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August 30, 2010 - 9:48am
#1
The Runaround...
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Crap!
Did you buy it new?
From a dealer?
If it is a model that is still in production, I suggest emailing Thorens and letting them know we are going to be discussing this and watching their customer service here.
Which model?
I bought it as a demo on sale (new with warranty) from a well known dealer. I suspect if I was to box it up and ship it back they would 'repair' (as in make a 10 second fix) the thing but it would end up costing me vastly more than the part is worth, deprive me of the thing for weeks,and possibly screw up the cartridge alignment or even damage the thing in shipping...
In my view, Thorens should have the part, with a part number, and an order process, not simply instructions to contact the dealer.
As I noted, this is a runaround...no one appears to be willing to say, yes, we fix these things, the part is common and cheap...send us $5 and we will ship you a few.
The table is current, a TD 170 which retails for $499. Aside from this problem, I like the thing. It is simple to use and is pretty reliable.
Home Depot may have one that will work in their hardware section. If you have access to a micrometer you could measure the diameter of the c clip you need.
C clips
It fits around the spindle. That thing has a standard size, does it not?
I encountered a similar problem years ago when trying to get a replacement screw for a Vandersteen speaker stand. I found what I needed by contacting the manufacturer of the stand and asking them exactly what kind of screw was needed - length, thread count, etc. Once I had the information I was able to find a prefect fit in my local hardware store. I suggest that you contact someone in Thorens' engineering or design department, not someone in the customer service, sales or marketing departments and find the exact specifications for the broken clamp. Once you have this information your local hardware should be able to get you a clamp that will work.
Either that or ask Art Dudley to swing by and fix it.
Is it locking from the top surface of the platter? If so you still need to know what the diameter is where the clips slides around the spindle.
You could cut a piece of paper until you can see exactly what size cut slides in with out deforming the paper opening. Think of it as cutting a "U" shape until it fits perfectly then you could measure that opening.
What the hell is da madder with you guys? The man clearly said he needed a C-CLAMP...
for his turntable. LOL
Home depot has 3/8 inch clamps that look close..I will pinch it if too large. The spindle is around 1/4 inch. On the plus side, the Home depot clamps cost a whopping $.29 cents so I can afford to experiment.
Sure 29 cents for the clamp but then you have to send it out first for cryo-treatment and then out again to get all the molecules properly aligned. Your still looking at a major expense here. Of course you could forgo the treatments but then the music will sound a little hot and a bit disordered. Hope that you can live with these unpleasant effects
The cryo treatment is not the problem..it is the liquid gold lubricant that costs $162 a gram and looks a lot like 10W40...
That is one awesome "record" C clamp ... he, however, is in need of a "spindle" C clamp.
My wife used one of those on me...once!
I wish that technique would work on my migraines because I often feel like that would be the only way to find relief ala Curly: