I recently picked up a Pioneer PL-6 turntable ... I am assuming that it is from the early '80s (found the PL-5 and PL-7 on Orion ... but no PL-6) ... it's a 3 speed (33/45/78) but rotates at about 33 rpm on 45 & 78 ... and not at all on 33 ... I bought it for its looks ... dark blond wooden sides, back and back 1/3 of top ... hinged dust cover ... light gray turntable on off-white wooden base ...

Is there any minor maintenance that I can do to improve the chances of it working properly? ...

Hi,

Is the Pioneer anything like this one (http://www.freewebs.com/strictly_vinyl/idlersfromtheeast.htm) ?

The 78 speed usually indicates idler drive, and it's possible the idler wheel is not moving as it should to contact the different diameters on the pulley.

Hth.

Regards

Colin

Is the Pioneer anything like this one (http://www.freewebs.com/strictly_vinyl/idlersfromtheeast.htm) ?

The 78 speed usually indicates idler drive, and it's possible the idler wheel is not moving as it should to contact the different diameters on the pulley.

Hth.

Thanks for your interest ... Colin ... the case of my PL-6 is similar to the table to which you linked ... except the horizontzal piece on the front is off-white (instead of black) and there a 3" sq metal Pioneer emblem with the model # on the front right ...

There is no lever (silver in the pic) on the front right of the metal chasis under the platter ...

I'll take another look "under the hood (bonnet)" ...

Cool, never seen a rim driven Japanese table !

The area under the platter in the link looks the same on mine ... including a 115/230 switch at 10 o'clock ... which makes me think that this table was purchased outside of the U.S. ... maybe at a PX ...

The rubber disc does not engage the idler drive when I switch it to 33 ... but it engages at different places on the idler drive when I switch it clockwise to 78 ... and counter-clockwise to 78 ...

Hi,

It sounds as if the up/down mechanism for the idler wheel is stuck, maybe old grease. Try lubing with some thin oil to free it, make sure no oil gets on the idler wheel itself. The right hand lever on the 6A is for the arm lift/lower device.

I haven't done much with the one shown on the website, too busy with Lenco projects. I think it has potential though, and I'll be interested in watching your progress, maybe some pics too?

Regards

Colin

I´ve found these images on an italian eBay acution:

http://img227.imagevenue.com/loc96/th_23647_5BSRmGIg82k428KGrHgoOKjoEjlLmErDsBKCY0sE1 U082_1_122_96lo.JPG (http://img227.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=23647_5BSRmGIg82k428KGrHgoOKjoEjlLmE rDsBKCY0sE1U082_1_122_96lo.JPG)http://img142.imagevenue.com/loc954/th_23655_7bff_1_122_954lo.JPG (http://img142.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=23655_7bff_1_122_954lo.JPG)http://img174.imagevenue.com/loc977/th_26871_5BSRl1ywB2k136KGrHgoOKjcEjlLmYdDjBKCYzbHy 2w69_1_122_977lo.JPG (http://img174.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=26871_5BSRl1ywB2k136KGrHgoOKjcEjlLmY dDjBKCYzbHy2w69_1_122_977lo.JPG)http://img160.imagevenue.com/loc918/th_26878_5BSRmO131Wk528KGrHgoOKjMEjlLmVUyGBKCY1ONR rw56_1_122_918lo.JPG (http://img160.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=26878_5BSRmO131Wk528KGrHgoOKjMEjlLmV UyGBKCY1ONRrw56_1_122_918lo.JPG)http://img223.imagevenue.com/loc109/th_26885_6a70_1_122_109lo.JPG (http://img223.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=26885_6a70_1_122_109lo.JPG)


Nice turntable!

All the best

Different series than the PL-5 and PL-7. Interesting looking, to be sure.

That's a real beauty. I would love to find one to add to my collection.

I once had a Trio turntable from the late 1960s that was belt+idler drive. It looked like a hybrid of a DUAL and a Thorens TD125. It was my very first sale on ebay back when only the hardcore had even heard of ebay. I got a good price for it but wish, now, that I had kept it. Besides being a good performer it was one of the most beautiful turntables I've ever seen.