Garrard RC210 pickup arm not moving

[garrardrc210]

Hi, I'm a new owner of an RC210 inside an HMV cabinet.
Pic here Photo by mikepickard23 • Instagram.

The wiring, clockwork and everything looks in top condition, BUT while the turntable rotates; the pickup arm doesn't move at all (not locked in place!). Video I've watched on youtube shows the pickup arm visibly lifting after clicking the on-reject, but mine does nothing and the record(s) don't drop. Its fixed position does appear to be slightly raised though. I'm absolutely stumped. Any ideas?

 

[reubensm]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Incidently, my brother and I are currently working on a Garrard RC210 which was received in very bad condition. We got the motor and the mechanicals to work and are currently awaiting some spares from the UK and a new cartridge from the United States. The RC210 has some complex mechanicals and hence, a few pictures would be a good diagnostic guide. Kindly post a few pics of:

1) the area under the turntable (you have to remove the turntable to achieve this, want to take a look at the spindle base and the idler area)

2) the mechanicals beneath the chassis, the motor area, the platter bearing area and the tonearm area (separate photographs)

Also, can you give some more details on the current scenario, what is working, does the platter turn, how is the platter torque, etc.

Thanks, Reuben

 

[garrardrc210]

Thanks. I'm having trouble removing the platter/turntable despite following the instructions in the manual. Can you go into detail about what I need to do to remove it?

Platter spins ok, and all mechanicals look excellent. I'll try and get some photos for you without removing the whole thing from the base.

 

[reubensm]

Removing the platter is usually the first challenge in a RC210 restoration. First of all, carefully remove the horse-shoe shaped turntable retaining clip. Once you've done that, lift the platter carefully with equal pressure on diametrically opposite sides. More often than not, the platter won't budge by this method, especially on old soiled versions of the turntable. It you experience difficulty doing so, using a wooden block (not a hammer please), give the record spindle a downward tap and then try carefully lifting the platter. If it still does not come out, ask a friend to help you, let him tap the spindle downward, gently while you simultaneously life up the platter. Please try these methods in the very sequence mentioned. If the 1st two methods don't work, the third definitely will, but try the 1st and 2nd before attempting the 3rd.

 

[garrardrc210]

Removing the platter is usually the first challenge in a RC210 restoration. First of all, carefully remove the horse-shoe shaped turntable retaining clip...

I can't even do that! There were two clips on there - a bigger darker coloured one, and a small silver one.I can't budge the silver one at all! Is there a trick to this?

 

[reubensm]

I can't even do that! There were two clips on there - a bigger darker coloured one, and a small silver one.I can't budge the silver one at all! Is there a trick to this?

All you would need to do is remove the bigger darker coloured one, the one shaped like a horse shoe. Use 2 flat screw drivers and apply gentle force at both ends of the horse shoe shaped clip, it will slip out of position. Do not apply extreme force as it will cause the clip to eject and become a projectile

 

[garrardrc210]

All you would need to do is remove the bigger darker coloured one, the one shaped like a horse shoe. Use 2 flat screw drivers and apply gentle force at both ends of the horse shoe shaped clip, it will slip out of position. Do not apply extreme force as it will cause the clip to eject and become a projectile

Thanks. I got the platter off. It needed a little bit more force than I'd been giving. Anyway - I've posted a pic here, and a video here.
I still can't figure out why the pickup arm refuses to budge, although the auto-trip seems a bit odd too. I'd expect it to do *something*. Could the two be related?

 

[garrardrc210]

Thanks I did reply earlier, but the post disappeared.
Anyway, I got the platter off - it just needed a bit more force than I was giving it.
I've posted a video here, and some photos here. I'm not convinced the auto trip is working correctly, but it's difficult to be sure. Any ideas why that pickup arm is refusing to budge? Everything looks ok to me - but I'm no expert!

 

[garrardrc210]

One thing I have just noticed is that while the rubber wheel that drives the platter round works and the platter spins, the spindle doesn't rotate at all. I get the impression that it should. What drives this?

 

[reubensm]

One thing I have just noticed is that while the rubber wheel that drives the platter round works and the platter spins, the spindle doesn't rotate at all. I get the impression that it should. What drives this?

