ok so i recently got a technics slb303 with a missing belt. So i ordered one and got it in the mail a few days ago. my friend gave me his receiver and a few days ago i hooked it up and got the record player to work nicely with headphones. So today i go to use it and i think i was messing with the different audio options and now when i turn on the receiver and move it to phono mode no music comes out. I can only hear the needle on the vinyl through my headphones. I think its a problem with the receiver as i didnt touch anything on the turntable. But i cant be positive. Can anyone help me? Thanks

Tape monitor on?

Speakers on? Or if no switch for the speakers, sometimes plugging in the headphones cuts them out.

also i remember that before this happened my player would keep playing the same thing over and over (broken record). does thing have to do with the problem or is that a problem with the counterweights and anti-skating?

That is caused by mistracking. It could be due to too light of tracking force, a bad stylus or your tonearm has some mechanical resistance due to damage, or wear.

also i remember that before this happened my player would keep playing the same thing over and over (broken record). does thing have to do with the problem or is that a problem with the counterweights and anti-skating?

Could also be that the arm lift is not lowering enough to allow the needle to fully contact the record. There is an adjustment screw on the arm lift that enables it to be lowered.

ok so i ran some tests with my receiver and i dont think anything is wrong with it. I'm guessing it could be the turntable or the tonearm. Can anyone tell me some common things that could go wrong with either the turntable, tonearm, or receiver? I dont think it is a big problem, because i just got the turntable and i havent really used it. Also all i can hear is the static and the needle on the turntable when i use my headphones(havent connected speakers yet)

So did you ever get your "ground" wire hook up, like you were asking in the "Speaker" section ?

yeah

Is the stylus broken?

Both good suggestions:That is caused by mistracking. It could be due to too light of tracking force, a bad stylus or your tonearm has some mechanical resistance due to damage, or wear.
Could also be that the arm lift is not lowering enough to allow the needle to fully contact the record. There is an adjustment screw on the arm lift that enables it to be lowered.You'll need to check the tracking weight with a scale - a "balance beam" style designed specifically for TT use will run around $24. Check the recommended tracking force for your cart, and make sure your arm is "zero balanced" before making the weight adjustment.

Make sure you can see "air" between the tonearm and lift mech when the arm is lowered on an LP, and check it all the way across the LP! I had a similar issue with a mis-adjusted lift... the mech was slightly bent in the vertical plane, the closer to the end of the LP the tonearm got the higher it would lift, until it stopped playing entirely.:yes:

I can only hear the needle on the vinyl through my headphones.

Can you hear the tuner through the speakers or only the headphones also?

ok, im not sure what "zero balance" is, but on my counterweight there is a little notch where if i push it from the back to the notch it stops. the notch is also about midway on the tube where you put the counterweight. Is this the "zero balance"? Also right now i do not have speakers but i can hear the tuner on my headphones

ok, so i think i might have figured out whats wrong. When u put a vinyl on the platter the vinyl should be completly even right? (No ups or downs on the vinyl) in other words the vinyl should be equal distance to the rubber mat on the whole 360 degrees. When i put the vinyl on my turntable it seems to be a little bit off. so when i play it the tonearm bobs very slightly up and down which causes the needle to also bob which could cause static? Is my assumption correct, or is it normal for a record to be slightly off balance? thanks

ok, so i think i might have figured out whats wrong. When u put a vinyl on the platter the vinyl should be completly even right? (No ups or downs on the vinyl) in other words the vinyl should be equal distance to the rubber mat on the whole 360 degrees. When i put the vinyl on my turntable it seems to be a little bit off. so when i play it the tonearm bobs very slightly up and down which causes the needle to also bob which could cause static? Is my assumption correct, or is it normal for a record to be slightly off balance? thanks

That means that there is a warp in the record, and/or the platter is off balance....both not good things.

ok so im almost 100 percent sure its not a warp in the record because i just got the record like 2 weeks ago brand new. So im pretty sure it has to be that the platter is off balance. Can you tell me a way to fix this problem? thanks

ok so im almost 100 percent sure its not a warp in the record because i just got the record like 2 weeks ago brand new. So im pretty sure it has to be that the platter is off balance. Can you tell me a way to fix this problem? thanks

Don't count on it not being warped because its new. I get BRAND NEW stuff that is warped quite often. It doesn't take too long for an LP to warp in direct sunlight or when placed near a source of heat.. I seriously doubt that your platter is off balance. Your record is more than likely warped. You should be able to see this visually. Also slight warp is fairly common and should not affect playback the way you are describing.

I say that your turntable is not anywhere near setup properly. I suggest finding someone local that knows what they are doing to help you set it up. I think your having a difficult time applying our suggestions to you problems.

Download the manual for the SL-B202 from the library section at vinylengine.com and follow the directions on setting up the turntable. That model is identical to yours except for being semi-auto instead of full auto. The setup is exactly the same.

Heres the link for the manual hakaplan mentioned:
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-b202.shtml
Once it is properly setup it should work better for you.

I should mention that you will want to setup the turntable WHERE you will be using it. Make sure the turntable is level BEFORE balancing the tonearm. You will obviously need some type of appropriate level to balance the table. Take your time and do not rush the job. Once its been initially setup you can make other minor adjustments and tweaks to get it dialed in. Remember too that these things are somewhat fragile and need to be handled delicately.

thanks for the manuel. I set it up and played it, with the same result. I then looked at my vinyl and it turns out that it is warped. It is bent from the sides, so my question is if it is warped should there still be the song playing with bad quality or no song at all? Right now there is no song at all and unfortunately i dont have another record to try out because i only have 1 !!

But it's not bent in the middle ? Only the sides ?

i cant tell for sure if its bent in the middle but it is concave up slightly

do you have a straight edge ruler you can lay across the album (or is this a 45 rpm?) and measure it ?

Go to a Goodwill and get a few records to use for testing. They only cost a buck a piece.

ok so i tried other records and it seems like that the warped record is not the problem because they also dont work? Do you know of any other problems that could be affecting my turntable? Thanks

ok nevermind i just checked my needle and it is not straight lol! also there also looks like what is a small cut on the very end of the backend of the needle which is causing it. Im not sure because the needle is so small but i think the metal broke off of it. Do i have to get a replacement needle? Thanks

What is the cartridge?

its an audiotechnica not sure what model it is, i cant find it on the cart. Its red though

its an audiotechnica not sure what model it is, i cant find it on the cart. Its red though

HUH ???

The Technics SL-B303 SLB303 turntable originally came with a Panasonic Technics EPC-270C EPC 270C EPC270C phono cartridge and Panasonic Technics EPS-270SD EPS 270SD EPS270SD needle stylus. It comes with a highly polished spherical diamond tip for good rendition of voice and music.