SME table owners - ever have a motor go out?

Hi, I sent a email to SME-nothing just yet. Then I called Sumiko. Norbert was EXTREMELY helpful.

He thought it might be a belt slipping, so clean the belt (maybe some oil got on the belt), pulley, and platter rim (where belt rides). Also thought it might be the pulley slipping on the spindle or maybe the band holding the motor wasn't holding enough.

So, I checked the pulley and spindle, the set screws were tight tight. Cleaned the belt, spindle pulley and platter rim. Pulley and platter the q tip was pretty clean. The belt got me a several very black q tips. So maybe the belt was slipping?

So it's holding speed, (using the SME speed disc). No noise. I'll give it a few days and see what happens...Norbert did say he doesn't ever know of a motor failing...hopefully it was just a lil oil on the belt..a new motor is approx $1500 ouch !

Thanks Raul, he also said never say never :)

I think I got to the final issue just now. The O-ring that holds the motor had "lost it's tension" over the years. So when the tt starts up, motor moves b/c the worn o-ring wouldn't hold just right it on start up. So then the belt rode around on the pulley picking up some stray oil on the motor housing...so then the rubbing sound was the belt slipping on the pulley, which is hard to hold the speed - duh.

Simple. I stole a o-ring off a suspension tower. It holds the motor firmly on start up...the worn o-ring is now on the suspension tower...which is fine until I get a replacement...

Problem solved. Killer tunes again :) !!