VM 1248 changer

[hermitcrab]

This is the mouse infested changer out of that GE I found on the road, been cleaning it up and freeing all the stuck controls ... I had to use a torch to break the on-off switch free so it could move... I took the platter off and to my surprise , there are no bearings ... just a thick washer , was this normal for VM? I downloaded a schematic that says it covers this model number and it shows a bearing in the exploded view ... either someone was in here before or they never used a bearing on GE sets?... the pic shows the bearing off to the side and that was all there was ....

[electra225]

The GE stereo I did the Tolex on had a bearing under the platter. Did the bearing stick to the platter when you pulled the platter off?

[hermitcrab]

unfortunately no.. the spindle was dry as a bone as the picture shows , just that washer came off the bottom ... I contacted Gary @ VM to set me up with another bearing and the record overarm since that too was missing... I stole my wife's professional Dawn ... and that stuff melts the dirt as soon as you spray it on! ...I can now touch the changer without fear of getting some disease from it... but it maybe for nothing as the plinth is in pieces from rotting away... so that will have to be remade even before I can put the changer back in , I need to find a copy of one to remake it ....

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Some V-Ms did use a heavy ring bearing with
a plastic washer underneath it.

I had a GE 1242, and here's what I questioned to Gary:

"Gary,
I've found this G.E. 1242 does not have
any ball bearing race on the spindle.

On the spindle, there is a plastic washer at the bottom,
then a very thick stainless steel washer,
and that is all.

Did G.E. have this odd kind of bearing, or
did someone monkey with the original design ?"

From Gary:

"All 1242 series had this bearing arrangement."

[hermitcrab]

Some V-Ms did use a heavy ring bearing with
a plastic washer underneath it.

I had a GE 1242, and here's what I questioned to Gary:

"Gary,
I've found this G.E. 1242 does not have
any ball bearing race on the spindle.

On the spindle, there is a plastic washer at the bottom,
then a very thick stainless steel washer,
and that is all

From Gary:

"All 1242 series had this bearing arrangement."

Mine does not have a plastic washer at all ... just the thick washer..

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Gary has the teflon washer over at V of Music.

If still in doubt, contact him about the 1248.

[TC Chris]

Teflon is slippery stuff. It was viewed as a miracle material until we discovered all the negatives. Here in Michigan, with all our water, PFAS are a big concern.

But I wonder if a bearing like that might be less prone to rumble than cheapo ball bearings?

Chris Campbell

[hermitcrab]

Ok , can someone guide me as to how you adjust the tone arm height ... this is the arm mid cycle ... should be just clearing the resting post , instead it is about 2 " above that ,I even removed the adjusting screw from the arm as you can see and it made no difference .... does the rod under the deck have an adjustment I am missing?...

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

No, I've never seen a V-M with a tonearm lift pin adjustment
underneath.

1. Have you dis-assembled and cleaned the mechanism ?

2. Please post a sharp photo of the underside of the changer.

[hermitcrab]

I took apart the slide assembly and cleaned the rest under it...here is a pic I thought the slide might have been bent , but it is not...I removed the c-clip and spring and removed the lift pin , it is about 3" long even when the tone arm is locked down it is resting on that lift pin ... it is almost like this has the wrong tone arm on it?....

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

From the good photos, it appears that C-washer # 48 may be missing.

This attaches to the end of the lift pin, and functions as a "stop"
for the lift pin travel.

[hermitcrab]

I removed the clip and spring, just to inspect the lift pin... I am lost what to check next...

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Give Gary at V-M a holler. He may have the answer.

W/o having the changer in hand, giving advice
is futile sometimes.

[hermitcrab]

I am thinking the tone arm is sitting too low on the mount... or the pot metal mount is bent causing the arm to be in contact with the pin way too soon , the pin only rises about 1/4" so that should not cause the arm to get that high ... who knows what the previous owner might have done to this? this is a fold up changer, owners could have pushed down on the tone arm at one time or another closing the door ...

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

I am thinking the tone arm is sitting too low on the mount... or the pot metal mount is bent causing the arm to be in contact with the pin way too soon , the pin only rises about 1/4" so that should not cause the arm to get that high ... who knows what the previous owner might have done to this? this is a fold up changer, owners could have pushed down on the tone arm at one time or another closing the door ...

Previous physical damage can surely be a cause.

Over the years, I've had a few V-Ms that had some esoteric
damage to them, that was not very apparent.

I usually had another similar V-M changer to compare them
to, and that assisted in sleuthing the problem origin.

[hermitcrab]

I compared this one with another VM I have and the pivot for the tone arm was bent down , I took pliers and carefully bent the pivot back up being careful as it is pot metal, and it didn't take much , you could barely tell I moved it. once I did that I was able to adjust the tone arm height normally with the screw... the unsettling part was how easily that pot metal pivot could be bent... something to watch out for in the future...

[hermitcrab]

Rec'd the parts to finish the changer today, apparently I did not need the Teflon washer... when installed the platter sat a mm too high and the 10" size would not work , took the washer out and it plays all size records, although the platter does not free wheel that good with just a washer as a bearing ... it stops pretty quick ... the cart is shot it puts out feebly on one channel only and it is tracking at 8 grams !... since I got the worst of the set done which was a the changer , time to tackle the amp and tuner... I also got a template from Gary to cutout a new plinth as the original is just pieces

[William]

Elton, with this changer, does it have the pull device that pulls the drive tire away from the motor and platter? If not, that might be part of the reason the platter stops quickly.

Bill

[hermitcrab]

Yes it has that feature ... I was really surprised that the idler was still soft and pliable

[William]

Interesting that it has the feature to pull things away but not a bearing.

Bill