Garrard sprucing up! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Bufo Bill · 3rd Mar 2021, 11:25 pm

Planning on a spruce up of the Garrard 401 I bought locally a couple of winters back. Main thing I am planning is mucking out the spindle bearing.
My question to you all is as follows:-
What is the best cleaning agent for 50 years of grease Clag?
Will be looking for a service manual shortly, but I would also like to hear what oil is best to replace in the clean bearing if you have any ideas about that.
Cheers from Bill.

Electronpusher0 · 4th Mar 2021, 9:53 am

According to the forum on Vinylengine light machine oil, sewing machine oil is fine.

https://www.vinylengine.com/turntabl...ic.php?t=89900

Peter

Bufo Bill · 4th Mar 2021, 2:34 pm

Cheers Peter.
Thanks from Bill.

Beobloke · 4th Mar 2021, 2:55 pm

For cleaning out the old goop, you can’t beat IPA (no, not the beer...).

Replacement oil-wise, you can’t go far wrong with 3-in-1.

Bufo Bill · 4th Mar 2021, 4:04 pm

Ah, that's great, already have both of those, thanks Beobloke!
Bill.

wd40addict · 4th Mar 2021, 9:54 pm

At the expense of sounding like a Hi-Fi reviewer, I tried sewing machine oil in my 301 once and it didn't sound as good as something a little thicker. At least on my example if the oil is too thin the bearing can rock slightly side to side.

Bufo Bill · 5th Mar 2021, 1:32 pm

Cheers wd40addict!

Electronpusher0 · 5th Mar 2021, 11:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by wd40addict

At the expense of sounding like a Hi-Fi reviewer, I tried sewing machine oil in my 301 once and it didn't sound as good as something a little thicker. At least on my example if the oil is too thin the bearing can rock slightly side to side.

The early 301s used grease, the later ones used tighter tolerance bearings and moved to oil. This was carried over to the 401.

Peter

wd40addict · 5th Mar 2021, 11:52 pm

Mine is an oil bearing unit and I would still say sewing machine oil is too thin.

3rd Mar 2021, 11:25 pm	#1
Bufo Bill Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 777	Garrard sprucing up! Planning on a spruce up of the Garrard 401 I bought locally a couple of winters back. Main thing I am planning is mucking out the spindle bearing. My question to you all is as follows:- What is the best cleaning agent for 50 years of grease Clag? Will be looking for a service manual shortly, but I would also like to hear what oil is best to replace in the clean bearing if you have any ideas about that. Cheers from Bill.

4th Mar 2021, 9:53 am	#2
Electronpusher0 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 2,294	Re: Garrard sprucing up! According to the forum on Vinylengine light machine oil, sewing machine oil is fine. https://www.vinylengine.com/turntabl...ic.php?t=89900 Peter

4th Mar 2021, 2:34 pm	#3
Bufo Bill Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 777	Re: Garrard sprucing up! Cheers Peter. Thanks from Bill.

4th Mar 2021, 2:55 pm	#4
Beobloke Heptode Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 820	Re: Garrard sprucing up! For cleaning out the old goop, you can’t beat IPA (no, not the beer...). Replacement oil-wise, you can’t go far wrong with 3-in-1.

4th Mar 2021, 4:04 pm	#5
Bufo Bill Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 777	Re: Garrard sprucing up! Ah, that's great, already have both of those, thanks Beobloke! Bill.

4th Mar 2021, 9:54 pm	#6
wd40addict Octode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Stevenage, Herts. UK. Posts: 1,518	Re: Garrard sprucing up! At the expense of sounding like a Hi-Fi reviewer, I tried sewing machine oil in my 301 once and it didn't sound as good as something a little thicker. At least on my example if the oil is too thin the bearing can rock slightly side to side.

5th Mar 2021, 1:32 pm	#7
Bufo Bill Heptode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 777	Re: Garrard sprucing up! Cheers wd40addict!

5th Mar 2021, 11:52 pm	#9
wd40addict Octode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Stevenage, Herts. UK. Posts: 1,518	Re: Garrard sprucing up! Mine is an oil bearing unit and I would still say sewing machine oil is too thin.