Dansette conquest info and help - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Mistermal · 8th Apr 2018, 10:08 pm

Hi this is my first post. Any help would be much appreciated. I have just bought a dansette conquest auto from a friend whose father passed away. It works and sounds excellent as far as I know. I have cleaned it from outside and was looking to degrease and regrease the internal moving parts. Watched a video recently on YouTube where he removed the c-clip on the turntable and lifted it off but I removed c-clip but turntable does not lift off. Am I missing something? Also I was thinking of replacing valve and capacitors. If everything works well do you think I should replace these as I think they are original. Any help please message me. Also I am complete amateur as I have never done anything like this before but would like to learn. Any advice.

'LIVEWIRE?' · 9th Apr 2018, 9:04 am

The turntable is probably affected by dried grease. Although you say that the Conquest works well, dried, hardened grease can still be a problem. Don't try to force off the platter. I once removed a stuck platter on a B.S.R. Autochanger by pouring hot water down the bearing. Others have heated the centre with a soldering iron (Be careful in either case if the platter is Plastic, though I'm sure all those used in the 'Conquest' had metal turntables. B.S.R's usual advice was to ensure that the deck was set to 45r.p.m., and in the 'off' position. This was to avoid trapping the idler wheel under the platter's rim when refitting it.

Edward Huggins · 9th Apr 2018, 10:10 am

Your "Conquest" will have a metal platter. Use a penetrating oil down the spindle and leave it for a bit. Then try a very gentle "wiggle" from side to side, holding each side. Don't just replace the valve and capacitors just for the sake of it - if it's working well and not humming too much, then leave well alone!

Station X · 9th Apr 2018, 11:22 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

Don't just replace the valve and capacitors just for the sake of it - if it's working well and not humming too much, then leave well alone!

I endorse Edward's wise words. I've read of more than one working record player being reduced to a doorstop as a result of inept Compulsive Component Changing.

Mistermal · 12th Apr 2018, 8:50 pm

Thank you so much Folks. I’ll let you know how I get on �

Mistermal · 12th Apr 2018, 10:25 pm

Hi guys thanks again. I managed to get it off just for a look to start with. It’s all a bit gunked up with old dried grease. Problem now is I put it back together and tried it and tone arm lifts and comes across, it lowers on start of record and then lifts up again and goes back again and switches off? Any ideas ? Does it just need a good clean?

Edward Huggins · 13th Apr 2018, 10:12 am

Are you familiar with using autochangers - is the overarm fully seated over the stack of records?

Mistermal · 14th Apr 2018, 2:53 pm

Hi, no I’m not at all to be honest this is my first project. The tone arm now lifts up, looks like it wants to go across, and then decides to lower itself back in the holder and it switches off?? Any ideas?

PS. Sorry guys. I've got it, my mistake. All good for now thanks.

Michael Maurice · 14th Apr 2018, 7:21 pm

Have you stacked records on the spindle? One will do.

The autochanger is designed so that if there are no records on the spindle, the player will switch off.

Mistermal · 15th Apr 2018, 12:36 pm

Hi, yes sorry that was my fault. I’m looking to replace the stylus at the moment. The cartridge is a BSR X5H and I want to play modern records, and still have the option to play 78s. Any ideas? Again all help is much appreciated? At the moment the stylus is double sided 78s and ST12 LPs

Mistermal · 17th Apr 2018, 10:16 am

Any help in replacing the stylus? What does the st12/st13/st14 etc mean on the styluses?

Edward Huggins · 17th Apr 2018, 10:33 am

Actually your BSR X5H cartridge is a later, incorrect, replacement for the Mono only type originally fitted. It should have been a BSR X5M. Hopefully you can still use it as it is stereo-compatible, but if you play it too loud you may hear distortion. The correct stylus is either a BSR ST8 or ST12. On side will be LPS and the other 78.

Mistermal · 18th Apr 2018, 12:27 am

Thank you Edward. So is my BSR X5H ok to use on the Dansette. Also does that mean it’s ok for my vinyl from the 1980s. Where can I buy a double sided stylus any ideas? Lastly what does the ST8 or ST12 mean?

Edward Huggins · 18th Apr 2018, 10:24 am

Yes, you can continue to use the X5H, but it is not the recommended cartridge for your type of Dansette. Incidentally, it is worth quite alot of money in it own right as such cartridges are heavily demanded for use in other types of player. Even so, it will not harm your stereo records. The ST8 stylus has a plastic shank, ST12 has a metal shank and therefore has a better compliance. I would use the ST12, with LPS one side and 78 the other.

Mistermal · 18th Apr 2018, 11:55 am

Excellent thank you Edward you are a wealth of knowledge. Do you know what tracking weight to set it to for my LPs?

Edward Huggins · 18th Apr 2018, 1:23 pm

Set it to 5 grams. Youu could try down to 4 grams, but no lighter.