That's correct. The RC 210's spindle does not rotate. How could it, if it was meant to hold the stack of records above. Imagine if it had to rotate, the stack of records above would have rotated as well.

 

[garrardrc210]

That's correct. The RC 210's spindle does not rotate. How could it, if it was meant to hold the stack of records above. Imagine if it had to rotate, the stack of records above would have rotated as well.

I mean the base, that has a dark coloured cog.
BTW, photos are on their way - the post needs an admin to check the URLs or something first apparently...

 

[garrardrc210]

Hi,
Photo and video links have now gone up (scroll back a bit) - does anything help at all?

 

[reubensm]

ok, thanks for the pics and the video. Will take a look.

On another note, when operating in manual mode, you should be able to manually place the tonearm on the record and get it to play. The tomearm must return to base automatically once the record is played in manual mode. Does this work for you?

 

[reubensm]

Taking a look at the pictures of our RC210 and your's one noticeable difference is the tension of the spring hitched to the lever assembly that engages the tonearm. Take a look at the picture comparison:

1) Our RC210:

2) Your RC210 (I have circled this in yellow):

This spring on your RC210 appears to be a bit stretched, which could result in the base position for the lever being different. As a result, the tonearm assembly may not be engaging with the spindle assembly. This may require further investigation but for a start, the physical appearances of the spring tension and the lever positioin appear different.

 

[garrardrc210]

On another note, when operating in manual mode, you should be able to manually place the tonearm on the record and get it to play. The tomearm must return to base automatically once the record is played in manual mode. Does this work for you?

Thanks. I thought so too. I kept seeing references to manually placing the tonearm - but mine doesn't move at all in a horizontal plane - at least no more than I show in the video (a couple of centimetres).
The comment you make about the tension on the spring makes sense - or at least I can see how that might be related.Do you think it would help to temporarily remove the spring?
Thanks for all this help btw,it's *really* appreciated. I'd love to get this working.

 

[reubensm]

Thanks. I thought so too. I kept seeing references to manually placing the tonearm - but mine doesn't move at all in a horizontal plane - at least no more than I show in the video (a couple of centimetres).
The comment you make about the tension on the spring makes sense - or at least I can see how that might be related.Do you think it would help to temporarily remove the spring?
Thanks for all this help btw,it's *really* appreciated. I'd love to get this working.

I haven't seen the video, will take a look in the evening and comment. You're always welcome, will try our best to help out.

On another note, are you able to manually lift the arm off its stand and move it toward the centre of the record? I mean, is the arm actually moving on its pivot?

 

[reubensm]

Do you think it would help to temporarily remove the spring?

Let me try removing the spring on our RC210 and see what happens. Unfortunately I cannot play mine as it does not have a headshell and cart, yet. But let me run a check on what happens. That spring pulls that lever down and the very fact that it is stretch somehow gets me to believe that your tonearm assembly may have stalled due to dried up lubration but that's just my assumption at this stage. Let me take a look at the video.

 

[quad]

This spring on your RC210 appears to be a bit stretched, which could result in the base position for the lever being different. As a result, the tonearm assembly may not be engaging with the spindle assembly. This may require further investigation but for a start, the physical appearances of the spring tension and the lever positioin appear different.

It appears the level to which the spring is attached is jammed. You may have to
clean up the dried grease at all the joints, using some kind of
solvent (try WD40, iso-propyl alcohol etc).
Relube with the recommended grease (or use white lithium automobile bearing
grease if you can't find the recommended grease).
If there are plastic parts, be careful to use a plastic-safe lubricant.

 

[garrardrc210]

removed the spring and it does seem like the auto-tone arm mechanism is seized. By forcing the mechanism I've been able to get it into such a position that I can now manually play records! It's progress!

I just need to figure out the best way to lube that mechanism without having to dismantle any of the clockwork (which I'm convinced I'd never get back together again).

I'll keep you updated, but in the meantime here's a short video:
Garrard RC210 working - YouTube

 

[denom]

Hi Mike,

Thoroughly enjoyed watching the vid, your Console looks MINT! Pls post more hi-res pics of the unit & of the garrard. Some more vids with a digi cam would be a bonus.