Can you improve the stock techie bearing???
That's really interesting. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the performance. I'll digest and comment later when I can see your pics properly (on my phone at the moment) but that exactly what I had in mind when I started to look at this, just looks like a much better job than I would have made ;) nice idea with the thrust plate using those shims too :cheers:
Reporting Back on Bearing Shoot Out!
From a purely frictional point of view the modified bearing offers far less resistance, but only once run in, initially its times were worse than the standard bearing.
The run down times when switching the power off, were as follows (No record on platter and just a felt mat) Average of three readings.
Standard Bearing 33RPM = 14.6 sec 45RPM = 19.6 sec
Modified Initially 33RPM = 7.2 sec 45RPM = 11.5 sec
Modified Run In 33RPM = 18.6 sec 45RPM = 25.2 sec
The run in period was only 24 hrs, run at 45RPM, it may improve further.
I know from experience that thinner oil, eg 100% sowing machine oil will produce longer times but at the expense of the sound, you have to find the right viscosity for the bearing, sympathetic with its design and mounting to get the best acoustic results.
The strange thing was that although it ran really poorly at first it felt really free compared to the thick dragy feel to the standard bearing with its thick oil, just shows, the feel in your fingers can be deceptive.
So how does it sound?
I did four sessions, standard/modified/standard/modified playing the same four complete albums each time. Equipment as in the footer, Techie replaced the ProJect deck, but I still used the Goldring cartridge.
I will keep it brief, what hit me straight away was the increased warmth and detail of the mid range compared to the standard. Also the treble was not as harsh, being slightly sweeter. Bass is very slightly faster and tighter.
At the end of the last session I tried putting a pea size piece of Blu Tack under the bearing and tightening it down. When I took it out I had to peel the bearing off the base of the deck, boy did it stick. There is 2mm clearance under the bearing and the 10mm pea had spread to the size of a 10 pence piece. The effect of coupling the bottom of the bearing in this way was a gob smacking bass, without doubt the best I have ever achieved in any of my systems. It was tight fast and owe so deep, real grunt. The down side is that the mid range lost its lifelike feel, it had no bounce or rhythmic feel to it, being dull in comparison. So out it came. When I build the new plinth I will try this again, that bass is something to aim for, but I don’t want it at the expense of the mid range.
I think for the cost involved in the modification it’s a no brainer, with a significant improvement to the midrange. Tracy Chapman’s voice and guitar were so life like. To improve beyond this you would have to go straight to the Mike New Bearing at ten times the price.
Can you improve the stock techie bearing???
Sounds extremely interesting!
Not sure i follow the bit about the blu tak. Where did you put it exactly? Cheers :)