My Lenco Build

[northwest]

Well, way back in the mists of time I met up with Nick (Beechwoods) in a darkened underground car park. From the boot of his car he produced the deck you see in it's original configuration and we transferred it to a suitcase and I made my way back up North!
I had already had a chat with Dom at Northwest Analogue and an SME 3009 had been procured for the project.
I spent quite a bit of time over on that "other forum" - lenco heaven - and the very helpful membership over there gave me some good advice. I also made the aquaintence of "Jolly" over there - he of the Jolye Bearing Fame.

So, after actually getting the deck home the first thing to do was connect it to my system and give it a whirl. It was pretty uninspiring to be honest, but the reasons for that became obvious during the strip down. The main bearing for instance was totally shot!

I had decided from the off to glass over the now redundant tonearm and other holes as I wanted the chassis to be as clean and uncluttered as possible. I had also read on Lenco Heaven that there was a Speed Controller in the works so I investigated this but I abandoned the idea quickly as the development has been going on for over three years now so I am sticking to the mechanical speed control mechanism and leaving the appropriate cutouts in place.

I am going to be turning the chassis through 90 degrees clockwise and putting the arm to the right on the plinth. The ON/OFF switch will then be on the left hand front and the speed control linkage will be at the top left - at the rear of the deck.

The paint was stripped off, along with everything else removeable and I laid up some lightweight fibreglass matting to support the filler I would use for the holes. Unless you do this, in whatever application, the filler will eventually break away and leave you with the hole you started with! I used three coats of primer filler but I concentrated primarily on those surfaces that are visible. Then came the time for the finish coat.

After thinking about this I decided to go for a very, very traditional finish using traditional methods. The finish coat is a lovely rich cream Coach Enamel, a traditional, well, Coach Paint. This is the stuff that Coaches were painted with back in the day and for the authentic look there is only one way to apply it and that is by brush. I used a one inch pure bristle Hamilton brush and I gave it three coats. The first I flatted down with 600 grit wet n dry, the second coat 1000 grit and the third and final coat using 1500 grit. I left it for a couple of days and polished it using Farecla G3 - a bodyshop paint polishing compound - and a couple of days later after the paint had hardened up further, a final polish in preparation for a wax coat.

So that's where I am right now, all the actual mechanical bits are done now, bearings are rebuilt and linkages prepared ready for re-installation. The next and final step is the plinth and I have been giving some thought to this and I have a few ideas that I will be exploring, but that is for another time. Like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words so here you go:

http://immersible.co.uk/lenco/basicdeck.jpeg

http://immersible.co.uk/lenco/platteroriginal.jpeg

http://immersible.co.uk/lenco/platterunderside.jpg

http://immersible.co.uk/lenco/platteroriginal-02.jpeg

http://immersible.co.uk/lenco/platteredge.jpeg

http://immersible.co.uk/lenco/newbearing-01.jpg

http://immersible.co.uk/lenco/components.jpg

http://immersible.co.uk/lenco/assembled.jpg


And next week, maybe an update to my ESL57 rebuild;)

[Beechwoods]

Wow! Can't wait to hear some more about that bearing, and the arm. I'm sure that this turntable is going to be a force to be reckoned with when you've finished with it.

Surprised about the original bearing though. I thought it ran pretty well, but I really didn't use it enough to be sure - I knew it needed time and investment for it to make the sound I wanted, and I haven't any time at the moment :rolleyes:

Good luck with the next steps of your project Graham!

[northwest]

Surprised about the original bearing though. I thought it ran pretty well, but I really didn't use it enough to be sure - I knew it needed time and investment for it to make the sound I wanted, and I haven't any time at the moment :rolleyes:

Good luck with the next steps of your project Graham!

Well Nick, that's the point - I thought it ran pretty good too - then I had it rebuilt. I cannot begin to describe the difference. I threw it together for the last pic above and I gave it a bit of a spin and it went on and on and on and - I couldn't quite believe it to be honest. Probably one of the biggest changes I have made to it.

[vencel]

Well Nick, that's the point - I thought it ran pretty good too - then I had it rebuilt. I cannot begin to describe the difference. I threw it together for the last pic above and I gave it a bit of a spin and it went on and on and on and - I couldn't quite believe it to be honest. Probably one of the biggest changes I have made to it.

Hello Graham,

Very nice Lenco! I am about to start the renovation of my Lenco L70 which I acquired recently and I would like to ask for your advice on the bearing. What should be checked and how should I rebuild it?
This would be a kind of experiment for me as I have a TD-124 II, so I have time to make this L70 as good as possible. Then whichever sounds nicer will be used :-)

Thanks,
László

[rusty bearing]

Man that's some serious polishing! I've seen that bearing on Lenco heaven somewhere. They're great tt's though, have one myself and thoroughly enjoyed the rebuild......watching with interest....:)

[awkwardbydesign]

Man that's some serious polishing!
Hope you rebalanced it afterwards.:lol:

[northwest]

Just a bit of an update really, started to put the components back onto the chassis last night so that I have a reference for the plinth. Wouldn't like to spend a load of time and find it is all fouling when I get it actually into the plinth cutout.

http://immersible.co.uk/lenco/turntable05.JPG

http://immersible.co.uk/lenco/turntable04.JPG

[wiicrackpot]

Nice on-off legends, is it stick on or sprayed on with a template at the paint shop?.

[pavalon]

Hi northwest - I will be following this with interest as I too have a Lenco 75 needing a bit of tlc.

How did you managed to remove the 'original' stickers without tearing them?

[WOStantonCS100]

+1 on the "On/Off"

:popcorn:

[northwest]

Nice on-off legends, is it stick on or sprayed on with a template at the paint shop?.

The "paint Shop" was my garden shed and the paint was applied with a brush! The symbols are vinyl though and I kept them as simple as possible and it has worked.

In answer to the sticker removal, I warmed the platter up from below and used a single edged razor blade working slowly. I cut into the sticker slightly at one point but backed off and atered the angle slightly, you can't tell and I am pleased with the result.

[wiicrackpot]

The "paint Shop" was my garden shed and the paint was applied with a brush! The symbols are vinyl though and I kept them as simple as possible and it has worked.
:eek::respect: Thats amazing Graham, beats a lot of the monstrosities on that official site, most of which are :spew: and they're like sheep patting each other on their backs,
most of which i wouldn't give it houseroom TBH, well done.

[Mika K]

Really nice job there! Waiting eagerly to see the plinth.. :)

[northwest]

Really nice job there! Waiting eagerly to see the plinth.. :)

Your wish is granted;

http://immersible.co.uk/lenco/turntable%20assembled.JPG

Piece of Yew cut and planked many years ago by myself.

It will be stunning when I finally complete it and Dom has set it up for me. No treatment at all to the timber yet.

(yes, been away a while, all done now but I am not going to discuss it, thanks).