Pioneer PL-L50 Linear Tracking Turntable Overhaul

[@simplegamer1880]

Used this video to fix my parents old turntable so i could use it and listen to their old records, thank you so much man!!!!

[@donsatman2273]

Thank you for this amazing informative & helpful tutorial! I watched the entire video during a thunderstorm at 4 in the morning. After lunch I took it apart and found every one of the exact same problems. Took about an hour to clean it up, change the belt & lube it up. WD40 really does the trick. I used light white lithium grease on the rail & the mechanism runs really smooth. I found an old belt from a Sony linear turntable that is a perfect fit. Great to having it work like new again! It really sounds excellent. One of the best repair videos on KZbin & very entertaining as well 👍

[@thomasbecker5313]

If you think this is complicated, you should try restoring a Rabco from the '70s. It's all mechanical. I've had a Technics SL- DL5 since new with absolutely no problems. Bought another one used a few years back. No problems.

[@livens100]

I just passed on one of these on marketplace. Glad I did even though it was pretty cheap. The next day I snatched up a Technics for $20 that just needed a belt. Even though the Technics is a plastic bodied cheapo, it still plays just fine. Opening the bottom its amazing how simple a turntable really can be and still play decently. Love the vids, keep em coming!

[@MichaelLivingston-me]

I just serviced one of these. It's working very well now. I think it's a reasonably decent turntable and it seems to play well.

[@Trojan0304]

Fascinating pioneer. Have linear Technics J33 programmable track selection & Vertical Technics SL-V5. Both got old grease cleaned out & new tonearm belts. Love picture records on Vertical Technics

[@oscar-ke7kl]

Not really, I think they're just very robust machines my dad bought two pl l 800 back in the 80's and they obviously needed cleaning and repairs after sitting there without use for 30 years but now they're really nice machines and they sound really amazing also very easy to repair, very serviceable design, but I've worked with more complicated and complex designs than the pl l 800 so in my personal experience with linear tracking devices if you know what you are doing they're very serviceable machines also I've worked on a pl l 70, also these machines are very sensitive to oil from the hands and dust, they really don't like dust so just keep their dust cover at all times and you'll be fine, another thing you mentioned about the dust cover, I disagree with you, I have found that with the dust cover you minimize vibrations from the speakers thus sounding better, in more than one occasion I forgot to put the cover down and the needle started to jump from the vibrations the speakers were doing, I think it all falls down to personal preference

[@richardbas2948]

I own a PIONEER PL-L1000. Mine doesn't operate with strings, but the mount of the arm has a built-in motor! That doesn't move like that. It's moving the arm very smoothly! With all of these turntables it's essential, that they absolutely waterlevel! I never had any trouble, except a view belts.

[@Drinkyoghurt]

A lot of linear turntables have a similar design. They aren't a bad design though and the stylus actually floats freely like a regular turntable. There are sensors in the arm that detect when it veers off too much, but that's in case of really bad distortions. A Pioneer PL-L550 is rated at 0.025% wow&flutter with a SNR of 80DB which is really hard to beat. However, that does rely on the mechanism being in good shape, but that can be said about pretty much any turntable. We have modern day companies struggling to make a decent manual turntable that can match those from the 70s and 80s and they severely mess up automatic systems (look at the latest Project turntable). My personal favorite are the older Japanese systems with ED motors in the arm to deal with any distortions and warping. They don't rely on gravity and can play warped records that others can't, though after 50 years most of them do need a proper servicing.

[@createdezign1840]

I've found them relatively easy to service /repair. The only draw back being the lack of cartridges made for the T4P mount system. Saying that the AT85EP is readily available and a very capable cartridge for the price.

[@bikdav]

Thanks for the video. I had no idea that these turntables were that complex. I also didn’t know about the lid resonance issue.

[@stephensams709]

I worked on one of these a few years ago for a friend. I found a bad microprocesor, replaced it and it still works to this day.

[@tonygibson1671]

I have two PL-L70 turntables. The PL-L70 uses a optical sensor at the end of the tone arm to detect the record size as well as detect the tracks on the record for progaming just the track you want to play. I have never had any issues with my turn tables other than dust on the sensor once in a while.

[@andrewforbes1433]

Just wanted to say I really enjoy the channel, and good luck reaching that 1K mark. Cheers from just down the 401.

[@TurntableGuy]

Thanks!

