1974 Thorn Ultra 6048 restoration - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

JCStone · 4th Dec 2020, 6:00 pm

Inspired by the revival of interest in vinyl, I dug my old stereo record player out of storage. An 18th birthday present in 1974, it saw heavy use for about 5 years or so. Predictably, the BSR deck was completely seized up but using a combination of advice from various sources, some You Tube walk-throughs, lots of WD40, some isopropyl alcohol and a soldering iron, I was able to free things up and service the innards. However, when I tried to play a record the arm skated across the full width of the 45 and returned to rest. Can anyone suggest how I might adjust it? I’ve ordered a new stylus but I’m not sure that’s the cause of the skating.

Edward Huggins · 4th Dec 2020, 6:37 pm

Skating is ususally caused by the tip of the stylus coming off so there's nothing to hold the cartridge in the record groove.

Richardgr · 6th Dec 2020, 10:25 am

If there is a tip on the stylus, sometimes a ball of fluff can build around it if a disc had gathered some dust and was played. It could be the tracking weight, which needs to be correct for the arm and cartridge. The player also has to be level.

4th Dec 2020, 6:00 pm	#1
JCStone Diode Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 1	1974 Thorn Ultra 6048 restoration Inspired by the revival of interest in vinyl, I dug my old stereo record player out of storage. An 18th birthday present in 1974, it saw heavy use for about 5 years or so. Predictably, the BSR deck was completely seized up but using a combination of advice from various sources, some You Tube walk-throughs, lots of WD40, some isopropyl alcohol and a soldering iron, I was able to free things up and service the innards. However, when I tried to play a record the arm skated across the full width of the 45 and returned to rest. Can anyone suggest how I might adjust it? I’ve ordered a new stylus but I’m not sure that’s the cause of the skating. Attached Thumbnails

4th Dec 2020, 6:37 pm	#2
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,340	Re: 1974 Thorn Ultra 6048 restoration Skating is ususally caused by the tip of the stylus coming off so there's nothing to hold the cartridge in the record groove. __________________ Edward.

6th Dec 2020, 10:25 am	#3
Richardgr Heptode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Täby, Sweden Posts: 709	Re: 1974 Thorn Ultra 6048 restoration If there is a tip on the stylus, sometimes a ball of fluff can build around it if a disc had gathered some dust and was played. It could be the tracking weight, which needs to be correct for the arm and cartridge. The player also has to be level.