Thorens TD-125MKII not turning on - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Randy53 · 8th Jul 2020, 12:14 pm

Took to repair and diagnosed need for new motor. Discovered after child turned unit on and wasn't discovered for months! Could it be something other than motor? No strobe light on either. Does anyone know if a new motor is available?

tony brady · 8th Jul 2020, 1:17 pm

I doubt it is the motor unless it is stiff. The motor is fed from the motor control board under the turntable. there is also a fuse which feeds the mains transformer and the strobe light so I assume it is blown due to a fault on the board.

I have the service manual for the mk1 but not the mark2. you could try to search the vinyl engine website for it

Ted Kendall · 8th Jul 2020, 1:31 pm

Is the thing not powering up at all, or does the strobe light come up and the turntable just sit there trembling? If so, replacement of the two large supply capacitors may effect a cure.

PWH · 10th Jul 2020, 1:46 am

Just to rule out the obvious, IIRC, the speed selector has a centre OFF position so in order for it to run you must push the selector left or right at which point the strobe light will come on then engage the start button which has a microswitch that needs to engage for the motor to run..

qualityten · 10th Jul 2020, 12:04 pm

Was the repair tech experienced with these decks?

I would also start by assuming that the motor is okay. Replacements are hard to find and expensive. (That said, it is possible to replace the motor with a DC motor, so all is not lost.) Repairs to the board controlling the motor are not difficult or expensive, so let's hope the fault lies there.

I have a Mk II deck and these do have a keen following, so it should be possible to get it going again.

John Caswell · 12th Jul 2020, 10:54 pm

I have had several of these where the power transformer has failed. Replace with generic toroidal from Farnell, CPC or RS components. I think the secondary voltage is 15-0-15 and a 15VA rating will be adequate.

John

8th Jul 2020, 12:14 pm	#1
Randy53 New Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA. Posts: 1	Thorens TD-125MKII not turning on Took to repair and diagnosed need for new motor. Discovered after child turned unit on and wasn't discovered for months! Could it be something other than motor? No strobe light on either. Does anyone know if a new motor is available?

8th Jul 2020, 1:17 pm	#2
tony brady Hexode Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Peacehaven, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 278	Re: Thorens TD-125MKII not turning on I doubt it is the motor unless it is stiff. The motor is fed from the motor control board under the turntable. there is also a fuse which feeds the mains transformer and the strobe light so I assume it is blown due to a fault on the board. I have the service manual for the mk1 but not the mark2. you could try to search the vinyl engine website for it

8th Jul 2020, 1:31 pm	#3
Ted Kendall Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 3,674	Re: Thorens TD-125MKII not turning on Is the thing not powering up at all, or does the strobe light come up and the turntable just sit there trembling? If so, replacement of the two large supply capacitors may effect a cure.

10th Jul 2020, 1:46 am	#4
PWH Heptode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Waiheke Island, New Zealand Posts: 503	Re: Thorens TD-125MKII not turning on Just to rule out the obvious, IIRC, the speed selector has a centre OFF position so in order for it to run you must push the selector left or right at which point the strobe light will come on then engage the start button which has a microswitch that needs to engage for the motor to run..

10th Jul 2020, 12:04 pm	#5
qualityten Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wallasey, UK. Posts: 1,314	Re: Thorens TD-125MKII not turning on Was the repair tech experienced with these decks? I would also start by assuming that the motor is okay. Replacements are hard to find and expensive. (That said, it is possible to replace the motor with a DC motor, so all is not lost.) Repairs to the board controlling the motor are not difficult or expensive, so let's hope the fault lies there. I have a Mk II deck and these do have a keen following, so it should be possible to get it going again.

12th Jul 2020, 10:54 pm	#6
John Caswell Hexode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wokingham, Berkshire, UK. Posts: 437	Re: Thorens TD-125MKII not turning on I have had several of these where the power transformer has failed. Replace with generic toroidal from Farnell, CPC or RS components. I think the secondary voltage is 15-0-15 and a 15VA rating will be adequate. John