuesday rather idiotically called me on Friday morning to asked when they could pick up the package from me...
Asx it happened, Whe. I went to the UPS depot I was left waiting for about 30 minutes as a rather useless member of staff fobbed me off. Subsequently the supervisor came out and accused me of having 'attitude' for filming the condition of the deck when it came to me.
As it happens I spoke to the global customer services head in the US - and still no development - save to say they know and acknowledge my annoyance!
There's a company called Wilkinsons in the UK who profess expertise and knowledge - so they are my first port of call in Blighty

Hi M8 - I think I wrote about them in my first post on this sorry subject. I may start a general thread as to who gives the best postal service - many people post things on Audiogon, and I am sure people want things to arrive in good condition.

Love it

GOOD NEWS!!!
Wilkinsons are able to repair my JVC tt10. Andrew informed me that someone must have either dropped it badly or put a hammer to it... He has replaced the bearing at the bottom of the spindle and will then work on all the electrolytics and so forth.

I have told them to do the works so to speak. I didn't get the TT101 to skimp. I got it because I liked the design and technology that has not been repeated since.  
They have done a once over thus far and an estimate. To their credit they don't persuade you to have done more than is necessary and strike me as very honest guys. TBH its makes a refreshing change to come across two 'techs' with a genuine engineering background who give structured and logical advice. You can't give a fixed estimate with things that are vintage and in my case where it was damaged in transit.

I got a QL10 with a Audio Technica ATP12t arm for around £1000UKP this included postage... see above
UPS have acknowledged the damage - I wonder what next

I will say this. The TT101 and the other Japanese Uber decks may well be a pain to service now - they are complicated - they were back then - they are so now. 
My only question is - is it really worth the bother?

So then guys i've bought a second QL10. 
Why?
The first one came from Columbia and useless parcel service trashed it - sadly the guy who sold it packed it like an idiot too.
Wilkinsons in Lancashire did a superb peiece of work over a long period of time to fix it. I got them to put a new PTFE thrust plate and install a silicone nitride ball into the bearing. They recapped it - re-soldered any dry joints and gave it a lengthy electrical 'wet test'. I have now put it into a plinth. I had a local guy polish the platter. Electrically brilliant - the only problem is that UPS managed to smash the cover, break the legs and worst of all damage the platter - its tilted at one end by about a mm - and i am paranoid about a precision instrument (which a turntable is) being slightly out.
I tried to locate a platter and was told to get a machinist to either true my platter or make a new one. If it was to be the latter i guessed it would  easily cost £300 - £500 - it would not have the damping rubber either.
Then along came a QL10 for sale in Glasgow - and I had to have it - with the UA 7045 arm for £400 - fully working. I've sent it directly to Wilkinsons to get it recapped etc - I want it to be 'good as new'.
I must say that the seller bought it about 8 years ago, in a JVC stand, with the top of the line JVC amp for... £25.00 - good man.
@gipsonian - if you are in the UK contact wilkinsons - they know their onions

Dear @chakster I've seen you mention the AT 616 legs before.

My problem with them is that the cheapest set i have seen is about £250.00. I do not have a problem affording that but there are modern options by Townshend that are worth exploring. Likewise I just find the thought of accessories costing as much as many a component a bit silly.
That said I would like to know what goes into their design

@chakster in fairness they are fairly intricate...

Out of interest do you use the JVC mat or another mat on the TT101? I have a SONY TTS 8000 but it does not have the OL2K mat and would love a modern alternative for that mat too

@halcro and @chakster 
we are living dangerously - but lifes boring if we aren't.

All said and done. I got my QL10 back - and it was worked on by wilkinsons - re-cap and re-solder dry joints
Speed was perfect - plenty of torque - super fast start up.
HAd to re-position the deck yesterday.
Switched it on - slow start up only gets to 28.75 rpm - something equally vague on 45rpm. No torque and very slow.
CAn anyone hazard a guess as to the problem?
Sc 3042? Anything else?
I reckon it must be something on the actual power supply and quartz lock - but that is not from knowing anything as an electronic engineer