mrporcelain Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 I've got an old SME 3012 that I'm getting up and running. It's just been re-wired with an incognito kit. I've only had a SME 3009 improved, so this is all new to me. The rear weight freely moves back and forth freely, and there's this black... gunk... between the weight and the armtube. What is it? Should I clean it? Any general advice on getting this up and running gratefully received. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Analogsound Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 The coupling rubber is broken, you need to buy a replacement or better send it to technical to repair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrporcelain Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 9 minutes ago, Analogsound said: The coupling rubber is broken, you need to buy a replacement or better send it to technical to repair That's really helpful thanks. I was hoping it wasn't something that was broken but figured it was likely. Do you know anywhere better to get them from than here: https://www.smetonearms.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=20 Was hoping to get this TT up and running! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Analogsound Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 Better you buy it from SME because for small parts like this very hard to find another supplier within Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussievintage Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 (edited) All fairly easy to fix yourself. Other than the coupling rubbers being perished and broken (they always do) you seem to be missing the sliding adjustment weight from the outrigger arm, and also the anti-skating weight which should hang from the centre notched rod, and over a wire guide (which I also do not see) and would have been held under the missing base positioning slide screw (I see only one on the near side - the one on the far side is missing) Details vary with exact versions but looking at pictures online will help Edited August 14, 2023 by aussievintage 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrporcelain Posted August 15, 2023 Author Share Posted August 15, 2023 On 14/08/2023 at 10:00 AM, aussievintage said: All fairly easy to fix yourself. Other than the coupling rubbers being perished and broken (they always do) you seem to be missing the sliding adjustment weight from the outrigger arm, and also the anti-skating weight which should hang from the centre notched rod, and over a wire guide (which I also do not see) and would have been held under the missing base positioning slide screw (I see only one on the near side - the one on the far side is missing) Details vary with exact versions but looking at pictures online will help You scared me for a second, thankfully I have those items, they're just not attached currently while I get this up and running. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkaramazov Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 Just to confirm that this is a reasonably easy fix, just take your time with (it requires some patience to remove the black gunk) - there are a few resources online. I managed to get some original SME parts on ebay (that is, the two rubber bits) so that may be an option. In my experience, the repair immediately tightened the sound on my 3012, so worth doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian McP Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 https://www.vinylengine.com/library/sme/3012.shtml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lansche plasma guy Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 If you're in Melbourne and don't have wide experience in doing this stuff just give it to Loi (analogsound) to check over and overhaul for you. It won't cost you much and it will be as good as new when finished. With the rubber rotted away there may be some other adjustments needed to bring the tonearm back to perfect running order. He can also check the knife edge bearings for you etc. LPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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