05-01-2014, 05:23 PM
Well I've succeeded in replacing the belt, but it may be that there is an easier way, although I couldn't find one. The info in purple text on post #4 suggests that access to the drum can easily be gained from the front. I tried to find a way of doing that easily, but failed.
On removal of the back cover, we are presented with a large printed circuit board, various levers, switches and wires, with the drive drum (platter) clearly visible. At first sight, replacement of the drive belt which fits around the periphery of the drum and over the drive shaft of the motor, is seemingly impossible with major work to dismantle the printed circuit board and various other items to gain access to the drive drum, and the owners’ manual doesn’t give any clues as to how this can be done.
However, on closer examination from the front of the player with the front cover opened, there is a small gap around the rim of the ‘boss’ onto which the record fits, and with care, the new belt can be fed around the boss so that it dangles around the boss at the rear of the front panel. (maybe there is a way to remove that 'boss' to make things a lot easier, but if so, It wasn't apparent to me). However, I discovered that with care and patience (lots of each!), the drive belt can be fed onto the rim of the drum and the drum slowly rotated by hand until the belt is completely around the periphery. It helps if two people do this – one to feed the belt onto the drum from the right hand side, and as the drum is rotated anti-clockwise (when viewed from the rear), another person can hold the belt on the rim of the platter and take up any slack.
When the belt is right round the periphery of the drum it can be eased over the motor drive shaft. The drum can then be gently rotated by hand to ensure that the belt is correctly positioned and doesn’t ride off the drum.
It may take several attempts until you succeed but don’t be discouraged – it can be done – I’ve done it! If you have to attempt this task without and extra pair of hands, it might be a good idea to use little tabs of sticky tape (‘Sellotape’ in the UK) every couple of inches to hold the belt on the drum till the belt is in position almost all the way around the drum and can be hooked over the motor drive shaft.
The attached picture makes the process a bit clearer.
Hope that might help someone in dire straits! It might even act as a spur for someone to say 'you can save all this hassle by doing it the easy way, like this'...
On removal of the back cover, we are presented with a large printed circuit board, various levers, switches and wires, with the drive drum (platter) clearly visible. At first sight, replacement of the drive belt which fits around the periphery of the drum and over the drive shaft of the motor, is seemingly impossible with major work to dismantle the printed circuit board and various other items to gain access to the drive drum, and the owners’ manual doesn’t give any clues as to how this can be done.
However, on closer examination from the front of the player with the front cover opened, there is a small gap around the rim of the ‘boss’ onto which the record fits, and with care, the new belt can be fed around the boss so that it dangles around the boss at the rear of the front panel. (maybe there is a way to remove that 'boss' to make things a lot easier, but if so, It wasn't apparent to me). However, I discovered that with care and patience (lots of each!), the drive belt can be fed onto the rim of the drum and the drum slowly rotated by hand until the belt is completely around the periphery. It helps if two people do this – one to feed the belt onto the drum from the right hand side, and as the drum is rotated anti-clockwise (when viewed from the rear), another person can hold the belt on the rim of the platter and take up any slack.
When the belt is right round the periphery of the drum it can be eased over the motor drive shaft. The drum can then be gently rotated by hand to ensure that the belt is correctly positioned and doesn’t ride off the drum.
It may take several attempts until you succeed but don’t be discouraged – it can be done – I’ve done it! If you have to attempt this task without and extra pair of hands, it might be a good idea to use little tabs of sticky tape (‘Sellotape’ in the UK) every couple of inches to hold the belt on the drum till the belt is in position almost all the way around the drum and can be hooked over the motor drive shaft.
The attached picture makes the process a bit clearer.
Hope that might help someone in dire straits! It might even act as a spur for someone to say 'you can save all this hassle by doing it the easy way, like this'...
Regards, David.
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
