"New" Thorens 124 sounds great, but...


I have a "new" (completely refurbished by STS classic turntables). I know that there is a very heavy lower platter, and it looks like it is made of iron. There is a top platter that seems like it is made of aluminum. On top of that, I have a turntable mat that is made from carbon fiber and cork. I use a Funk Firm FX-R tonearm, and a Benz Ruby Z low output moving coil cartridge.

My tonearm is acting weird. When I lift up the cueing mechanism at the end of the record, it wants to quickly run back to the armrest. Scary fast - as if the table wasn't level, or the armboard wasn't level. But both are perfectly level. I took this tonearm and cartridge combo off of my Linn LP 12, where it acted perfectly normal. Again, it sounds great - no break up on any channel. And the down force is consistent at all points of the record.

Is there any chance that there is a magnetic force at play here? No amount of playing with the anti skate seems to matter. Curious what you folks who have this table, or others like it may think.

David
torc

Showing 1 response by fsonicsmith

I have a TD124 modded by Greg Metz and I am getting the best vinyl playback of my life (after owning several other decks including a VPI Prime).
My first piece of advice is to call Greg.
Second-how familiar are you with TD124’s? Do you have the thin top platter that was original to the deck, or do you have the tall aluminum top platter that Greg offers as an upgrade? If your platter clutch still operates, you have the original thin one. If you have the tall top platter that Greg provides, there is zero chance of this being a magnetic problem. Since you say you can "feel the attraction to the platter", I am going to conclude that you must have the thin original top platter.
Btw, I too use a Benz cartridge, a low output Glider. I am pretty sure Greg has run out of the tall top platters and even if not, the tall top platter comes with the need for a new main bearing and typically a spacer to raise the tonearm column.
Are you sure your armboard is level to the platter? A poster above alluded to this potential explanation. If Greg provided and mounted the armboard, it would seem unlikely that this is the problem. 
Just for kicks, try disabling the anti-skate on your arm and report back if the behavior changes. Then try changing the platter mat. Then try changing the cartridge assuming you have something else sitting by.
Greg typically tests his work with a variety of cartridges, most old Shure MM’s. Right now-from what you have told us-I am guessing it is your platter and you will have to decide if you wish to switch cartridges or replace your platter with a non-ferrous one or opt for a tall aluminum top platter.
As to the poster above who commented about wasting money on mods, what a naive crock of crap! Just read Art Dudley’s articles which can be Googled. The TD124 was one of the best-designed and best-built turntables of all time. There is a magic to idler drives that the TD124 and Garrard 301/401 exemplify better than any others. Schopper of Germany and AudioSilente of Italy offer many upgraded components that help bring the TD124 to an all new level. Idler wheels, motor brushes and bushes, main bearing, motor mounts, platters. And then there is always the option of a high mass plinth though many-including Greg-argue that a lower mass plinth is best for the TD124 since the arm sits on the chassis and that a high-mass plinth is best for the Garrards since the tonearm sits independently of the chassis.