PKay Posted January 2, 2022 Posted January 2, 2022 (edited) Having bought a GL75 last year and thinking it would be a fun project I eventually got around to starting the project. Thanks to Alan @Powerglide who kindly got me started with the right oil - not only started but he even dropped it off to me as well. Once I had the oil the initial stage of getting started wasn't too bad - there is a lot of information on Lenco heaven. Stripping down and cleaning the spindle/bearing as well as the motor bearing and installing a new Audiosilente idler wheel (the original was plastic) has the turntable running very quietly and surprisingly bang on speed. The other update was to redo the wiring as the original thin wire had no earth connection. Again following instructions on Lenco Heaven this was a lot easier than I thought and no electrocution so far (there was some valid caution the first few times I tested the operation of the motor). The arm that came with the unit was pretty much trashed but luckily for me I had acquired an Alphason HR-100S tonearm which I will use. Herein lies my first problem/hurdle. I need to drill some holes to mount the the tonearm to the turntable top plate and I'm not totally confident of that. If there is someone near Artarmon who can do the job I am more than happy to pay for the services. Once I have it all mounted and if I am happy with the sound I will then go to the expense of getting a decent plinth made up and respray. I have included a few photos so far. Edited January 2, 2022 by PKay 2
The Blues Posted January 2, 2022 Posted January 2, 2022 I can help with the tonearm, I'll pm now. Looking good. 1
MrRogers Posted January 2, 2022 Posted January 2, 2022 (edited) Really nice PKay and well done! I can’t wait to hear how it sounds. Edited January 2, 2022 by MrRogers
PKay Posted April 3, 2022 Author Posted April 3, 2022 (edited) It has been a long time since I have updated on this little project. Suffice to say it really has exceeded all my expectations by a long way and it still isn't finished. Yesterday I decided to change the ball bearings and thrust plate over to the one that I purchased from Audio Silente when I bought my idler wheel. http://www.audiosilente.com/spare-parts-lenco-turntables-kit-lenco-thrust-pad.html I thought it was okay before the change after a clean and re-oil, checking the platter it would spin for 1min 14 seconds after turning off the TT at 33 1/3 rpm. After changing the ball bearing and thrust plate it spins for 3 min and 12 seconds. Well worth doing in my opinion. The only issue now is the platter which makes the TT look like an ugly duckling which will eventually be upgraded (requires more cash or a few woodwork lessons). At the moment the TT is isolated from the crappy plinth by some Herbies footers as well as the plinth from the bench. The arm is an Alphason HR100S MCS and the cart is a Benz Wood SL playing into an EAR MC4 sut and Phonobox which in my system is a very good match. I have a much nice top plate courtesy of @Bell Ringer which I need to drill a mounting point for the Alphason. The difficulty at the moment is adjusting the speed selector which seems to have about 50 years of grease and dirt and it is stuck. The other difficulty is working out how to post photos in SNA (fixed by taking a screen shot on the iphone and selecting it). Speed is stable and wow/flutter is also pretty good. Edited April 3, 2022 by PKay 8
PKay Posted April 16, 2022 Author Posted April 16, 2022 (edited) I hit a snag yesterday when I changed arms and put my Audio Origami PU7 on the Lenco. At the lowest height setting of the PU7 the arm alignment is still tail up by a long way (even after adding 2 cork mats to the platter for additional height). Does anyone know whether there is a solution? @The BluesYou have done a few builds - have you come across this problem? Edited April 16, 2022 by PKay Added photos
Bell Ringer Posted April 16, 2022 Posted April 16, 2022 @PKay I found the spindle extension. In the post today. 3
The Blues Posted April 16, 2022 Posted April 16, 2022 Ah yes, this is a problem. Looks like @Bell Ringer has a great solution if you add more height to the platter via extra mats or even another platter. I use 2 acrylic mats but still have to use spacer between headshell and cartridge. The problem with this is that I only have a couple of mm of spindle to work with. I'd love to get one of those extensions that Matt has posted. If anyone has one please let me know. 1
Bell Ringer Posted April 16, 2022 Posted April 16, 2022 I think I got mine on the auction site that starts with an 'e'. It was a few years ago. 1
Doppelganger Posted April 17, 2022 Posted April 17, 2022 On 16/4/2022 at 11:05 AM, PKay said: I hit a snag yesterday when I changed arms and put my Audio Origami PU7 on the Lenco. At the lowest height setting of the PU7 the arm alignment is still tail up by a long way (even after adding 2 cork mats to the platter for additional height). Does anyone know whether there is a solution? @The BluesYou have done a few builds - have you come across this problem? Peter, you could also add a spacer between the cartridge and headshell. Has the same effect as using a thicker mat and may improve isolation between cartridge and headshell as an added bonus. Here’s a couple I have. The one on the left is an isolator built by Duc. You’re welcome to try it. 4
PKay Posted April 17, 2022 Author Posted April 17, 2022 3 hours ago, Doppelganger said: Peter, you could also add a spacer between the cartridge and headshell. Has the same effect as using a thicker mat and may improve isolation between cartridge and headshell as an added bonus. Here’s a couple I have. The one on the left is an isolator built by Duc. You’re welcome to try it. Thanks Greg, Good excuse to pop over and check out your new phono stage at the same time. I expect I will need two thick mats plus a shim. There is a Corian plinth at Lencohell which is very thick. The arm mismatch may be enough of a reason to look at a PTP project. @rossbhas a PTP with a PU7 and that works brilliantly. I wonder whether they use a different platter to get the extra height. 1
Gryffles Posted April 17, 2022 Posted April 17, 2022 Same platter however the arm mounting height is no longer restricted by the original steel top plate. If anything you’ll find you need to use a spacer to mount the arm to gain extra height. Have a look at your Lenco now and imagine where the arm will sit mounted on the same horizontal plane as the bearing. That’s where it will be with a ptp and no spacer 1
PKay Posted April 17, 2022 Author Posted April 17, 2022 9 hours ago, Gryffles said: Same platter however the arm mounting height is no longer restricted by the original steel top plate. If anything you’ll find you need to use a spacer to mount the arm to gain extra height. Have a look at your Lenco now and imagine where the arm will sit mounted on the same horizontal plane as the bearing. That’s where it will be with a ptp and no spacer Thanks Ben, The existing Lenco top plate is recessed which drops the platter. Looking at your photo it looks like the PTP would increase the height for the PU7 to work. Part of the appeal of restoring the Lenco was that I like the look of the existing platter.
