I just got a very beautiful looking vintage Yamaha turntable. Its running a Shure M91ED cartridge with a new stylus - and to my ears at least, sounds very sweet indeed. Apparently the belt is new - and all looks clean as a whistle below the platter. Problem - its running a bit slow - I've timed it against a CD player using the same track and its loses about 4-5 secs after a minutes play. I also counted the revolutions - 33 of them took 64 secs! Does any friendly person out there know what I can do to adjust the speed? Could the new belt be affecting this and does it need to "run in"? Just incase I've reordered a new 25" belt from needledoctor - and will use some alchohol (on the deck not me!) before installing this. Any other suggestions - its bugging me! Thanks, Mark

it doesnt have any pitch adjustements? is everything well lubricated?

Sounds like you've got a handle on the situation. This turntable (as most belt models without pitch controls) has a synchronous motor, meaning that the speed is tied to the 60Hz line frequency. Therefore the only possible variable is either the belt or the pulleys or rims over which the belt travels. Or as WhiteSe mentioned, lubrication. So your cleaning those surfaces is on the money. Ordering the new belt was also a good idea. When you receive a used turntable, you can't take anything for granted, no matter what the seller may have claimed.

Thanks Guys. Its doesn't have a pitch control althought the mains here in Australia is 50Hz I think? It all seems well lubricated and spins forever when I disconnect the belt. Maybe leaving it running all night might help? I'll def clean all those contacts when the new belt arrives. I've also tracked down a service manual still enroute from USA. Maybe that might say if the motor can be adjusted? But cheers so far, much appreciated. Mark.

Ok I cleaned all the contacts (but still using the old belt for now which looks fairly new) I did another count and got roughly 33 revolutions in 60 secs which is better. However - when synchronised with a CD it STILL runs a few seconds behind and is STILL audibly lower in pitch. Now I'm really stumped :( Whats going on - shouldn't they sound the same? Hmmm better wait for that new belt...the workshop manual arrived but didn't mention pitch on one page. Damn! :(

Oh and one last thing - hope I'm not obsessing here (probably!!) but the supplied belt is very thin ie: easily less than .25 mm - it also moves fairly easy when it sits around the plater - not floppy loose - but hardly tight either. I have a spherical stylus at the moment (an eliptical replacement is now on order for the M91ED. tracking set at 1 (range is 3/4 to 1.5) - can any of these things effect the pitch? Thats my lot!!! Thanks anyone and everyone :)

clean these surfaces well using good alchohol. Talc the belt (or use corn starch)

I couldn't clean them any more if I tried! I'll try the talc trick on the old belt or just wait for the new one. The belt spec says its .6mm thick which is at least twice if not more than the old one. maybe thats it too? :scratch2:Thanks! :banana:

I couldn't clean them any more if I tried! I'll try the talc trick on the old belt or just wait for the new one. The belt spec says its .6mm thick which is at least twice if not more than the old one. maybe thats it too? :scratch2:Thanks! :banana:

Not "too"--the belt is your main problem. That's why now matter how new the belt looks you can't assume it is the correct one.

Thanks. I agree for sure - especially as the one thats on it now seems really thin (even if it is the correct length of 25") I can't wait for the postman to deliver the correct one from needledoctor. Cheers for that! m :)

OK :) The new belt arrived and has now replaced the existing one - which in direct comparison was much looser and thinner. Sure enough its made a HUGE difference. Its not running 100% exact speed as the CD but...its only a couple of secs benhind rather than the 5 secs before - I can hear the difference tonally too. I can live with this - its not a perfect world is it? So thanks for the advice - change your belt young man!!! Cheers, Mark :)

Glad to hear it. It's hard to get it exactly on the money, but I'm glad it's close enough that you're enjoying the sound. BTW, the M91ED is a fine cartridge, and I have a soft spot for that HK receiver. I inherited an original 330 (it was spelled out "three thirty") from my grandfather and still like it a lot.