Funky Ariston RD-40 Turntable Restoration - Will this EVER sound good?

[@MagicMaus29]

I have the same turntable and the same task in front of me. I bought it new in the late 80s and used it until the early 2000s. It has been in the attic ever since. I don't know when I'll get around to restoring it, but at least now I know a little more clearly what to expect :)

[@ernestfoster4800]

First class restoration on the old Ariston.

[@JetmanUK]

This is very cool looking turntable. 👍🏻

[@garyconway6769]

I was lucky enough to get an older version of this and paid next to nothing for it at an estate sale. Covered in dust and mouse crap! Got it home started cleaning in, polishing the aluminum bits realized it was really good quality. Is is the center piece of my system and the reason I started my vintage audio hobby. Meet some of the nicest people! If I ever do a full restoration this will be my go to video. Thanks for the great video! Cheers

[@pwrestoration]

The one downside I have with it, is it's really difficult to setup and balance, so that the belt doesn't rub on the inside of the motor pulley and cause noise / flutter. Is your belt flat or square shaped?

[@garyconway6769]

Mine has a round belt. I think mine is the RD-11 single speed motor so to change the speed you move the belt manually on a pulley with 2 sizes.@@pwrestoration

[@zaskardude]

I have one of these, i bought it new about 40 years ago, played it for years, trying all sorts of mods, weights , clamps and plinths to set the deck on etc. Along came CD's and slowly the deck became dusty. It is now in its original box in a cupboard in our house since we moved in here 28 years ago, and I recently began to itch to revive it, hence finding your video. I am fortunate to be a toolmaker giving me access to lathes and milling machines, so before i retire, a restoration project should be no bother, I just hope none of the electrics are damaged from age, also I don't recall my RD40 having speed controls or switchable 33/45 (I remember changing the belt position on the motor) I'm sure it was just on or off. so there may have been different models available at the time.

[@pwrestoration]

Well if you want to move it on to an appreciative person (IE me 😅) give me an email! The one thing I'll say is it took some very frustrating adjusting to make it level. Very frustrating at times!

[@The70s80scollection]

I've had an Ariston RD40 for decades and use it every day, as you will see on any of my vinyl posts, the turntable has a wonderful blend of design over quality making it quite unique. I have on occasion thought about upgrading to a Lynn SP25, a turntable that has some distant Ariston Audio DNA in its design..... PS, I live in Irvine, about 10 miles from Prestwick where these turntables were assembled, the platters etc were manufactured somewhere in the Glasgow area for Ariston.

[@pwrestoration]

Literally the only thing that made me move it on was how exposed the arm was to being knocked or bashed, especially with kids and pets around. I ended up replacing it with a Dual CS-750 Audiophile Concept. It did go to a friendly guy just round the corner from me though and continues to be enjoyed!

[@The70s80scollection]

Another thing, on mine there is a thick cork gasket that sits between the arm bracket that you printed and the arm support mount.

[@vincentgregory5220]

Did chuckle at the "like a Linn" comment! Interesting story - my old boss bought a container of shop tools (compressors, lathes, pillar tools, etc) from a local auction here in Ayrshire quite a few years back. As well as tool stuff we found loads of Ariston hifi parts and some complete items all marked up with labels like Prototype 001, etc. Funky looking CD players, tuners and parts for decks like yours. Nobody cared (we were a truck workshop) so it all got binned. What a shame.

[@user-9sidfgsxgj]

Great job.

[@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536]

It's such a cool turntable. I almost bought one a few years ago. I feel some regrets now 😅

[@pwrestoration]

Just sold it! It was a little impractical with little kids around as the arm was offered no protection

[@rosemeyer1939]

With the RPM app, if you sit something fairly light over the spindle... Toilet Roll! and then sit the phone on top of that - directly over the spindle, it seems to produce a more accurate reading, depending on the phone. And also, yeah, the static numbers blows my brain.

[@pwrestoration]

Ive found the number slowly rotates to the wrong angle eventually, then it's like an episode of takeshis castle trying to take the phone back without disturbing the speed 😅

[@garym8726]

@@pwrestorationsomeone else has probably already reminded you that 33 is really 33 1/3 and 16 is half that (16 2/3). This slowest speed was particularly popular with guitarists, in years gone by, as it would play an LP at half speed (an octave lower) but in the same key!

