Turntable Lube

[Jimbo]

A few photos of todays work on the turntable.

Arm removed and ready to clean
BEEA62F6-0B29-4AF8-930C-C4C1F956AA02 by , on Flickr

Oooh that's sharp!

8917E3F3-1750-4081-8795-62D3EFAE9667 by , on Flickr

Platter removed showing integrated bearing spindle and ball bearing.
2B721B62-A8FB-4AD6-BA75-7BB7D6E43569 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/162281319@N03/[/url], on Flickr

This sits in a brass oil bath sleeve in the platter.
4089AF60-1381-4BCB-9C33-619D4E4975D9 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/162281319@N03/]J/url], on Flickr

Just a few drops..

687DE877-D510-4521-B60A-5D36914D7DCA by y, on Flickr

So what did I use...?

6899271A-BCF1-4E28-984F-F8F924F0FB83 by y, on Flickr

[Barry]

What do the manufacturer of your turntable recommend you use as a bearing lubricant?

[Jimbo]

What do the manufacturer of your turntable recommend you use as a bearing lubricant?

Motor oil.

[Barry]

Any particular kind?

[Jimbo]

Any particular kind?

30-40W. I used synthetic as it lasts long time without deteriorating. Also fairly thin so works well in the brass reservoir which pushes it up round the spindle.

I used it also on the motor spindle and everything is extremely quiet and runs very smooth indeed. In fact the motor and turntable turning are absolutely silent.

I will evaluate sound over the weekend but not expecting any change.

[Jimbo]

Everything is back in situ and up and running but being a nerd I went to great lengths to put the turntable back in the system. Part of the cleaning and lubing exercise was to also lube the motor spindle and clean the platter circumference which I have not shown in the photos. Anyhow I popped the belt back on and set about getting the speed accurately with my Dr Freikert platter test record and speed app which works by recording a test tone. However I noticed two things. First the turntable belt made no noise when started, usual it makes a chirrup. Then when I set the speed up I got it a lot more accurate than I have ever done previously. Why was this?

Maybe it was the clean platter, maybe it was the cleaned bearing or the oiled motor shaft or a combination of all these? I don't know but whatever has happened has allowed the turntable to run more smoothly and thus more accurately.

Has this changed the sound. No.

[CageyH]

I am not sure a multigrade is the best choice, as at room temperatures you are likely to be at the "5W" viscosity.
A good SAE 30 or 40monograde would probably be better?

The differences between multigrade and monograde are shown here - https://wiki.anton-paar.com/en/engine-oil/

[Barry]

That is why I always use what the manufacturer of the TT recommends, rather than second guess what to use.

Also for my decks, which are all idler wheel designs, the bearing lubricant can be different to that used for the motor.

[Jimbo]

I can only think noise, speed and wear would be the issues when using the wrong time of oil.


My TT manufacturer uses either 40W motor oil or lithium grease depending on the bearing and whether its inverted or non inverted.

[CageyH]

Yes, a mono grade, SAE rated oil.
You have used a 5W/30 multi grade, which at room temperature is not at the 30 rating.
SAE 30 and 40 is available relatively easily. I know what I would use.