thorens belt

[MarginWalker]

Hi all,

I have been running my TD160 with a non Thorens belt and the speed has been spot on. However, the speed change isn't working when i switch to 45rpm and I have read that this is almost certainly the fault of the non-standard belt. My question to you is do i need to buy an actual Thorens belt or are the Thakker reproductions suitable?

Thanks,
Phil

[walpurgis]

Have you checked that the belt is not too tight? That can cause speed changing problems. Most belts have a bit of give in them and can be stretched a little if need be.

[peter j]

[QUOTE=MarginWalker;742467]Hi all,

I have been running my TD160 with a non Thorens belt and the speed has been spot on. However, the speed change isn't working when i switch to 45rpm and I have read that this is almost certainly the fault of the non-standard belt. My question to you is do i need to buy an actual Thorens belt or are the Thakker reproductions suitable?
I had exactly the same problem after changing a belt some time ago.
It was caused by following advice that I had read which suggested applying some talc powder to the belt.
I removed the talc and everything worked perfectly and has done for many years since.

Pete.

[struth]

Thakker belts are good... Ive had some in past.

[skimminstones]

Had the same problem when i bought my 160, i found giving the sub platter a wipe with some alcohol worked.

I ended up buying a replacement belt anyway but the speed change worked fine on the previous belt after a clean.

[Barry]

Thakker belts are good... Ive had some in past.

I thought so until the one I was using on my TD124 suddenly lost all its elasticity :(. I only fitted it a year or so ago. :(

My mistake - in a moment of parsimony I bought a couple of Thakker belts from either Amazon or eBay (can't remember which), whereas I should have bought them from Schopper (at twice the price). I have just fitted a Schopper sourced belt and we're up and spinning again. :)

[struth]

Had there ones too Not had any probs with any I've bought so far but I replaced belt every year minimum

[MarginWalker]

Thanks for all the advice chaps. I have also been recommended someone called Fredhifi on fleabay http://ebay.eu/1q5hkVD anyone have any experience of him and his belts?

[Barry]

Had there ones too Not had any probs with any I've bought so far but I replaced belt every year minimum

Is there a recommended time after which drive belts need to be replaced? My deck is a Thorens 124, which uses a hybrid belt/idler drive: the motor drives the speed change step pulley through a belt, which then drives the platter rim via an idler wheel. As such, the belt in this arrangement travels quicker than it would in an all-belt drive TT.

Do you think this makes a difference? I've had that particular 124 for nearly forty years and this is the fourth belt change. It was the suddeness of the faliure that surprised me: halfway through one side of the record, the speed suddenly dropped to about half what it should be!

[struth]

its an elastic band and it's properties change with temp, stress etc. I have changed several that are working fine, but size when checked is sightly elongated. Think every year is a reasonable service time, unless you use it a lot then 6 months.. it does a lot of work and is pretty important to be right size and elastic properties.