Garrard RC 90 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Heinwil1 · 4th Oct 2021, 7:13 am

Morning All,

I am desperate in need of advice. I have a Garrard RC90 that locks up when turned on. As indicated in blue ink that arm "not sure" what its called does not do a full rotation. If any one has a video or some pictures that I can use to compare and see if everything is in its right place I will be greatful.

Regards
Hein

Michael Maurice · 4th Oct 2021, 10:37 pm

I don’t have any pictures or video’s but the problem is likely to be dried out grease. You will have to dismantle the mechanism, clean off all traces of old grease and oil and re-lubricate.

Take lots of notes and pictures while you dismantle, these decks are not easy to service.

The manual is available from the instant download section at the top right of the page.

Parlophone · 6th Oct 2021, 12:14 am

I have one of these as an ongoing project. The cam will freeze in place causing nothing to move. The RC 90 also has three idler or drive wheels[!], one of which runs off the pulley and is dedicated only to advancing the changer mechanism. If it goes hard or otherwise slips it simply doesn't drive the changer part and everything grinds to a halt, even if the cam and other bits have been cleaned and lubricated. I'm going get all three wheels renewed at some point and carry on with this. I've rehabilitated an RC 80, RC 88, RC 98 and A70 and the RC 90 is the worst of the lot so far. It is interesting because it has a pitch control similar to the 301.

Parlophone · 26th Jan 2022, 2:11 pm

Did you have any luck getting the RC90 functioning? I've worked on mine and found it far more of a handful than the RC80 and RC88 that I've resurrected in the past. I can get it to play manually but the changer mechanism is giving all kinds of problems despite cleaning and lubrication. I wonder if it was a problem when these units were new? They seem to have been manufactured for only 3 years: 1953 to 1956.

4th Oct 2021, 7:13 am	#1
Heinwil1 Triode Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa. Posts: 12	Garrard RC 90 Morning All, I am desperate in need of advice. I have a Garrard RC90 that locks up when turned on. As indicated in blue ink that arm "not sure" what its called does not do a full rotation. If any one has a video or some pictures that I can use to compare and see if everything is in its right place I will be greatful. Regards Hein Attached Thumbnails

4th Oct 2021, 10:37 pm	#2
Michael Maurice Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wembley, Middlesex Posts: 7,224	Re: Garrard RC 90 I don’t have any pictures or video’s but the problem is likely to be dried out grease. You will have to dismantle the mechanism, clean off all traces of old grease and oil and re-lubricate. Take lots of notes and pictures while you dismantle, these decks are not easy to service. The manual is available from the instant download section at the top right of the page. __________________ Forum Moderator http://www.michaelmauricerepairs.co.uk/

6th Oct 2021, 12:14 am	#3
Parlophone Triode Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada Posts: 12	Re: Garrard RC 90 I have one of these as an ongoing project. The cam will freeze in place causing nothing to move. The RC 90 also has three idler or drive wheels[!], one of which runs off the pulley and is dedicated only to advancing the changer mechanism. If it goes hard or otherwise slips it simply doesn't drive the changer part and everything grinds to a halt, even if the cam and other bits have been cleaned and lubricated. I'm going get all three wheels renewed at some point and carry on with this. I've rehabilitated an RC 80, RC 88, RC 98 and A70 and the RC 90 is the worst of the lot so far. It is interesting because it has a pitch control similar to the 301.

26th Jan 2022, 2:11 pm	#4
Parlophone Triode Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada Posts: 12	Re: Garrard RC 90 Did you have any luck getting the RC90 functioning? I've worked on mine and found it far more of a handful than the RC80 and RC88 that I've resurrected in the past. I can get it to play manually but the changer mechanism is giving all kinds of problems despite cleaning and lubrication. I wonder if it was a problem when these units were new? They seem to have been manufactured for only 3 years: 1953 to 1956.