Linn Forums

I have following problem, the bearing of my LP12 is damaged and has to be changed.
It is not the first time this problem apears.
Has anyone similar experiences and had found out something about the reasons?

Thank you Rille

Never seen a damage bearing on any LP12's and I have seen a few. In what way is it damaged?
When you changed the bearing you should change the inner-platter as well.

Hallgrim

Yes of course I had changed both parts of the bearing because otherwise it makes no sense.

You see the damage as a small black point at the contactarea on both parts of the bearing. If the damage is there for a longer time it is impossible to ignore it. Every rhythm disappear and the music sounds boring.

Rille

My dealer told me that the bearing can be damaged during transport, and because of that mine was leaking oil (!!!!)

It is standard for an aged bearing housing to have a small black mark on the mirrored thrust plate. This is nothing to worry about as long as it is just a mark & you can 'feel' no damage.Use a cocktail stick or something to brush across the surface to feel, if any, damage.

Never transport an LP12 with the innerplatter resting on the bottom of the bearing....

Yes, absolutely and while on the subject:

Either use the square section in the lid packaging with a slot cut into it, or what I do is make two rolls/tubes out of A4 paper - 3 or 4 sheets each one so as they are firm but not too stiff (less than a cardboard centre of a loo roll for example) and have one trapped by the subplatter at the front and one at the rear. This really locks the suspension nicely (and keeps the bearing point from resting on the mirror finish thrust pad at the base of the bearing well) for transportation in the back of a car for example.

If on removal you get a small witness mark of the paper on the top plate from either the polystyrene or paper, this can be wiped of with a paper kitchen tissue.

Personally, I would never transport the subplatter in the lid packaging unless it's going in the hold of a plane or via a carrier. If this has to be the case please always use the red bearing cap and also the spindle sleeve as supplied with a new deck as we don't want oil spillage or contamination of the bearing.

Quite regularly I have decks brought in where the subplatter and spindle are open and thus have picked up dust etc.

In this case I always clean out the bearing and of course the spindle too.

How do I do this?

Paper tissues to remove excess oil and then I spray WD40 into the bearing with the deck inverted on a jig to ensure complete flushing of any contaminants. I then use some Servisol spray to wash away any residues. A visual inspection then follows. If everything is ok, I then re-lubricate the bearing with the correct oil.

Yes there may be some discolouration near the contact point, but if there appears to be any pitting or scratching because of contamination, I suggest you have your dealer replace the bearing and subplatter. These items can be brought seperately by your dealer from Linn, there is no need to buy a complete Cirkus kit unless your bearing is of a pre-Cirkus type.

Hope this helps,

Kind regards,

Peter

I never done this. Every time I move the LP12 I remove the outerplatter, lift up the innerplatter a little bit and put some paperback under the innerplatter.
After the transport I let glide the innerplatter very carefully back into the bearing.

The marks on both parts of the bearing are not able to remove by cleaning it.

Is it possible that my styluscleaner, I juse a vibration cleaner from audiotechnica, damage the bearing?

Is it possible that a bearing can be damaged if the LP12 stands on a wall fitted rack?

Thank you Rille

No.

Why should it? In case of earthquake
Maybe I don't get your point here.......

Why should it? In case of earthquake
Maybe I don't get your point here.......
[/quote]

Maybe I get a little bit neurotic.

If the LP12 stands on a table he will swung vertical. If he stands on a wall fitted rack he also will swung lateral.