My Thorens TD 124 Mk1 - restoration project

[The Black Adder]

Mmm... I'd love to try that platter one day.

[dowser]

Aggh! You have separated the platter bearing shaft from the platter! The two should never be separated as Thorens will have gone to the trouble of adjusting for minimum run-out and balance.

As above- it's a snug fit with my iron platter, so no play anyhow - but, I never understood this approach anyhow, even with a mk2; how hard can it be to adjust run out?

Richard

[Barry]

Well it seems I'm in the minority on this. R. Bruil in his Soundfountain item on the 124, seems to have changed his mind on the subject: first suggesting the two should be separated for reasons of possible damage to the bearing, then it was altered to stating that the platter and bearing should not be separated as this would spoil the Thorens adjustment of balance and run-out, now he has reverted to the former idea.

I've removed my platter + shaft several times for maintenance and replaced it without problems or damage. I can understand the danger, but I have never had any difficulties. Because the fit is so precise, the platter will 'bounce' on the cushion of trapped air and then will take a few minutes to fully drop down. I'm minded of the photograph in Jaochim Bung's 'Swiss Precision' showing a Thorens technician measuring the run out of the platter using micrometer dial gauges to ensure the maximum eccentricity was less than 25um. Not sure I could do that by eye.

[eu_73]

I have to take a quite difficult choice, because I have got no experience on different plinths.
I have the opportunity to buy a very nice real wood (seller say it's an harmonic wood), or an high tech plinth made by corian.
Price of the corian one should be about 200/250 euro higher than the wooden one.
Does somebody have some experience with corian? Is it really an excellent material for a plinth?

[Ammonite Audio]

I have to take a quite difficult choice, because I have got no experience on different plinths.
I have the opportunity to buy a very nice real wood (seller say it's an harmonic wood), or an high tech plinth made by corian.
Price of the corian one should be about 200/250 euro higher than the wooden one.
Does somebody have some experience with corian? Is it really an excellent material for a plinth?

I would say no. With the TD-124 you have to make a choice between sitting the chassis, on rubber mushrooms, on a relatively lightweight (but lovely looking) plinth like the ST104, or bolting the thing down firmly to a heavy plinth. I prefer the heavy option. The heavy plinth will help to absorb some of the noise and vibrations that the TD-124 will always produce to some extent. Corian would almost certainly work very well in that respect, but better than a solid wooden plinth? I think that you are better off saving the money and going for wood.

[The Black Adder]

Well it seems I'm in the minority on this. R. Bruil in his Soundfountain item on the 124, seems to have changed his mind on the subject: first suggesting the two should be separated for reasons of possible damage to the bearing, then it was altered to stating that the platter and bearing should not be separated as this would spoil the Thorens adjustment of balance and run-out, now he has reverted to the former idea.

I've removed my platter + shaft several times for maintenance and replaced it without problems or damage. I can understand the danger, but I have never had any difficulties. Because the fit is so precise, the platter will 'bounce' on the cushion of trapped air and then will take a few minutes to fully drop down. I'm minded of the photograph in Jaochim Bung's 'Swiss Precision' showing a Thorens technician measuring the run out of the platter using micrometer dial gauges to ensure the maximum eccentricity was less than 25um. Not sure I could do that by eye.

Indeed and I know the picture that your referencing. I used to take the platter off with the spindal. But because the unit was bought second hand I figured that the risk of it being untouched for the 40 odd years simply outweighed the possibility of me damaging the spindal when placing it back on the deck. With your deck, Barry I can understand where your coming from seeing as you have known it from new.

[eu_73]

A little update: today are arrived the Hanze motor springs.
Next week shoud arrive the new plinth, while within the end of March i should send my TD 124 for a complete restoration (and some update like motor to mk2 specs).

[eu_73]

The new plinth is just arrived.
It is in solid padauk wood, aged 20 years, and lacquered with mirror polished finish.
Sorry but pics can't explain how beautiful it is, the artificial lights and camera phone does not help to show all its beauty, I am really satisfied.

[British high fidelity]

Beautiful

[jollyfix]

+1 gorgeous .