VPI Scout 1.1 Motor Noise

I have read what I can regarding this. I have a Scout 1.1 and one day the motor was super quiet during 6 or so LPs - the very next day it was so loud I could hear it from my listening position, during quiet passages, and in between songs. I have had the table about 3 months. I think the motor is the 600RPM one. Table was bought new from Elusive disc - waiting to hear back from them as the VPI site says contact dealer first for problems. The table is great, tracks great and has little surface noise (Soundsmith Zephyr cart). I tried the one drop of Purple Racing oil (per VPI per another thread here.) No luck. It still makes a whirring noise as it did before the oil drop. I did notice when I turn the pulley manually, it does not turn effortlessly or glide so to speak. It seems like it has resistance every fraction of a turn (almost like a volume control that has "steps" in it. Does that sound normal?