[@johnromberg]

Sure, compared to pivoted arms it's complex, but come on. It's a caddy on string... And it makes me wonder what 30-40 years of printer, both paper and 3d, CNC machining etc. would bring to linear tracking turntables! With all the fancy, new linear bearings, drives, motor controllers, micro controllers, sensors, algorithms... I say bring on the complexity! I want to see a Boston Dynamic robot flip out a stylus from its finger and perfectly track the groove of a severely warped and off center disk, beginning to end! :)

[@carboncrx4305]

Nice video mate. Learning a lot being a newbie.

[@davidkornblatt991]

Have you ever gone to LP gear for needles they have a large selection

[@TurntableGuy]

Yes, I have purchased from them in the past.

[@fredrickhaemker8434]

How do you check stylus pressure or even set it to 1.25?

[@djToNyB2010]

Quick question for you. I have the supposed higher end version the PL-L70 and I have a 50 as well. 2 questions. On the 70 it have its on style cartridge and stylus that you can’t upgrade to a better quality one where the 50 you can swap cartridges. The 50 I have has a broken dust cover and a hinge broken off so finding the parts are IMPOSSIBLE! Would you put the tonearm off the 50 onto the 70 or keep the “special” style integrated cartridge in the tonearm? Next question how do I rewind the string that pulls the arm. I thought I was doing something good buy cleaning and lubricating the little spring thing the cord or string attaches too but I have no idea how to put it back on. It seems to go around the bully in both directions 🤷 PLEASE HELP ME!

[@motownmitch]

I just watched this video, I purchased a pioneer PL-L33, It did not come with a stylus, but it did have a cartridge. I purchased a separate stylus that sez it fits a PL-L33. NOW, when it comes, I can attach it. Seeing how to clean up old grease that turned sticky like glue, and lubricating with a oil, what brands of oil for the rod, and oil for the small pulley motor?...does boiling the old belt help and for how long to boil and what temp? If I have to crack it open, I want to do a full clean up like you did in the video. THANKS

[@TurntableGuy]

Just use a light machine oil. Buy a new belt if you can, if not, just boil it in the microwave for 4 or 5 minutes.

[@haveachat65]

Can you help me with my PL-L550?

[@gnieciag]

Hi, I love your content. I have been trying to service a pioneer pl-x505 where the needle will not rest on record. Any suggestions?

[@TurntableGuy]

Adjust the cueing height. There should be an adjustment screw somewhere on the arm that lifts the tonearm.

[@gnieciag]

@@TurntableGuy the PL-x505 does not have screws that I can see. The pioneer lid is not attached to the phono arm on this model.

[@TurntableGuy]

@@gnieciag Check vinylengine.com for the service manual.

[@gnieciag]

Hi, do you have a reliable parts rep? Looks like I need to replace the slider cause the plastic adjustments broke off. Looks like pny-564 slider is needed

[@GajjoRock]

When I see the dirt you left, I do not wonder why your turntable repair is such a nightmare for you... Regarding the coin previously taped on the tonearm, you should ask yourself if there is any damage on the tonearm mechanism. I have repaired a lot of these turntables, pretty simple and very reliable stuff. Mine is a Technics SL-7, works perfectly. A "regular" fully automatic turntable is the real nightmare to repair !

[@alanarmstrong2323]

This looks simple compared to my 1219 dual.

[@TurntableGuy]

I'd rather work on a 1219

[@alanarmstrong2323]

@@TurntableGuy I got both a 1219 and 1229 both much much more complicated but with levers and springs

[@jugent2012]

Great vids keep them coming, I have a quick question for you, I have a sl1301 and I was using an app from android called rpm and it showed that my turntable was running at 37.78 , then I used a strobe disk and it is dead on ,,,,, so silly as it may sound I'm all confused about it.,,,,,,,,, what do you think.,,,,,

[@TurntableGuy]

No idea. I'd trust the strobe disc first as long as the lighting source (50 or 60Hz) is correct.

[@jugent2012]

@@TurntableGuy Yes its Quartz lock and dead on

[@kjm-ch7jc]

You forgot to lubricate the slide track.

[@wayneg296]

👍👍😎✌️🤟

[@moshezaharia4666]

Indeed a real nightmare to service... another critical lubrication point is the worm gear, the reason it suddenly took off is that the grease there just broke free (for now). Manual operation with the power off is possible by rotating the worm gear by hand. I would pass these linear tracking turntables as a user.

[@TurntableGuy]

I did check the worm gear grease and it was still pliable.

[@moshezaharia4666]

@@TurntableGuy It’s the same grease that failed inside the unit. Basically, it is not so complicated: all it is a radio dial string tuning mechanism driven by a motor… I believe there is some kind of optical sensor to detect the movement of the arm to tell the motor to advance. All in all, a great job! You got it running as good as this kind of turntable ever will.