VPI rimdrive squeaks

Thanks for the (as I respond) 3 replies. Keep them coming PLEASE.

I really don’t believe contact pressure is too great. I have tested incrementally and minutely by reducing it until platter speed is uneven AND platter continues to rotate long after motor stops (ie too light). All is level too. The whole thing is stood on one substantial and level Symposium Ultra base. Motor parallel to and symmetrical with the platter.

This squeak is in fact the tip of an ‘unfortunate’ iceberg. Problems started before the rimdrive conversion. I see from other threads I was not alone in experiencing a loud Hummm. Even my unprompted wife commentated on it from 8 feet away ! when at 45rpm ( the deck, not her) 5 feet at 33rpm. After a long long story and lots of contact with VPI the Hummm disappeared (see later, it may help a fellow Hummer or two) but now I’m still left with the squeak.

When belt drive was first converted to rimdrive I was still failing to solve the Hummm and hoped rimdrive would fix it. It didn’t. I then had a Hummm and a squeak.

VPI shipped me a whole new (native, unconverted) rimdrive and motor assembly. You can’t ask for more than that from a manufacturer. Unfortunately I soon found out that, indeed, I couldn’t ask for more than that. Well, I could ask but I couldn’t get.

Mysteriously, the replacement, unconverted rimdrive assembly made exactly the same squeak and was returned. Odds-wise, the finger of suspicion shifted elsewhere ( to ME for instance, if you are VPI).

Superplatter edge seems to be vertical, even and consistent as I watch the rotating edge through a magnifying glass with a lined background as reference. There is no apparent lateral or other movement. And anyway, the squeak is in sync with the rimdrive, not the platter.

Hence, I’m still at a loss and will gratefully consider all suggestions other than advice to only play records by the Chipmunks.

As promised, I will return to the Hummm but think this response is long enough. I’ll do the Hummm in another (I hope required) Response.

Stringreen.. Rust coloured O-ring ??? Mine is black as black. Do I have an old component which was changed by VPI because it caused such problems ?? This might explain why the replacement rimdrive they shipped made the same squeak.

AND, you will see from my earlier Response I said I'd address my Hummm problem. This was not electrical it was mechanical. I think I can add to your understanding even if I can't solve it. Maybe I should start a seperate thread.

OK everyone. Really big thanks for all your input. It HAS moved me forward, sometimes not as I suspect you intended but by what you said in passing or implied. I’ve (re) tried checking the minimum contact pressure plus required horizontal and parallel geometries. I’ve lifted the O-ring out of its groove and tried at length to ensure it is sat back in there with no twists or other misalignments. (No difference, whatsoever).

I’m now going to hope my old-style black O-rings don’t have a uniform cross-section &or because of their outdated composition can ‘creep’ along the rimdrive groove they sit in. No idea if that’s correct but it’s top of my list to at least eliminate by replacing them with the latest rust coloured rubber.

As to the Historical Humm. It was not an earthing issue. I have a depressingly thorough matrix of all combinations of earthing configurations which made no difference - as well as isolators and couplers under the motor assembly WHICH DID – and noting the (very) different levels of Humm with each. The worst caused my more rigid (non-stock) power cord between motor and SDS to vibrate and feel as if water was running through it. Even the SDS vibrated. Depressing and thorough matrix may be available if wanted. I personally believe it was so comprehensive it convinced VPI that I was a nutcase. It clearly took a lot of thought, time and effort to obsessively create (because I thought I was alone with this problem. See below.)

I got rid of the Humm by believing the Symposium platform guys. Symposium believe things which vibrate should be coupled to their platforms (or somesuch) which absorb and dissipate that energy. (Hence their Couplers...) Isolating and feeding it back is the worst thing you can do, by which they include the new soft rubber feet on the VPI motor assembly as NOT the best way to go [ but of course VPI can't assume evryone is sat on Symposium or equivalent ]

My old VPI motor assembly had the old aluminium feet with sticky disc squidgy inserts – as a forerunner of their big soft rubber feet. I removed the inserts and allowed the aluminium feet to directly couple with the Symposium platform so it could do its job. Humm disappeared. Totally.

What I think remains the case is the motor assembly still inherently vibrates but the platform absorbs sufficient of it to stop me hearing anything. Probably some residue makes its way to the platter and the cartridge (Stringreen !).

I read in another Humm thread that someone had solved the Humm by placing the motor on Symposium Point Padz. I independently tried that in the early days of diagnosis. For me it enhanced the Humm wonderfully. Don’t know why but can take a stab at the Point Padz not having enough absorbothingystuffness and actually isolating from the main benefits of the Symposium platform.

Who knows.

A basic suspicion behind all this is – VPI must be sat in the middle of problem feedbacks (as are all manufacturers) – whatever small or minute percentage of total units it comprises. I can fully appreciate they wouldn’t want to take a recall hit like Toyota is planning – but I’d be grateful if they didn’t work so hard at making the sufferer think they were the only weirdo with the problem and therefore THE PROBLEM. Not easy but I think do-able.

I’ll let you know how the rusty O-rings fare.

I said I'd report back what effect my changing from black belts to the (new) rust-coloured ones had.

It almost entirely eliminated the Squeak ! It's not achingly quiet but is a very significant improvement. If it had been like this from new, instead of audible from up to eight feet away, I may not have noticed anything amiss.

This result invites speculation. Here's mine.

VPI have always produced a certain look of kit. Many people like it (I do) and many don't. The new rust coloured belts are strangely at odds with their usual brushed steel and black theme. Could it be that black compounds couldn't be made squeak-free for all installations ? This would also explain why VPI made me think the squeak was mine alone and therefore of my doing - because they didn't then have a solution available. When one was developed they couldn't let me know of it without the glaring contradiction...

Only a theory, of course. Allowing it may be true - what do YOU think YOU would have done as VPI when faced with apparently random squeaky installations and suspecting the rim-platter interface was the problem ??