Thorens TD150 service

[Rendlan]

I recently ordered a service kit for my turntable from Fred Hifi in Paris, France. Received on Monday and proceeded with the service last night. What a difference it has made.

Included in the kit are polishes for the scintered bearing and bearing shaft, a new metal thrustplate and ball bearing, oil and a new drivebelt. After polishing and installing the thrustpate, ballbearing and new belt, I did a test run.

On the turntable was a recording of Chopin's 1st piano concerto, the second movement. The clarity, easy rythm, near perfect pitch and "authority" during playback was astounding. Next, a 26 year old Mimi Coertze stepped into my room. The sunny and delicate performance of Schubert's "Seligkeit" gave me goosebumps, not to mention the almost virginal rendition of "Ave Maria".

Well, all I want to say is: get yours serviced. Its worth the effort.

Cheers!

R.

[Family_Dog]

The price of the kit?


-F_D

[Rendlan]

The Bearing polish kit, including brass polish, stainless steel polish, cleaning liquid, bearing oil and a drive belt costs €20. The metal thrustplate costs €14 and the ballbearing €7.50. Obviously shipping, import tax and VAT also has to be added. I had an extra belt (@ €14) and oil kit (@ €18.50) sent.

The gentleman, Fred, is very resposive to e-mails sent to him and can offer lots of advice. His English can be a bit broken at times, though! I received the package just more than two weeks after payment via Paypal.

It has to be said that the kit is put together by a former Thorens employee, Joël Botreaux (member "violette" on vinylengine forum), and then sold by Fred. I, by the way have no ties to either of the two, exept loving my Thorens of course!

Cheers!

R.

[Family_Dog]

Thanks! I have a TD150 standing idle at the moment, still trying to make up my mind on what to do with it.


-F_D

[Rendlan]

I'm also looking at replacing the plinth on mine with a more solid one made from curly maple. Apart from the fact that its a hardwood with known good sonic properties, it also looks beautifull. Once that is done ill have to replace the tatty dustcover... Sounds like the wife thinking it a good idea to change the curtains and then ending up restoring the whole house!

Still, its a thoroughly enjoyable hobby, this.

[Mars]

I also have a TD150 standing idle. Louis Cronje just serviced it for me. I would like to get the plastic dust cover replaced, since it is cracked. Anyone with a spare dust cover?

[alternativeroute]

I'm also looking at replacing the plinth on mine with a more solid one made from curly maple. Apart from the fact that its a hardwood with known good sonic properties, it also looks beautiful. Once that is done ill have to replace the tatty dustcover... Sounds like the wife thinking it a good idea to change the curtains and then ending up restoring the whole house!

Still, its a thoroughly enjoyable hobby, this.

I have two that are waiting for some loving attention....

I am thinking of doing the full monty on the one... something like this:

 

The other one (a Mk11 with Kugelarm - http://bornin50-3.webs.com/tp13.htm ) I wanna try keep it a little more vanilla (i.e. change plinth but keep the dimensions and the original dustcover)...
So far I prefer the Kugelarm to the SME3009... Sounds better to me but still have to service them properly and then make more fair comparisons...

I also have a TD150 standing idle. Louis Cronje just serviced it for me. I would like to get the plastic dust cover replaced, since it is cracked. Anyone with a spare dust cover?

Dustcovers are rare... Both my dust covers either have cracks or are badly scratched... I have been chatting to the bloke from this site ( http://www.turntabledepot.com/home.php ) about sending mine over and getting a new one made from the mold...

http://shop.ebay.com/turntabledepot/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340

Not cheap but they look really good.

[Rendlan]

Hi AR!

Mine is also a Mk2 with the original TP13A tonearm. When I bought it from a secondhand dealer, my knowledge about turntables was virtually non-existent. I didn't notice that it was without the small weight for setting the stylus pressure. Any way, after a long search, a guy on vinylengine forum replied to my request for info and offered me the part for free. He had one lying around at home! Two weeks later it arrived in the post from the Netherllands and my adventures in vinyl started...

Regarding the dustcover, I think some other guys here might have info that could help. Apparently there is a firm in Capetown that makes all kind of plastic things and will make a very decent cover for around R250. I doubt the route you want to go will be comparable (pricewise) to that.

Anyways, cheers!

R.

[Rendlan]

BTW the turntable in the pic is a DIY jobbie (if you could call it that) that a guy on the thorensdept. site did. There's lot of info and pics on the site that describe the design concepts and build techniques he followed. Worth a visit:

http://www.theanalogdept.com/79209.htm

[alternativeroute]

BTW the turntable in the pic is a DIY jobbie (if you could call it that) that a guy on the thorensdept. site did. There's lot of info and pics on the site that describe the design concepts and build techniques he followed. Worth a visit:

http://www.theanalogdept.com/79209.htm

Excellent site!!! Loads of ideas... Loads of good restoration advise...

[Rendlan]

Ja, its very informative. Did you see what the guy did with the suspension springs? I wish I could get hold of the type of pipe he uses. Everyone just gives me that blank stare when I ask for it... But then again, I'm getting used to that stare. Always looking for impossible things it seems.

[WaterDog]

Hi AR!

Regarding the dustcover, I think some other guys here might have info that could help. Apparently there is a firm in Capetown that makes all kind of plastic things and will make a very decent cover for around R250. I doubt the route you want to go will be comparable (pricewise) to that.

Anyways, cheers!

R.

I had a cover made for a TD 160 a while ago for something just less than R300 at Cleardesign in Maitland http://www.cleardesign.co.za/ after seeing Mafioso mention them here on the forums.

No 3 Prestige Park,
410 Voortrekker Road,
Maitland,
Cape Town
021 5110052/41

[alternativeroute]

oooooOOOhhhh - that looks good!!!

Did you just take them the dimentions or did you need to take them a sample?

[WaterDog]

oooooOOOhhhh - that looks good!!!

Did you just take them the dimentions or did you need to take them a sample?

Took the old broken and cracked cover for them to do a "forensic reconstruction" in clear perspex instead of the original smoky grey.
They do all kinds of shop displays and presentation boxes as well as those see-through chairs...
You can see the glued side panels but overall very neat and tidy - looks quite showy.

[alternativeroute]

looks quite showy

Will help me solve the 'why you bringing that old stuff into the house' problem I have at home...