Help... my turntable is alive!

OP here... It seems we are a bit off track. Does it really matter which side of the egg you crack?

Upon further examination, it is not a record warp. I am still having the problem even with flat records. My cartridge is not bottoming out. My VTA is OK by sight. The tonearm is horizontal to the record surface, and there is some daylight between the cartridge and the record. My cartridge, Goldring 1042 is just built to come close to the record due to the cantilever being short. The "heartbeat" sound is still present, but only after the first few minutes and then going away a few minutes after that. I have tried several different records, but still the same effect. While I haven't completed all of my investigation, I wanted to keep you up to date on the latest swing from my previous post.

Just a thought - your belt could be sticking.  Whenever I change belts on my Thorens 'table, I "bathe" it in baby powder, then gently wipe the excess powder off with a clean paper towal.  This tends to minimize belt sticking.  It's a cheap potential remedy.

Bondmap ... A very thoughtful idea, but I have checked twice. There is no sticky feel to the belt, or the platter anywhere. I could order a new belt, but I don't want to start down the money path until I know I'm at least on the correct path.

Thanks ... John

" I could order a new belt, but I don't want to start down the money path until I know I'm at least on the correct path. "

Money path??? A turntable belt is a trivial expense compared to the cost of maintaining proper vinyl playback equipment in a Music Reproduction System and all of the gear that supports that playback including alignment tools and record cleaners and sooner or later you are going to need a new belt anyway so why not buy one now and set to rest whether that is the cause of your problems?

A replacement belt is $170. Not exactly a trivial expense.