Linn Forums

johnhowson19 · 2011-06-29, 16:16

Hello All
Today I have noticed a noise coming from the motor of my LP12. Best way to describe it is a rumbling sort of noise, it's not coming through the speakers I can hear it coming from the deck. Took of the belt and outer platter and I could still hear it so I guess it must be the motor. It's not very loud and I have to put my ear to it to hear it. So in your experience might it be anything to be concerned about? the LP12 is 18 months old from new.

Dazzroidicus · 2011-06-29, 17:06

I have the same issue. It is very quiet and barely audible through the speakers unless the Wakonda is cranked up to 40+ on the volume scale. I only noticed it after I replaced the Majik power supply with a Lingo. It may be that I'm just being more aware and critical as I spend more! I'll pop in to my local dealer next time I'm passing to get it looked at.

Cymbiosis · 2011-06-29, 17:34

(2011-06-29 16:16)johnhowson19 Wrote: So in your experience might it be anything to be concerned about? the LP12 is 18 months old from new.

John,

Is it the AC motor or do you have the DC motor with a Radikal?

KR

Peter

johnhowson19 · 2011-06-29, 21:12

(2011-06-29 17:34)Cymbiosis Wrote:
(2011-06-29 16:16)johnhowson19 Wrote: So in your experience might it be anything to be concerned about? the LP12 is 18 months old from new.

John,

Is it the AC motor or do you have the DC motor with a Radikal?

KR

Peter

Peter
It's a majik so I guess it will be the AC motor. As I say the noise is not coming through the electronics, if i put my ear to the deck the motor is making the faint but noticable noise. It will most proberly be my O.C.D playing up Big Grin

John

Dazzroidicus · 2011-06-29, 21:23

This is the same as my noise I'm sure. Was a Majik with a Lingo upgrade.

johnhowson19 · 2011-06-29, 21:29

(2011-06-29 21:23)Dazzroidicus Wrote: This is the same as my noise I'm sure. Was a Majik with a Lingo upgrade.

No upgrade Dazz it's the basic power suply

ThomasOK · 2011-06-29, 23:11

A small amount of mechanical noise from one of the AC motors is not something to worry about. It is quite normal to be able to hear that with your ear close to the motor, especially with the platter removed. Because of the rigid connection of the motor to the top plate much of the motor vibration is sinked into the top plate which can make it more audible to the ear but that also means it is not traveling up the belt to the platter. It normally should not be audible when you are changing a record. If it is noisy enough to hear it in the room you should have it checked.

johnhowson19 · 2011-06-29, 23:26

(2011-06-29 23:11)ThomasOK Wrote: A small amount of mechanical noise from one of the AC motors is not something to worry about. It is quite normal to be able to hear that with your ear close to the motor, especially with the platter removed. Because of the rigid connection of the motor to the top plate much of the motor vibration is sinked into the top plate which can make it more audible to the ear but that also means it is not traveling up the belt to the platter. It normally should not be audible when you are changing a record. If it is noisy enough to hear it in the room you should have it checked.

Thanks Fella
As I say it is very faint, I only noticed it because I was right over the deck dusting round the back. I have checked again and confirmed I am actually loosing my marbles as I can now not hear anything Rolleyes

What You See and Hear · (This post was last modified: 2011-06-30 17:35 by What You See and Hear.)

(2011-06-29 23:26)johnhowson19 Wrote:
(2011-06-29 23:11)ThomasOK Wrote: A small amount of mechanical noise from one of the AC motors is not something to worry about. It is quite normal to be able to hear that with your ear close to the motor, especially with the platter removed. Because of the rigid connection of the motor to the top plate much of the motor vibration is sinked into the top plate which can make it more audible to the ear but that also means it is not traveling up the belt to the platter. It normally should not be audible when you are changing a record. If it is noisy enough to hear it in the room you should have it checked.