Mistermal · 18th Apr 2018, 5:08 pm

Just ordered st12/lps/78 from the stylus lady. Thanks so so much

8th Apr 2018, 10:08 pm	#1
Mistermal Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 94	Dansette conquest info and help Hi this is my first post. Any help would be much appreciated. I have just bought a dansette conquest auto from a friend whose father passed away. It works and sounds excellent as far as I know. I have cleaned it from outside and was looking to degrease and regrease the internal moving parts. Watched a video recently on YouTube where he removed the c-clip on the turntable and lifted it off but I removed c-clip but turntable does not lift off. Am I missing something? Also I was thinking of replacing valve and capacitors. If everything works well do you think I should replace these as I think they are original. Any help please message me. Also I am complete amateur as I have never done anything like this before but would like to learn. Any advice.

9th Apr 2018, 9:04 am	#2
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: Dansette conquest info and help The turntable is probably affected by dried grease. Although you say that the Conquest works well, dried, hardened grease can still be a problem. Don't try to force off the platter. I once removed a stuck platter on a B.S.R. Autochanger by pouring hot water down the bearing. Others have heated the centre with a soldering iron (Be careful in either case if the platter is Plastic, though I'm sure all those used in the 'Conquest' had metal turntables. B.S.R's usual advice was to ensure that the deck was set to 45r.p.m., and in the 'off' position. This was to avoid trapping the idler wheel under the platter's rim when refitting it.

9th Apr 2018, 10:10 am	#3
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,336	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Your "Conquest" will have a metal platter. Use a penetrating oil down the spindle and leave it for a bit. Then try a very gentle "wiggle" from side to side, holding each side. Don't just replace the valve and capacitors just for the sake of it - if it's working well and not humming too much, then leave well alone! __________________ Edward.

12th Apr 2018, 8:50 pm	#5
Mistermal Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 94	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Thank you so much Folks. I’ll let you know how I get on �

12th Apr 2018, 10:25 pm	#6
Mistermal Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 94	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Hi guys thanks again. I managed to get it off just for a look to start with. It’s all a bit gunked up with old dried grease. Problem now is I put it back together and tried it and tone arm lifts and comes across, it lowers on start of record and then lifts up again and goes back again and switches off? Any ideas ? Does it just need a good clean?

13th Apr 2018, 10:12 am	#7
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,336	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Are you familiar with using autochangers - is the overarm fully seated over the stack of records? __________________ Edward.

14th Apr 2018, 2:53 pm	#8
Mistermal Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 94	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Hi, no I’m not at all to be honest this is my first project. The tone arm now lifts up, looks like it wants to go across, and then decides to lower itself back in the holder and it switches off?? Any ideas? PS. Sorry guys. I've got it, my mistake. All good for now thanks.

14th Apr 2018, 7:21 pm	#9
Michael Maurice Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wembley, Middlesex Posts: 7,225	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Have you stacked records on the spindle? One will do. The autochanger is designed so that if there are no records on the spindle, the player will switch off. __________________ Forum Moderator http://www.michaelmauricerepairs.co.uk/

15th Apr 2018, 12:36 pm	#10
Mistermal Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 94	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Hi, yes sorry that was my fault. I’m looking to replace the stylus at the moment. The cartridge is a BSR X5H and I want to play modern records, and still have the option to play 78s. Any ideas? Again all help is much appreciated? At the moment the stylus is double sided 78s and ST12 LPs

17th Apr 2018, 10:16 am	#11
Mistermal Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 94	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Any help in replacing the stylus? What does the st12/st13/st14 etc mean on the styluses?

17th Apr 2018, 10:33 am	#12
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,336	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Actually your BSR X5H cartridge is a later, incorrect, replacement for the Mono only type originally fitted. It should have been a BSR X5M. Hopefully you can still use it as it is stereo-compatible, but if you play it too loud you may hear distortion. The correct stylus is either a BSR ST8 or ST12. On side will be LPS and the other 78. __________________ Edward.

18th Apr 2018, 12:27 am	#13
Mistermal Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 94	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Thank you Edward. So is my BSR X5H ok to use on the Dansette. Also does that mean it’s ok for my vinyl from the 1980s. Where can I buy a double sided stylus any ideas? Lastly what does the ST8 or ST12 mean?

18th Apr 2018, 10:24 am	#14
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,336	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Yes, you can continue to use the X5H, but it is not the recommended cartridge for your type of Dansette. Incidentally, it is worth quite alot of money in it own right as such cartridges are heavily demanded for use in other types of player. Even so, it will not harm your stereo records. The ST8 stylus has a plastic shank, ST12 has a metal shank and therefore has a better compliance. I would use the ST12, with LPS one side and 78 the other. __________________ Edward.

18th Apr 2018, 11:55 am	#15
Mistermal Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 94	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Excellent thank you Edward you are a wealth of knowledge. Do you know what tracking weight to set it to for my LPs?

18th Apr 2018, 1:23 pm	#16
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,336	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Set it to 5 grams. Youu could try down to 4 grams, but no lighter. __________________ Edward.

18th Apr 2018, 5:08 pm	#17
Mistermal Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 94	Re: Dansette conquest info and help Just ordered st12/lps/78 from the stylus lady. Thanks so so much