Gryffles Posted April 17, 2022 Posted April 17, 2022 26 minutes ago, PKay said: Thanks Ben, The existing Lenco top plate is recessed which drops the platter. Looking at your photo it looks like the PTP would increase the height for the PU7 to work. Part of the appeal of restoring the Lenco was that I like the look of the existing platter. Yes, you'll have the opposite problem of what you have now depending on the specific arm. If you have a good platter then keep it for sure as thats part of the Lenco sound. Unfortunately a good number of the platters are not flat. Place it on a table or bench and see if you have any rocking side to side. Another thing worth doing is testing, and adjusting, the motor to get the lowest vibration possible. Instructions are on Lenco Heaven of course : )
PKay Posted April 18, 2022 Author Posted April 18, 2022 5 hours ago, Gryffles said: Yes, you'll have the opposite problem of what you have now depending on the specific arm. If you have a good platter then keep it for sure as thats part of the Lenco sound. Unfortunately a good number of the platters are not flat. Place it on a table or bench and see if you have any rocking side to side. Another thing worth doing is testing, and adjusting, the motor to get the lowest vibration possible. Instructions are on Lenco Heaven of course : ) The PTP6 definitely works with an Audio Origami PU7 arm and it sounds very good. The other option is to get a small piece of 9mm ply and build up the arm base. Although that could work it would look very ugly.
Gryffles Posted April 18, 2022 Posted April 18, 2022 @PKay yeah it would look ugly but there are plenty of other options that'll look better!
metal beat Posted April 18, 2022 Posted April 18, 2022 (edited) On 17/04/2022 at 4:23 PM, PKay said: Thanks Greg, Good excuse to pop over and check out your new phono stage at the same time. I expect I will need two thick mats plus a shim. There is a Corian plinth at Lencohell which is very thick. The arm mismatch may be enough of a reason to look at a PTP project. @rossbhas a PTP with a PU7 and that works brilliantly. I wonder whether they use a different platter to get the extra height. Hi Peter adding headshell weights, raising the platter, adding additional mats will probably end up with more frustration. If you want to use the PU7 tonearm, you will need to do what Ross did and remove the lenco top plate ( which is the problem) and go PTP or similar. Edited April 18, 2022 by metal beat 1
PKay Posted April 18, 2022 Author Posted April 18, 2022 14 minutes ago, metal beat said: Hi Peter adding headshell weights, raising the platter, adding additional mats will probably end up with more frustration. If you want to use the PU7 tonearm, you will need to do what Ross did and remove the lenco top plate ( which is the problem) and go PTP or similar. That's what I think as well - the extra mats will most likely deaden the sound. Some people on LH add another platter but I'm not sure I want to chase down another platter. I will see how the spindle extension and extra mats goes, however, I think the PTP (which is an entirely different look) is the best answer for the PU7 matchup. The Alphason is definitely a better match for the Pink Triangle Anniversary so it won't be going back on the Lenco. 2
PKay Posted May 19, 2022 Author Posted May 19, 2022 @thejtthis is why I am putting the project on hold to go PTP eventually.
thejt Posted May 19, 2022 Posted May 19, 2022 13 minutes ago, PKay said: @thejtthis is why I am putting the project on hold to go PTP eventually. It looks great!
PKay Posted June 21, 2023 Author Posted June 21, 2023 (edited) This plinth came up on Lenco Heaven in Adelaide and I couldnt resist grabbing it. It looks excellent made from Birch ply. Edited June 21, 2023 by PKay 3 2
PKay Posted June 21, 2023 Author Posted June 21, 2023 (edited) The plinth has been unpacked. Seriously well made by Carl Ellis. I’m looking forward to setting up a cart in the next few days. Edited June 21, 2023 by PKay 6 1
marcusD Posted June 25, 2023 Posted June 25, 2023 Carl Ellis does nice work, he is building my 401 plinth at the moment 1
PKay Posted June 25, 2023 Author Posted June 25, 2023 44 minutes ago, marcusD said: Carl Ellis does nice work, he is building my 401 plinth at the moment The quality of this build is excellent. The plinth is quite a few years old. What build are you going with? 1
marcusD Posted June 25, 2023 Posted June 25, 2023 6 hours ago, PKay said: The quality of this build is excellent. The plinth is quite a few years old. What build are you going with? 2 arm plinth with rounded corners, veneered in quilted maple that has been stained cherry red and then finished with a high gloss coating. The 401 will be sunk 15mm into the plinth. I have fully stripped and restored the 401 1
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