[@robertturrell3167]

If you check on line you will see there is a spring that goes from the switch box to the turntable frame to counteract the the pull of the belt on the turntable. I have the same unit with no spring and no counter weights and it sounds great with Ortfon red cartridge.

[@pwrestoration]

I've actually fitted a cassette belt, doubled over in place of the spring. It counter acts perfectly as the deck belt is rubber anyway. Not entirely convinced the counterweights Dona lot though, and it took a lot of twiddling to get the platter level!

[@75Krusty]

I have the bit older Mytek Brooklyn Bridge. And got myself an Ariston RD-40 turntable to connect to it. Music is good. But I can hear a low power hum in the background. I have a MM pickup and also set the Brooklyn to MM. Plus connected the Record Player's ground to the ground of the Brooklyn. Adjusting a bit on the knob on the ground, I can hear this is were I suspected the noise came from. Any idea how to remove that annoying low frequency hum/noise? BTW: I have connected the Brooklyn to an external power supply. Thanks.

[@pwrestoration]

If you've got an external power supply I would disconnect the headshell and see if it goes. After that, disconnect things one by one. Swap interconnects. Is it both channels? Does it get louder if you touch the tonearm? Does it change pitch if you go 33/45rpm?

[@75Krusty]

@@pwrestoration Thanks for the reply. At current moment, it all seems a bit complicated. I'm a total beginner. And there's also a bit of language barrier I guess. Or not that much into the vinyl lingo yet. Headshell seems to be the house of the stylus when I google it? Also not sure what kind of external power supply to use for that one. But guess I can read the info on the Ariston build-in power box (below the metal lid (or perhaps you say metal disc?). BTW: If I change the rem from one disc to the other, then it change to the faster 45 rpm. So that park seems to work.

[@philipcooke9457]

A good video. Much appreciated! I would love to have one of these turntables. It looks brilliant. Mind you, had I had been in your position and then had to read the comments made by @exenx2995 then like you, I would most certainly have NOT have given him the satisfaction of you giving up and effectively 'slashing your wrists'. Please keep up the excellent work with your videos!

[@pwrestoration]

Missed that comment whatever it was 😅

[@philipcooke9457]

It was 6 days ago and @exenx2995 was very cruel - he says he was 'honest'. I very glad you have not seen it. I am strongly minded to report this to youTube

[@MGLafoote]

There is a "captive" ball bearing in the oil cavity. The original tables came with a measured amount of lube.

[@TheRealKaner]

Ariston also made washing machines (different company)...NGL that cast metal base looks like it was part of a domestic appliance...and came from Ayrshire...as did Graeme Obree...tenuous link...lol..

[@ingenfestbrems]

That’s a shibata needle?

[@pwrestoration]

Yes AT VM95SH

[@ingenfestbrems]

@@pwrestoration how does it sound? Tested it vs; 2M Ortofon is so expensive

[@jedi-mic]

What's happened to the original arm that's a lot better than the Rega why why not put it back?

[@pwrestoration]

It was awful! It was a 50s broadcast arm and didn't belong on this. Sold and paid for the rega.

[@jameslaidler2152]

Surprised you don't favour S-shaped arms. Cute deck, but man I hate belt drive. For the money I'd rather have an SP-10.

[@pwrestoration]

That's interesting, what's the price on an SP10? £1K?

[@jameslaidler2152]

@@pwrestoration HA ha, yeah they aren't cheap, you make a good point. Sure you got a good deal on that one. Still a cool resto.

[@t55a2]

These were good decks if you couldn’t afford an LP12

[@pwrestoration]

Don't like em. Far too boring to look at!

[@timleelim9930]

I thought Ariston made stoves and washing machines. Ariston ... and on ... and on

[@pwrestoration]

And Ariston!

[@bobsbits5357]

hi the price of records is now got silly went over to 1/2 tape and bigger reel to reel please i did £50 for one i have seen there was a shop in london i could get a record 50p each was along time ago there was a place in the shop they had them that you call them 2nd bad covers and small things made them hard to sell i watched the cassette deck one as well with the big gears you had to make

[@MGLafoote]

HOW did you get the spring pods apart and install the new foam in the springs?

[@pwrestoration]

I can't remember 🤠🦉

[@MGLafoote]

Bummer