getting up and running

[JJake]

I just bought a Technics 1200 mk 2 turn table and want to get it up and running fast. It "works" but nothing I do can get the Right channel to work consistently. It has been sitting in a flight case for about 10 years and I assume needs some cleaning and lubrication. The tone arm assembly looks a bit daunting so I'd rather not disassemble. I have a can of computer compressed air. So I think I'll use that to get the dust off then try some kind of oil. Should I be using a light weight oil or silicone? In addition, I need to know how to adjust the height, counter weight, and anti-skate. I don't know if it matters but I just bought an ortofon stylus (night club E) and mounted it on a DJ cartridge because I thought the stylus probably needed replacing.

Thanks.

Any advice or reference to advice would be much appreciated.

[Spy da Man]

It's possible that you might need to replace the leads, although it's worth checking that the fault isn't with your mixer first by trying it in a different input.

If you do need to change the lead, you can find 'how to' videos online such as this one...

[SirReal]

Also, check the contacts of your cartridge and the inside of the tone arm and make sure they're not oxidized. This is always the first step for me with a bad channel on a turntable.

[JJake]

Thank you for your advice. I used an emory board on the rca contacts. Yesterday it worked intermittantly. Today I enjoyed a few hours of music without having a channel cutting out. I’m wondering if there is something wrong with the amplifier. I was able to set the counter-balence and height on the tone arm. It skated a couple of times so i increased the antiskating each time. I think I’ll back off the antiskate because it now skips on a clean new album. If I continue to have problems with a channel cutting out I will check the tone arm connections and other advice I got. Thank so much for your comments.

[Volumetrix1200]

If you have to replace anything, it’s pretty easy. There are a bunch of videos with step by step instructions. I’ve replaced my rca cables, tone arms and pitch adjustment. Never done anything like that before. Both of my 1200s have been working perfect ever since. That was a few years ago when I did it.