My journey with Vinyl started in this forum. I am still a newbie as far as turntables are concerned. Few weeks back I acquired a Kenwood KD-37R. I wrote about it here http://www.hifivision.com/phono-turntables/22667-kenwood-kd-37r.html
However, the kenwood turntable looked a bit modern for my taste and my hunt for another turntable started. I came across an advt for Akai AP-002 turntable in olx.in and to the best of my luck, the seller was from this forum. Just few emails and calls exchanged, the turntable was packed to my address in Chennai professionally and in perfect condition. Thank you
Hemant Waghe for this transaction, your gesture in giving me free LPs along with this beautiful piece of art.
Already in love with this turntable :yahoo:.
I opened it and found few things.
1) It has a big AC motor. The motor has a solid build and will last a lifetime. It also has the 'Made in Japan' tag. Can I use a fan speed regulator (thyristor control)?
2) It has two threads enclosed in plastic tubes which open up at the top just below the platter. There is a label "Oil" just at the opening. So to oil the bearings, one just needs to put few drops. The threads will use capillary action to take the oil to the bearings. Beautiful use of high school physics
3) My turntable came fitted with Shure M75EJ cartridge.
4) The turntable completed ~ 33.5 revs in 59 seconds.
5) The entire mechanism is so simple (including the automatic return), that any problem in the future can be rectified by using parts from my junk box.
6) Some of the springs have been made just by using a thick copper wire with one section folded into a 'V' shape. The 'V' Section then acts like a spring. Such springs can easily be fabricated at home.
7) The turntable has RCA out for the left, right channel and a terminal for the earth wire.
8) This is a belt driven turntable. The motor spindle has two wheels of differing sizes to provide 33.5 and 45 RPM speeds. A mechanical lever on the turntable operates a plastic fork to move the belt to the required spindle size. Again, I like that, speed control is simple physics rather than some fancy electronics.
9) I have again brought back the shine to the chrome parts by rubbing Johnson's Baby Oil on it and wiping it with cloth.
Few questions that I need help on
1) Does anyone know when this turntable was being manufactured?
2) Is there any way I can remove light scratches on the plastic top cover and make it exactly like new?
3) The ground wire for the right channel and left channel are not connected inside. The wires from the tone arm come independently to the left and right RCA out on the behind. They get connected together only when I connect the earth wire from the turntable to my AVR. So If I solder the connections inside, the ground wire will not be needed. Should I do that?
4) How good is Shure M75EJ? Should I retain this and only change the stylus when it gets worn out?
5) The motor sits on rubber bushes. They are fine now. I was thinking of constructing rubber bushes by searching the hardware market for a rubber pipe. I can then cut the rubber pipe to the required size. The difficulty I guess will be getting a rubber tube of the required diameter. I am wondering the rubber tubes that are used in doctor's stethoscopes can be used for this?
However, the kenwood turntable looked a bit modern for my taste and my hunt for another turntable started. I came across an advt for Akai AP-002 turntable in olx.in and to the best of my luck, the seller was from this forum. Just few emails and calls exchanged, the turntable was packed to my address in Chennai professionally and in perfect condition. Thank you
Hemant Waghe for this transaction, your gesture in giving me free LPs along with this beautiful piece of art.Already in love with this turntable :yahoo:.
I opened it and found few things.
1) It has a big AC motor. The motor has a solid build and will last a lifetime. It also has the 'Made in Japan' tag. Can I use a fan speed regulator (thyristor control)?
2) It has two threads enclosed in plastic tubes which open up at the top just below the platter. There is a label "Oil" just at the opening. So to oil the bearings, one just needs to put few drops. The threads will use capillary action to take the oil to the bearings. Beautiful use of high school physics
3) My turntable came fitted with Shure M75EJ cartridge.
4) The turntable completed ~ 33.5 revs in 59 seconds.
5) The entire mechanism is so simple (including the automatic return), that any problem in the future can be rectified by using parts from my junk box.
6) Some of the springs have been made just by using a thick copper wire with one section folded into a 'V' shape. The 'V' Section then acts like a spring. Such springs can easily be fabricated at home.
7) The turntable has RCA out for the left, right channel and a terminal for the earth wire.
8) This is a belt driven turntable. The motor spindle has two wheels of differing sizes to provide 33.5 and 45 RPM speeds. A mechanical lever on the turntable operates a plastic fork to move the belt to the required spindle size. Again, I like that, speed control is simple physics rather than some fancy electronics.
9) I have again brought back the shine to the chrome parts by rubbing Johnson's Baby Oil on it and wiping it with cloth.
Few questions that I need help on
1) Does anyone know when this turntable was being manufactured?
2) Is there any way I can remove light scratches on the plastic top cover and make it exactly like new?
3) The ground wire for the right channel and left channel are not connected inside. The wires from the tone arm come independently to the left and right RCA out on the behind. They get connected together only when I connect the earth wire from the turntable to my AVR. So If I solder the connections inside, the ground wire will not be needed. Should I do that?
4) How good is Shure M75EJ? Should I retain this and only change the stylus when it gets worn out?
5) The motor sits on rubber bushes. They are fine now. I was thinking of constructing rubber bushes by searching the hardware market for a rubber pipe. I can then cut the rubber pipe to the required size. The difficulty I guess will be getting a rubber tube of the required diameter. I am wondering the rubber tubes that are used in doctor's stethoscopes can be used for this?
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Really well maintained by previous owner & am sure you will continue to look after it as well. Hemant really takes extra care to pack the stuff he ships out of mumbai, he scouts a lot for packing materials to ensure that the shipment reaches the buyer safe & sound. 