Thanks Fella
As I say it is very faint, I only noticed it because I was right over the deck dusting round the back. I have checked again and confirmed I am actually loosing my marbles as I can now not hear anything

Hi

As Thomas says the current rigid method of coupling the motor uses the top plate to dissipate any vibration and noise which prevents it getting to the playing system through the belt and into the platter where the cartrige will hear it. One of Linn's earliest uprades to the LP12 was the "Nirvana Kit". Prior to this upgrade the motor was mounted on a cork gasket. This gasket was around 4mm thick and insulated the motor from the top plate. Athough this made the motor run quieter the deck sounded inferior and so it was superseded by a rigid coupling using metal dome washers. The Nirvana Kit was fitted as standard from 1981 and is on your Majik LP12 today.

I have always told my new LP12 customers this , as it prevents any alarm if a small amount of motor noise is noticed later. The noise is more noticable with a Majik or Lingo power supply as they run at full torque all the time unlike the Lingo which had a load sensing circuit and drops to a lower violtage after stabilising from switch on.

Most people never notice as the ambient noise level and distance from the LP12 when seated prevents this. But if one is very near the deck in a very quiet room a soft "rubbing" sound is normal . We foresaw that at some point this noise might be noticed and so prevented any future panic by describing this anomaly when an LP12 first purchased and installed. The alternative was a worried customer who might notice on a Sunday evening and obsess about it until Tuesday when the showroom re-opened when he might then be reassured.

There are known problems of noise if the old type spring loaded bearing end cap is not correctly fitted and this can result in excessive noise or an occasional "twang" as the spring twists and kicks back. However your Majik LP12 has a superior system without a spring. From what you have said already there is nothing to worry about.

Regards.

johnhowson19 · 2011-06-30, 13:23

(2011-06-30 11:03)What You See and Hear Wrote:
(2011-06-29 23:26)johnhowson19 Wrote:
(2011-06-29 23:11)ThomasOK Wrote: A small amount of mechanical noise from one of the AC motors is not something to worry about. It is quite normal to be able to hear that with your ear close to the motor, especially with the platter removed. Because of the rigid connection of the motor to the top plate much of the motor vibration is sinked into the top plate which can make it more audible to the ear but that also means it is not traveling up the belt to the platter. It normally should not be audible when you are changing a record. If it is noisy enough to hear it in the room you should have it checked.

Thanks Fella
As I say it is very faint, I only noticed it because I was right over the deck dusting round the back. I have checked again and confirmed I am actually loosing my marbles as I can now not hear anything

Hi

As Thomas says the current rigid method of coupling the motor uses the top plate to dissipate any vibration and noise which prevents it getting to the playing system through the belt and into the platter where the cartrige will hear it. One of Linn's earliest uprades to the LP12 was the "Nirvana Kit". Prior to this upgrade the motor was mounted on a cork gasget. This gasget was around 4mm thick and insulated the motor from the top plate. Athough this made the motor run quieter the deck sounded inferior and so the gasget was superseded by a rigid coupling using metal dome washers. The Nirvana Kit was fitted as standard from 1981 and is on your Majik LP12 today.

I have always told my new LP12 customers this , as it prevents any alarm if a small amount of motor noise is noticed later. The noise is more noticable with a Majik or Lingo power supply as they run at full torque all the time unlike the Lingo which had a load sensing circuit and drops to a lower violtage after stabilising from switch on.

Most people never notice as the ambient noise level and distance from the LP12 when seated prevents this. But if one is very near the deck in a very quiet room a soft "rubbing" sound is normal . We foresaw that at some point this noise might be noticed and so prevented any future panic by describing this anomaly when an LP12 first purchased and installed. The alternative was a worried customer who might notice on a Sunday evening and obsess about it until Tuesday when the showroom re-opened when he might then be reassured.

There are known problems of noise if the old type spring loaded bearing end cap is not correctly fitted and this can result in excessive noise or an occasional "twang" as the spring twists and kicks back. However your Regards.

Thanks Colin, much appreciated, also as the deck is now 18 months old what are your thoughts on when to have my first service carried out?