LENCO - GL75 Project

[Wakefield Turntables]

The Reference Lenco Pt CXVII - Rethink....

Tonights update is all about the Reference side of things. The stock Lenco has taken a bit of a back-burner for the time being, but then again this whole project really is a slow burner. I'm always happy to try new stuff especially from the people that support the forums and the more I do "Audiophile" the more I realise that you don't have to put up with the bullshit prices that companies feel able to charge. The Rerefence Lenco was going to have a specific bearing and double stacked platter but now I think I'm going to go with a custom bearing, bearing collar and platter combo from Malaysia. I've never tried them before, so why not? All products will work with the PTP 5 so happy days. I've also been thinking about the motor. The first thing to do was to get the thing up and running to see if it worked. Well I didn't trust the dodgy two core wire that the thing came supplied with so I added a new earth lead and chopped a 3 core fused power lead from an old fridge freezer.



I'm glad to say that things kicked into life. The motor is noisy but it does need some work and we knew this anyone, just check out the status of the spindle . So, at some point I'll bite the bullet and service the motor, time always seems to be short nowadays. I also decided that I needed a new set of motor springs considering this unit was missing said piece of very important kit. I just so happens a man that can, so I'll be having brand new springs rather than some which are ? approaching 50 years old. I will also be treating the reference Lenco to a new idler wheel and idler arm grommet but that's another story for another post.

Well that's it for another week, stay tuned.

[brian2957]

I did the same earthing mod to my GL75 when I had it Andrew. I see SPH has expanded his shop then. The collars are very good and that platter mod certainly looks worth a try, although it is expensive. I'll be interested in reading your thoughts on these when they arrive.

Are you getting the idler wheel from Audiosilente?

See if you can get a hold of one of these Andy. They worked for me https://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/in...?topic=21002.0

[Wakefield Turntables]

Hi Brian, the platter is probably one of the cheapest you'll see when compared to other companies, but yes will cost a few quid. I'm going for the Stealth Idler wheel, this will be a brand new idler wheel and not something that's 50+ years old.

[brian2957]

That idler wheel is a new one one for me. Looks good though.

See if you can get a hold of one of these Andy. They worked for me https://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/in...?topic=21002.0

[Jimbo]

good idea to change the wiring , I did the same. I Had fun centering the motor in the housing to make it run quiet and then nip up the cone bearings to stop them making noise! A lot of fiddling but worth it. As you know mate you can get them to run almost totally silent.

[Qwin]

If you are going to use the SPH bearing Andrew, you might want to see the mods I did to the top of the spindle and the bottom bracket I created to steady the whole thing. I used the SPH Copper mat and a 5mm acrylic mat between it and the Platter. The resulting sandwich is very inert compared to the bare platter, which rang like a bell.
Its all on my site, linked in my signature.

[Jimbo]

Nice bit of engineering.

[Qwin]

Nice bit of engineering.

Thanks Jim
The most remarkable aspect of all the work I do, is that I don't have access to machinery or a covered space to work in, so its all done with hacksaw and file outside.
The only power tools I have, is a small bench grinder, a small pillar drill a small linishing belt and a basic router. I clamp them, one at a time, to my folding Black and Decker type work bench and use them in the back garden, weather permitting. Though I say it myself, I've made some good looking stuff over the years, without a workshop or machine tools. I can use a lathe and vertical milling machine, I just don't have access to either. So the design challenge, is as much about finding a way of using or adapting existing parts, as it is about solving the problem with bespoke engineering solutions. Where there's a will, there's a way, as my old man used to say.

[Jimbo]

Thanks Jim
The most remarkable aspect of all the work I do, is that I don't have access to machinery or a covered space to work in, so its all done with hacksaw and file outside.
The only power tools I have, is a small bench grinder, a small pillar drill a small linishing belt and a basic router. I clamp them, one at a time, to my folding Black and Decker type work bench and use them in the back garden, weather permitting. Though I say it myself, I've made some good looking stuff over the years, without a workshop or machine tools. I can use a lathe and vertical milling machine, I just don't have access to either. So the design challenge, is as much about finding a way of using or adapting existing parts, as it is about solving the problem with bespoke engineering solutions. Where there's a will, there's a way, as my old man used to say.

Indeed Ken I think we all have to improvise with our engineering on these projects as often you only use a lathe etc a couple of times although I am sure you could find more stuff to do with one? There are some folk over on Lenco heaven who obviously have access to a wide range of equipment and also have the skills to use it unlike myself!

[brian2957]

Thanks Jim
The most remarkable aspect of all the work I do, is that I don't have access to machinery or a covered space to work in, so its all done with hacksaw and file outside.
The only power tools I have, is a small bench grinder, a small pillar drill a small linishing belt and a basic router. I clamp them, one at a time, to my folding Black and Decker type work bench and use them in the back garden, weather permitting. Though I say it myself, I've made some good looking stuff over the years, without a workshop or machine tools. I can use a lathe and vertical milling machine, I just don't have access to either. So the design challenge, is as much about finding a way of using or adapting existing parts, as it is about solving the problem with bespoke engineering solutions. Where there's a will, there's a way, as my old man used to say.

I think that's quite remarkable Ken. All those pieces look like they have come out of a machine shop.

What's the idea of the spindle with the Allen bolt on top BTW?