Garrard 4SPA turntable speed knob fault - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

MickeyD · 21st Mar 2023, 1:05 pm

Hello everyone

I've finally found a little time to tinker with the rather nice Bush SRP30 I acquired for £10 a few years back. Other than a tear in the vinyl covering and a bit of grime, it's in excellent, almost new condition...BUT...the speed adjuster knob is seized in its 'neutral' position

My questions, before I dismantle the entire (rather elegant) mechanism to, are: am I maybe missing a step in how to change the speed knob, i.e: is there another operation that has to be carried out before the knob will move? Or, is this a common fault that has a reasonably simple solution?

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my post.

Best wishes,

Mickey

Nickthedentist · 21st Mar 2023, 1:22 pm

Hello and welcome.

No, it will have seized.

Dismantling, with the aid of penetrating fluid (PlusGas, WD40) and heat, cleaning (isopropyl alcohol, meths) and re-lubricating (any light oil or grease) will have it working in no time.

Don't force any record deck with seized bits, otherwise something (usually the knobs) will break.

Take lots of pictures as you go, as an aid to re-assembly.

These are nice simple decks to practise on.

nicam49 · 21st Mar 2023, 4:49 pm

I had a similar situation with a seized control knob, and the lever on the underside of the knob went to some pivots that had seized. I used a hairdryer to warm the grease which had solidified and got them moving again. Then I used some carb cleaner spray to degrease them.

21st Mar 2023, 1:05 pm	#1
MickeyD Diode Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 1	Garrard 4SPA turntable speed knob fault Hello everyone I've finally found a little time to tinker with the rather nice Bush SRP30 I acquired for £10 a few years back. Other than a tear in the vinyl covering and a bit of grime, it's in excellent, almost new condition...BUT...the speed adjuster knob is seized in its 'neutral' position My questions, before I dismantle the entire (rather elegant) mechanism to, are: am I maybe missing a step in how to change the speed knob, i.e: is there another operation that has to be carried out before the knob will move? Or, is this a common fault that has a reasonably simple solution? Thank you very much for taking the time to read my post. Best wishes, Mickey

21st Mar 2023, 1:22 pm	#2
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,865	Re: Garrard 4SPA turntable speed knob fault Hello and welcome. No, it will have seized. Dismantling, with the aid of penetrating fluid (PlusGas, WD40) and heat, cleaning (isopropyl alcohol, meths) and re-lubricating (any light oil or grease) will have it working in no time. Don't force any record deck with seized bits, otherwise something (usually the knobs) will break. Take lots of pictures as you go, as an aid to re-assembly. These are nice simple decks to practise on.

21st Mar 2023, 4:49 pm	#3
nicam49 Hexode Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Wigston, Leicester, UK. Posts: 351	Re: Garrard 4SPA turntable speed knob fault I had a similar situation with a seized control knob, and the lever on the underside of the knob went to some pivots that had seized. I used a hairdryer to warm the grease which had solidified and got them moving again. Then I used some carb cleaner spray to degrease them.