Seeburg '1000' BMU10 Project - Repair Log #4

Re-capping the work I've accomplished over the past few weeks. In total I replaced about 15 - 20 capacitors, most with widely different values.
Many of the old parts were totally dead when tested with a multimeter, so this was well worth the extra effort!

[@WatchingDude]

Motor noise: I've experimented with this. The motor is quiet, the mechanism is quiet. Put the two together and it sounds like you're mining rock. I got some self adhesive foam for door gaps, wrapped it around the posts where the mechanism meets the motor and there's no more noise. I think you need to cushion the posts where the motor meets the mechanism and possibly replace the rubber on the motor mounting posts to minimise motor noise.

[@TheUgster]

Thanks for the tip! I'm actually going to try replacing the entire motor coupling gubbins with a replacement driveshaft and a lovejoy coupling from the motor to the shaft. I've also got some Rubber Renue for the idler tires and such, as they're still pliable but a bit smooth and slippy.
Unfortunately due to project overload I've had to put this into storage, but I'll be picking it back up in June. Sounds like you've also got one of these units, I'd love to chat about it sometime since I've been really shooting in the dark so far, save for the Seeburg Yahoo group and my trusty service manual. Send me an email sometime if you're up for it, and thanks for watching!

[@TadTadd]

I’m curious if anyone has cobbled together a good replacement for that funky coupling. I was able to adjust the connection perfectly on my good BMC that I use for recording, but I have a bad coupler on another BMC, and was thinking to try and machine a coupling. FYI, I think the records use standard RIAA curve. I use a modern preamp on my BMC (internally the same as a BMS but without the electronics) and it works like a charm.

[@echosend]

Any more to this repair log? I too am looking to get my 1000 unit completely operational. I have the same motor noise as you.
When you connected the output directly from the tonearm to an amplifier, bypassing the unit's amplifier, what kind of signal did you get? Did it sound OK? I'd rather avoid trying to refurbish those electronics and just get all the mechanical parts working smoothly and without needing to be "revved up" by hand every cycle.

[@TheUgster]

Hi there! This project kinda took a backseat to some other things I've been working on but it's still very much active. I have a few more videos I need to finish editing and uploading.
Long story short, I re-capped the entire pre-amp unit (this is indeed a pre-amplifier, not meant to power speakers) and it sounded pretty good from my testing.
The biggest issue you'll face if you bypass this pre-amp is correcting for whatever audio curve they pressed the Seeburg records with. I'm not sure if they used a standard RIAA curve or something unique, since these spin at a slower speed than regular vinyl albums.
Shoot me a message or email (my username AT gmail.com) if you want to talk further. Happy to help if I can!

[@WatchingDude]

Well it's been two months now, has there been any developments?