VPI 16.5 Problem

I was able to tighten those hex screws without removing the eight regular screws. A standard allen wrench should be able to reach at a slight angle to tighten them. I've since bought a set of allen wrenched with ball ends just for this application. Good luck.

Jhsjhs - Glad this worked for you.

The suggestion of using a ball-end driver to tighten them w/o having to remove the motor assembly is a good one. I didn't have a ball-hex driver in this size hand.

I didn't bother to check the hex driver size, does anyone know what it is off hand?

My unit has a grinding noise as it rotates, quite irritating, is this normal and if not does anyone know how to fix it?

I believe the grinding noise is normal. I bought mine new and it's been making a noise that I'd describe as grinding ever since. The unit works fine, however. RCMs are pretty crude in design and I think motor noise reduction is not really a top design priority given their purpose.

I too had the same problem as the OP at the beginning, initially solved by using a rubber washer under the plastic knob as otherwise I had to tighten the knob to the point I was concerned I might either break the knob or damage the record label. For some strange reason, the problem worked itself out and I now don't use the washer and don't have to tighten the knob as hard for the platter to keep spinning with the vacuum pump on. Seems the parts needed simply to break in.

I had the same problem until I took off the backing on the cork mat. The cork mat has adhesive on the back.

Problem solved.