Realistic 48

[LEEBULLY1]

Hi,
I am in need of a little help, I am trying to remove the turntable plate off a Realistic 48 as it is sticking.

I can remove the whole turntable out of the unit but I can't seem to detach the plate.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

['LIVEWIRE?']

Carefully prise off the silver coloured trim disc in the centre of the Turntable. Underneath you will find a circlip around the base of the TT. This has to be carefully removed (they can fly off & dissapear!), then the turntable should lit off easily, unless dried out grease is preventing it's removal. If so, pouring hot water down through the centre spindle should free it off. The Trip Pawl located under the TT may need similar treatment. As you may be aware, this is a BSR turntable/autochanger. The 'Sticky' threads at the head of this section have detailed info. about servicing BSR (and Garrard) Autochangers. Most of the problems are caused by hardened grease. Hopefully you haven't strained or distorted anything by trying to pull off the turntable!

[LEEBULLY1]

There doesn't seem to be a circlip a the base of the spindle?

I haven't tried to prize the TT off, I have had a hairdryer on it to try and loosen the grease, it seems to be slowly working as there is a bit more movement.

['LIVEWIRE?']

The circlip is missing, so it's just hardened grease which is causing the problem

[LEEBULLY1]

Thanks, I'll give the hot water a try.

[Kentode]

Isn't THIS the circlip holding the platter on? I can see a gap in it!

[Nickthedentist]

No, I don't think so, Ken.

I do, one of those circlips without holes, cheap and a ****** to remove!

[ms660]

I don't think it's a clip either, maybe a pip on the stacking spindle locates in that gap.

Lawrence.

[Records]

No its not a circlip, the circlip goes round the outside of that, all that is holding the deck on now is hardened grease. Soldering iron or a hairdryer on high heat applied to the spindle should free it off eventually. That notch is the locating hole for the circlip to line up. Just apply heat to the spindle slowly and the grease will eventually melt, just takes time.

[Kentode]

I sit corrected!

Ah, the gap (that's why I thought it was a circlip) I sit corrected too.

[Records]

When you do get the platter off if i remember correctly there is a circular roller bearing that the platter centre sits on, this can be gummed up with old grease too, it sometimes comes up attached the platter and it can drop off when you move the platter.

['LIVEWIRE?']

That roller bearing, more correctly called, I think, a Ball race, consists of a circular 'washer' with several small ball bearings held in small holes in said 'washer' (what is the correct name for that part?) These ball bearings can drop out, once the grease is cleaned away. There are also two flat washers, one above and one below the bearing assy., plus (usually) a paxolin type washer.

[GP49000]

If that is one of the BSRs with a plastic platter, you could have some more trouble coming. The best method I've found for softening the grease that causes the platter to get stuck is a small pencil soldering iron into the center hole where the spindle goes. But if the platter is plastic, this could soften and ruin it. With a plastic platter BSR, use due care!

The plastic platters have thin metal inserts for their sleeve bearings. But the plastic often shrinks with age (especially if an owner situated the stereo unit where the sun could shine on it) and this shrinkage can cause the platter to seize to its "shaft." There may be too much drag from the shrunken plastic platter for the unit to ever run to speed.

['LIVEWIRE?']

I have successfully removed a plastic platter from a BSR deck by pouring hot water down the centre. Another forum member, can't remember who, suggested this method a few months ago.

[leslie5555]

Originally Posted by 'LIVEWIRE?'

That roller bearing, more correctly called, I think, a Ball race, consists of a circular 'washer' with several small ball bearings held in small holes in said 'washer' (what is the correct name for that part?)

The part in which the bearings are held is called a "cage"

[Mad Mal]

WD40 will soften the grease, and replace with Lithium based Bicycle bearing/shaft grease. Like that weird grease on 70's stuff from Japan, the grease collects dirt and grime and other detritus over time. it's best to replace the grease after a good cleaning with something fresh. Incidentally, I had a BSR turntable with a plastic turntable warp on me... Why they did the change may have been to reduce costs, but it ended up ruining the brand's good reputation. The actual reason for that split/notch channel, is to put a drop or two of lubricant in to help prevent the grease "drying out".

[Edward Huggins]

BSR previously used a 10" plastic platter on the 1955, 3 speed, HF100 unit and the small 8", 3 speed TU unit. Following that, all platters were metal until around 1966 when the nastiness returned - and stayed.