I have a couple RCA Red Seal Records that are really heavy (Leopold Stokowski conducting the Nutcracker Suite). My turntable seems so weighed down by them that it doesn't play at the right speed. Any ideas how to play these?

Yup. First thing you need to do is clean your TT's drive belt and pulleys, or idler wheel and inner TT platter rim. Next step is lube your platter bearings. You'll find all sorts of opinions on these two areas by using the search functions here:) because there are all sorts of differing points of view on these areas. After cleaning and lubing, you should be just fine with any record.

Tom

What type of turntable do you have? If it is a belt drive you may need a new belt or the bearing needs oil.

Ron

It's a Pioneer PL-516, I just put a new belt on it today. I might need oil as you said. What do you use for lubing? Some Quaker State Engine oil perhaps? Where exactly should I apply it (I've never done it before)?

3-in-1 household oil works good, sewing mach oil too, basically any good lite oil. even wd40 works but may not last a long time, it will lube anything. Just don't spritz it all over the place. A little goes a long way.
Once you pull the platter and bottom cover you'll see where oil should go. Spindle shafts of all things that go round and round, other metal to metal moving surfaces that effect platter rotation. I recently did my 518 when I dragged it home, and my TD124.

WD40 is not really a lubricant. WD stands for water displacement, its original intended use. It is more of a penetrating/cleaning oil and is full of kerosene-like distillates. Personally, I use and recommend 5W-30 Mobil One. You'll have enough for a lifetime of TT lubrication and an infinite shelf-life. But, as Tom stated above, there are many opinions about this.

Okay, so it's not the belt....

1. Clean the pulleys
2. Lube platter bearings (I used 3-in-1 on my Dual; Yamaha B-2's recommendation is better)
3. Check pitch control, if any, for proper operation, either mechanical or electronic. If mechanical, judicious lube. Electronic, contact cleaner on the pot.

Bet you find your problems gone after this.

Tom

Seriously though, is your "replacement belt" the right one? I had this problem once. Make sure its the right belt. And if the motor has not been oiled in awhile you should do that too. Eric

You're right, Eric. Forgot about those two issues. I got a new belt for my Dual and it was so tight the platter wouldn't turn when switched on. Had to exchange it. And I'm ashamed to admit that I'm afraid to take my motor apart to oil it. D'oh!
Tom

I followed the replacement guide on Needle Doctor, so I think the belt should be fine. I might have to oil the motor.

Tom you should look for holes in the top of your motor near the spindle you should not have to take apart the motor.

Ron

Personally, I use and recommend 5W-30 Mobil One.

:yes: I use this stuff for just about everything (0W-30) - it rocks! And unlike oil it does not degrade over time.

I'm going to pick up my check from Mobil now :scratch2: .

Pete

Tom you should look for holes in the top of your motor near the spindle you should not have to take apart the motor.

Ron
Will do this weekend, Ron. Thank you:thmbsp: I suspect that no lubing since 1981 might show negligence on my part. I think I have some 5W-30 around that should go into the Taurus.

Tom

I'm noticing fluctuations in speed after using oil. Is this typical? Will it go away after a while? The turntable seems to be slower since I oiled the pulley and belt.

Did you get any oil on the motor pulley or the belt?

I did oil up the pulley, should I also put oil on the belt itself?

No No oil on the motor pulley or the belt you must get the oil off of the pulley and the belt and where the belt runs on the platter clean it off good with alcohol make sure none remains. Oil should only go into the holes on top of the motor near the pulley.

Ron

Starting to think that you have something 'wrong' with your TT. Not just a belt or lubrication. Perhaps the bearing is shot, the speed control is bad, whatever. BTW, did you lubricate both the motor and and the spindle bearing? Really only takes a couple of drops to wet either one.

No oil should get on the pulley or the belt it will make the pulley and belt slip giving you that speed fluctuations. Now the spindle that goes through the middle of the platter at its base it goes into a hole that is the bearing . I remove mine to oil it mine is the PL-115D and the spindle is held in by a upside down Z shaped piece of metal held in by one screw.At the base of the spindle there should be a gear make sure you get that gear back into the position it was in when you removed it. I put the oil on the part of the spindle that goes into the bearing a little goes a long way.

Ron

Thank you. I used the rubbing alcohol on the belt and bearing and cleaned them. I removed the spindle and oiled it. And dropped a couple drops of oil in the motor holes. No more speed fluctuations. However I still find the turntable can't play the RCA Victor Red Seal up to speed. Those records seem to weigh about 10 times more than a regular LP.

Right on I would give the oil a chance to do its work on the motor and bearing.

Ron

by the way did the oil hole look like this.

Ron

Nope, I'll have to look at it again, however I did pour oil on that surface in the diagram, so it probably fell in the hole.

I had another look at it and I don't see that hole where you have it on your diagram. I see a screw adjacent to the base of the pulley, that's about it. There are also three holes on top of the motor casing.

Sorry for the poor picture quality, my Kodak EasyShare CX7300 ain't the best camera for these closeup shots.

Picture of pulley (http://www.freewebtown.com/bowlanders/100_6037.JPG)

Perhaps you have to unscrew that screw then add the oil?

:yes: I use this stuff for just about everything (0W-30) - it rocks! And unlike oil it does not degrade over time.

I'm going to pick up my check from Mobil now :scratch2: .

Pete

Well neither does dino oil. It collects contaminates and gets sludged. Once contaminated (and time and dust will contaminate it) it will need cleaned just like ordinary oils.

Sorry for the poor picture quality, my Kodak EasyShare CX7300 ain't the best camera for these closeup shots. I had to go back into the book that came with my Nikon 2200 and read about shooting macro shots. Once I knew what I was doing it worked well. Your Kodak might also have a macro setting you don't know about. Ok, then again, I may be the only one who is pretty camera illiterate today. :D

Well, no one else said it so I will.
You play heavy records on a heavy record playing machine! :D

Sorry.... The devil made me do it.