LENCO - GL75 Project

[brian2957]

Been a while on this thread mate. Looks like a great project, especially if you have all the bits already. Popcorn will be purchased tomorrow

[Jimbo]

Todays Update - The Reference Lenco Pt CVIII - A weird feeling in the loins (oo-er missus).

Yep, a carry on moment is ever there was one. I really really fancy doing a PTP 6 project with all my spare parts that I have kicking around and from all the messing around that I did when originally learning about how to mod Lenco's. I've fancied doing something for ages but haven't really had the inspiration. I think I really need to empty my loft and see what I have kicking around.

You know I will be watching this one very closely Andy. It is certainly on my radar too!

[Wakefield Turntables]

Todays Update - The Reference Lenco Pt CVIIII - 200,000 not out!!!

HELLO! I can't believe this but the thread has had over 200K views and still people keeping looking in. So, here's something for all you Lenco dudes.



This is an eBay purchase for a new Lenco deck that I had planned! It's a slow burning project which will act as a test bed for all the various Lenco bits and pieces that are on sale or have been produced in the past. The idea is to produce is MY ultimate expression of a Lenco GL75. A reference deck if you like. It will be pretty cool to pit this against my Garrard 301 and 401. This project is not designed to produce the ultimate Lenco, just my interpretation. So, opinions will vary, but it's just a whole load of fun. Should last another 200K views.

Stay tuned...

[Jimbo]

[brian2957]

200,002

[Wakefield Turntables]

Todays Update - The Reference Lenco Pt CX- Under staters orders....

And we are off. I see a clear path with respects to what I want to do with this Lenco deck, and the answer is NOTHING! Well, I'm going very sympathetically restore the deck. This deck is only several weeks older than myself and I just couldn't possibly butcher the thing. It's a bit tatty in places but it's in very good order. I've noticed a few parts missing but I think I have these in storage and the rest should be very easily fixed. Presently the deck sits in quite a flimsy compressed wood plinth with a very flimsy 3mm hardboard base, it's teak veneered (very 70's) with a few scuffs. The base is a matt black colour with some scuffs and some glue marks. The top plate has a few very small areas of pitting. The tonearm is pitted and the back end is broken. I've not even got the thing spinning yet! I've done some very basic restoration work today. I cleaned the rubber platter mat and the rubber plinth feet with Autoglym rubber restorer and they have come up looking very nice.

The tonearm counter weight and slider weight have a very high gloss chrome finish, this was pitted, so today I have polished them both and results are acceptable for the moment, needless to say they will get more attention. And that dear friends is about as far I have got today. It's a slow burn process which I'll do in my spare time. I'm now in a quandry in I want to keep the deck as stock as possible. I'm not going to change any of the wiring other than the mains lead which needs to be properly earthed. I'll service the bearing and maybe the tonearm as well. We shall see!

Stay tuned....

[Wakefield Turntables]

The Reference Lenco Pt CXI - It's starting again!

OK, the experiment has begun! I will own two Lenco GL75's, one stock and one an experimental reference TT, I'll be keeping both. So, the old Lenco was purchased originally for parts but it was saved when I noticed that it was made only several weeks before I was born. So I decided to restore the deck and keep it as part of my collection. I've been wanting a new TT project for ages and haven't really seen anything that floated my boat. I never really finished my Lenco journey and I wanted to do so much more with the GL75 TT's. I have been quitely collected pieces of kit for the stock machine, I'll update you all in a later post. The first thing to do was repair the plinth. As we can see it's had a bit of a bash.







The back end had been smashed in. The whole point of this experiment is to try and reproduce as close as possible how a stock GL75 would jave sounded in 1973 (when I was born). A smashed plinth is not going to achive this. So, after a little wood glue and a few clamps we have this.



The underside of the plinth is still a very very clean and tidy black, I'll not be respraying this, there is no need, the paintwork is excellent. I have bought some Teak oil. I did manage to oil the plinth and this is now how it looks.



The rubber grommets which help protect the GL75 form vibration are knackered. Here we can see them removed from the deck and are very badly mishapen. The good news is that I have ordered a replacement set from Sweden! These Swedish grommets are about as close as your going to get to the originals.




I have also cleaned the plinths rubber feet with cleaning products, they appear to be in good condition so I've kept these. There are other exciting developments which I'll detail as things arrive through the post. I will be replacing new parts on the deck and will over the next few weeks and months completely go through the deck. It's going to be a slo' blo' resto! The real fun will begin when I build the new reference TT and start comparing all the lovely new add-ons and upgrades that are now available to a lovely old stock machine.

Stay tuned...

[Wakefield Turntables]

The Reference Lenco Pt CXII - Bearing Up!

The experiment with the Lenco continues to gather pace. I've ordered several new and exciting things for the other half of this experiment, mainly the reference Lenco side of the experiment but that's for another update at some point in the future. I've been messing around with the Original Lenco GL75 and today I had some fun refurbishing the bearing. I have done no upgrades and kepy everything stock. So here are a few pictures....

This is the bearing before any work. As you can see a grubby 50 year old bearing.



So this is the end of the spindle with 50 year old grease that had turned bad and very hard.



Bearing dismantled before the proper cleaning starts.



Everything ultrasonically cleaned.



Lots of cotton buds and IPA



Top of spindle, badly with some corrosion.



Spindle now properly polished, cleaned down with IPA, ball bearing soaking in IPA to keep clean and before being reoiled.



Spindle and ball bearing freshly oiled just before assembly.



Finally the bearing completely refurbished.



Things are moving along nicely. Stay tuned....

[Jimbo]

Nice to have an ultrasonic bath just for the finishing touch! Looks better than new now Andy.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Thanks Jim, you can buy them cheaply enough on eBay and they really do make a difference.