My Experience with being willing to investigate the condition of
Vintage TT Platter Bearings, has helped me form the Viewpoint that they should not be 'Trusted as being in a Good Condition' and not left without undergoing a Internal Inspection.
Once having access to the Internals of the housing a Cleaning and Service will be the best practice.
I first learnt of this through my purchasing a Garrard 401in the 90's.
I looked upon it as Vintage Car in relation to the Mechanics, and felt it would be best Serviced where the Moving Parts were concerned.
This lesson was furthered when I got involved with Lenco GL 75's and was reading much of the information that is available on the Bearings Condition and Servicing undertaken.
Note: Idler Drive Platter Bearing Housings are well thought out in relation to retaining a lubrication, and a residual of a Lubrication will usually be discovered within the housing.
The above TT's have a reasonably easy access to a Bearing for removal of the Housing from the Chassis.
Note: The following DD TT's have a few extra parts requiring removing to remove the Bearing Housing, so a little bit more of a Photo Documentation will support the reinstatement of any removed parts.
I now have as addition to the TT Collection, a selection of DD TT's,
that are made up of the SP10, TTS 8000, DP 80 and Aurex SR 520.
The SP10's Platter Bearing has been Serviced for me as Part of the TT's Overhaul.
I have personally undertaken the investigations the other DD TT's Bearings.
I have discovered TTS 8000's which have had a noticeable side ways movement on the Spindle when hand pressure is applied.
I also know that other TTS 8000's have been reported to have a eccentric rotation, and it is the above condition that 'could ?' be the contributing cause.
More recently a TTS 8000 has been discovered to have a Scribed Groove etched into the Base of the Spindle.
My reports on my findings have produced a extended thread on another forum, where other TTS owners have reported on what they witnessed when carrying out their own inspections.
Note: The DD TT's I have Inspected the Bearing Housings Internal on have all shown no evidence of any quantity of Lubrication Residual,
it is safer to say they have developed into running as a 'Dry Bearing'.
There has been evidence of a colouration left on the Spindle, but this has a more of a friction, rather than being slippery.
The methods used at the Sump to retain lubrication are not so impressive either, a little extra thought will produce a much improved interface for the seals used.
More concerning and one of the reasons I continually report on this,
is that there has also been Gold Coloured Dust seen in the Spindle Housing of a TT I have Inspected.
It is believed the dust is from the Spindle when rotating be able to rubbing against the Sintered Bronze Bush and the Dust is produced through friction and accelerated through the dust being abrasive.
The Dust will also be capable of sealing the Perforations in the Bush and trapping the impregnated lubricant.
What ever way this is perceived, abrasive particle within the Bearing Housing is an unwanted condition, especially when the bearing appears to have developed into running as a Dry Bearing.
Vintage DD Bearings are not a everyday item to be come by, so any efforts made to keep them in the most usable condition will be a good practice.
I am not reporting on this to cause an upset, but it is a report that a Vintage TT's Platter Bearing can be in a condition that would benefit from an Investigation for the condition and while learning of the condition a follow up,
thorough cleaning of the Bearing Housing,
undertaking a exchange of the Bushes,
expressing a little extra thought on , or inquiring how to treat the Sump Parts, to keep a lubricant within the Housing avoiding a acceleration of Lubricant Seepage,
and adding Lubrication during the rebuild are all considerations and actions that will offer a increased peace of mind to the TT user.
