401 Kokomo bearing

[YNWaN]

Thinking about it I was briefly a member of a Lenco forum (I think it was) and I seem to recall a discussion of a bearing mod that used a ceramic or silicone nitride ball as the thrust pad - I wonder if it was this one. Anyway, the differing hardness issue was raised then and, as I recall, the manufacturer claimed that the specific ball used had been carefully chosen so that its hardness matched that of the bearing shaft. Now I'm not an expert on Garrard's but I would be very surprised if the bearing shaft is not made of tool steel. Whilst tool steel is very hard indeed, and an excellent choice, silicone nitride is very much harder and I'm not aware of any of these sintered ceramic materials that are as soft as tool steel. Rega will shortly be releasing their 'statement' turntable, the 'Naiad', and this uses a ceramic bearing (not as hard as silicone nitride), they have chosen to make both parts of the bearing from the same ceramic material. Those of you who are keen cyclists (not I as my gut will attest) will be aware of the range of wheel bearings available, steel, part ceramic and full ceramic ball races; the part ceramic that use ceramic balls in steel races are notorious for quick wear and noise.

[Wakefield Turntables]

You can have a chat with Terry @ Lorricraft he still knows one or two of the people who use to make the bearings and why they choose the materials they did.

[YNWaN]

I happen to have a 301 here now and that certainly uses a tool steel, or high- speed steel, main bearing shaft.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I happen to have a 301 here now and that certainly uses a tool steel, or high- speed steel, main bearing shaft.

New project? Sorry to thread drift.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Sort of, yes.....

Good luck!

[337alant]

Steve
I did the Kokomo mod on my 401 about 4 years ago and also found it had a better balance to the sound, whenever you have heard my Garrard at the Nebos it was with the Kokomo bearing
The 401 is sometimes criticized as having a veiled or rolled of treble but tremendous bass energy and with the standard bearing I would agree but its still a fantastic turntable.
The Kokomo on my turntable was indeed a silicon nitride ball and new end cap replacement for the the old thrust plate and IMO it tightens up the sound, the bass energy is still there but it doesent sound as bloated, there is better 3D image and fine detail IMO
I had a look at my bearing after 2 years and there is a tiny round shiny area on the middle of the end of the bearing shaft which to me doesn’t have any depth to it so I’m not concerned.

Speed instability can also be caused by a dry motor bearings worn springs, perrished gromets, a hardened idler drive roller, the inside of the platter should be polished as smooth as possible , the magnetic break being pooly positioned, and poor electrical contact on the crappy push to make mains switch on the 401.

Garrard by Alan Towell, on Flickr
Alan

[337alant]

Some more info, looks like the Mk2 & 3 uses a shim or cap betweeen the ball and the bottom of to bearing spindle so there can be no wear on the original spindle.
Think I'll upgrade mine to the mk 3

A Review from TNT Mk 1
http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/kokomo_e.html

Mk2 review

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/kokomo2_e.html

Mk3
http://www.analogtubeaudio.de/en/kok...rrard-301-401/

Alan