New developments at Firebottle towers

[Firebottle]

Ha - fooled you, it's nothing to do with amplifiers :eyebrows:

My first idler drive TT fitted with my first MC cart, thanks to montesquieu (it arrived safe and sound this morning :thumbsup:).

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/P1040953.jpg

It sounds pretty darn fine through the NEC integrated, as that's the only thing at Firebottle towers that will accept MC at the moment :rolleyes:
The Lenco has a bit of wow so I think I need to invest in a new idler wheel.

More fettling and of course more listening to be done,

:)

[walpurgis]

Check the idler wheel is straight and not warped. Clean the rubber idler rim with meths and the tapered motor spindle and the idler contact surface under the platter. Don't forget to undo the screw on the side of the bearing before trying to remove the platter. Check the idler draw spring is tensioning correctly. EP80 or EP90 on platter main bearing. Don't overlube the bearing, you'll blow the polythene cup off the bottom when you put the platter back! Use one tiny drop of fine silicone oil on the idler bearing and the same on the motor bearings.

[Gordon Steadman]

Ha - fooled you, it's nothing to do with amplifiers :eyebrows:

My first idler drive TT fitted with my first MC cart, thanks to montesquieu (it arrived safe and sound this morning :thumbsup:).

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/P1040953.jpg

It sounds pretty darn fine through the NEC integrated, as that's the only thing at Firebottle towers that will accept MC at the moment :rolleyes:
The Lenco has a bit of wow so I think I need to invest in a new idler wheel.

More fettling and of course more listening to be done,

:)

Wot you need is a great big heavy plinth for that:eyebrows: How does the arm cope with the MC? I didn't think the arms were rated that highly. I've never heard one although I've been looking out for an old Lenco for ages.

[walpurgis]

I didn't think the arms were rated that highly.

The turntable section is lovely. I've never liked the 75/78 arm though. A Linn LV-V is a drop in replacement and far better with MCs (even better with a beefy headshell). The LV-V is currently still pretty cheap on eBay (that won't last though). Very underrated arm. Certainly as able as the cheaper Jelcos.

[Firebottle]

Gordon I'll bring it down when we visit so you can get to here it.

Might even have made another MC capable pre by then as well :cool:

[Jimbo]

Nice one Alan. Needs the magic of your MC phono stage.:)

[symon]

I'm glad to hear you're getting some enjoyment out of it, Alan. I knew you'd be a good person to take it and make it sing. Sounds like you're doing a fine job.

[shane]

IMHO the Lenco arm is seriously under-rated. Replace the original rubber V-block bearings which will have perished by now and it'll give a good account of itself. No Linn arm could be considered a "drop-in" replacement without some major metalwork being done.

V-block bearing replacements here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/V-Block-Tonearm-Bearings-Goldring-Lenco-GL-L75-76-78-Upgrade-Replacement-NEW-TOP-/261976833740?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cff093ecc

Agree about the plinth, though!

[walpurgis]

IMHO the Lenco arm is seriously under-rated.

Not by me.

I've owned quite a few and rebuilt several. The headshell lacks the rigidity of a cast item and is too resonant. The nasty pressed alloy cartridge mount/carrier is flimsy, only located with one small screw and just not rigid enough. The headshell interface with the arm at the screw collar is not as good as the SME type. The 'V' bearings can be made to work acceptably, but the whole thing is not worth the effort in my view. A better arm takes the L75/78 into a different league. The underrated LV-V is very suitable and has the correct geometry to fit the Lenco turntable's existing arm mounting hole.

The Linn LV-V arm is (at the moment) disregarded by many, simply because it was regarded as a 'budget' option whilst in production. But, it is very decently built, versatile and with a substantial headshell fitted, it performs excellently with good MC cartridges. Even the fussy Deccas will perform well in one. It won't be long before the LV-V is fetching more serious prices. It is better made and a far better investment than the alternative, but 'doomed' Rega RB200. All of which will soon end up in the bin.

[dowser]

Linn arm is a straight fit into an L75, as is an Ortofon AS-212. Only consideration is arm height and VTA. Stock Lenco arm is pants in my opinion!

Also, on removing platter - you do not need to remove bearing grub screw, platter is an interference fit to spindle, you just need to raise platter slightly and give a sharp tap to spindle with plastic or wood to get it off - 4 hands does help though :)

They are a stunning motor unit IMO - mine gives my modified LP12 a run for its money. But as above, I would strip, clean & relube every moving part; especially bearing, motor and idler assemblies.

[Firebottle]

Many thanks for all the tips and suggestions folks.

I have noticed that the idler wheel isn't running absolutely true, so that is probably the source of the wow.

Now that I have moved to the alternative system I had to lash something up to play the MC cartridge through, before building one of my splendid valve preamps.
I knew that I had a head amp pcb in the 'junk' box, one that I think I must have had for 30 years :eek:

Don't let on but it uses (say it quietly) transistors. I must have experimented a long while ago with using it as a single channel microphone preamp because when I lashed it up one channel had 10 times the gain of the other :mental:

Anyhow I've now boxed it up and it makes a respectable noise with my new MC cart.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/P1050071.jpg

PCB looks like this:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/P1050073.jpg

It's battery powered from a 9V battery, but does need careful positioning to reduce hum pick-up to a minimum. Internals shot:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/P1050074.jpg

So far so good,

:cool: Alan