Repair of pioneer pl-530 auto-return mechanism

Tonearm doesn't quite return to the rest? Here's how to service it.

[@Moruller1]

I just repaired my PL-530 following your video. It was not dirty and needed no lubrication. (did it anyway) It was the tiny "foam pad" that was deteriated !! It happens to every single on after so many years. I cut a little square piece from a wash sponge and used some double sided tape. It is the little piece of sponge that pushes it all the way back to the tonearms resting position. Thanks for the good video :)

[@araslau]

The same with me. Taking apart and lubrication didn't really help. Replacing the pad did the trick.

[@buymycomics]

Did you happen to take a picture? Just a small piece of a sponge? Did the double-sided tape hold? Is it still in there?

[@buymycomics]

@@araslau - what did you replace yours with? How thick did you make it?

[@araslau]

@@buymycomics I cut out a tiny piece of fabric/wool padding with a sticky surface, originally to be used for chairs to smooth drugging/moving them on the floor. It was 2-3 millimeters thick.

[@FredCDobbs151]

Great video and good editing! I had the same issue on all three of my pl530s and the solution was to replace the deteriorated foam bumper under the flip flop as you mentioned. I replaced it with 1/4" thick sticky backed felt and it returns to the support with authority now. The felt was sourced from Amazon. I love your work stand also! Cheers!

[@d.davis2009]

Jordon, thanks for your video, I own a 79 pl-530 , had the same problem with the arm parking correctly. Lubed all parts, And also found counter weight, and most important anti-skate can cause this issue. Thanks

[@cjspease]

Thanks for posting this repair. I have multiple PL-530s that exhibit this problem. Thanks to you, I can fix them now. Most appreciated.

[@robertwatters6026]

You've given me confidence to try and fix my old pl12 which has constant auto return! ( I'm better with electronics than mechanical.)

[@JordanPier]

Robert Watters find the cycling cam and likely you'll find a sticky trip on the cam. Most common cause

[@robertwatters6026]

Thanks for that Jordan! I'll give it a try.

[@djdepaolo]

Very informative! I have the Japanese version of this deck (PL-530X). The tonearm on mine does the same thing, but not as severely as this one. It stops about an 1/8" before the vertical stop on the tonearm rest. Good to know where to look if the problem gets worse over time.

[@djdepaolo]

I just dialed in the tracking force on the tonearm and came to realize the deck had arrived in my possession with a very headshell heavy counterbalance setting. Once I adjusted it back to where it should be, it became balanced enough to drop back into the armrest perfectly. So, now I know that I don't have this 'return problem' after all.

[@GGarcia7111]

@@djdepaolo nice. You should've made a vid explaining the process. Thanks

[@wwz1011]

Love my PL-560. Great tutorial. Thanks!

[@Trojan0304]

My 518 auto return stopped working. Lucky Alpha Electronics in Norwalk ,CA was able to repair it

[@Recordionics]

Thank you for this video! I inherited one of these in near mint condition that works perfectly in manual mode. It has the exact same return issue but also the automatic start doesn't move the tonearm. It turns on the light, spins the platter and I can hear the some mechanisms moving internally but no movement of the arm.

[@samueljames9342]

what about the foam pad that's suppose to be on the back of that flip flop part?

[@tectalabyss]

Very well done and explained. Looking forward to more,of your videos.

[@GGarcia7111]

Great vid. Thx for sharing. Beautiful turntable refurbished can cost up to 4 to 500$

[@GGarcia7111]

Nice vid. Where did you purchased the plastic washer?? Thx

[@klozher38]

I appreciate you taking the time out to document this repair. I have a PL -570 that has worked flawlessly for the last 10 years but recently the auto magic feature halted. Looking for any tips to get it going again. I opened it up and moved the large wheel that appears to sync it somehow. Although it can be used manually but placing the needle and the platters starts I can't get the start / stop automatic functionality back. Leary about giving this to a shop since I think it's a unique table.

[@JordanPier]

Very likely the tonearm drive motor had failed. Never tried to open up and rebuild one before. The only place I know that had successfully repaired one was Luis at stereoadvisor in sacramento,ca.

[@CthulhuOO7]

I'm about to open mine up for recap, clean and plinth re-veneer. This is a great heads up vid. Can you indicate what you used for lubricant? Never sure in places like this where sometimes no lubricant is best, a dry, Nyoil, or plain 3n1. My favorite is camera helicals where you have to have a damping grease thats JUST right.

[@davidvdr2]

i had rebuild more than 5 ,530 , stript out , new fineer etc. your arm station and your anti skate ,are not just right, 1 good anti grease spray(electronic cleaner ) would doe the job. 45 year old get dry .. success

[@JohnDoe-uq3mx]

Jordan Pier, does the platter spindle shaft need lubricating quite often on this model?

[@sjmphotonyc]

Jordan. I would love to have mine repaired. It’s in great shape. Has the tone arm issue, the platter runs on the housing so I have washers spacing and the two levers on the right stick. Are you in the New York area? Thanks.

[@JordanPier]

Nope. Other side of the states. You should look up Just Audio in Maryland. Theyre familiar with vintage audio like this.

[@sjmphotonyc]

@@JordanPier Thank you.

[@F1FanWoodsie28]

Very helpful to see underneath this machine, thank you! I have a PL-520, and the audio is terribly inconsistent, usually getting very quiet or losing one channel altogether. But if I raise the dust cover and let it drop back down, the impact sometimes gets the other audio channel working or gets the sound back to normal. So does tapping down on the body with my finger. Any idea what could be causing that? I've tried two different cartridges, and I know it's not a stereo receiver problem. Thanks!

[@senorverde09]

Could be anything from an oxidized headshell connector to a cold solder joint. I'd start by testing the continuity between the cartridge pins and the RCA cables

[@brianchisnell1548]

This was incredible. Thank you!

[@Texan1048]

I know this is old, but I have one of these tables I'm fixing up for a relative, it's been very quirky. I've already gone through and cleaned/lubed all the auto functions/switches and replaced what was left of the foam (how it works though I don't get since all it seems to do is contact that point to flip outwards) with a piece of window foam. What this one is doing is it will cue, drop onto record (granted it's off on position), but at the end it will not lift or cutoff. I found that the screw on plate F wasn't pushing into the off switch enough, it required me to turn it all the way in before it did. So now it lifts and stops.... no return. I have no idea, makes no sense. >< It also will not fully go back to rest manually until I do underneath and manually mess with stuff. All things that move perfectly otherwise. Can you help me out?

[@LucasFilme]

Great video, same problem here, going to do the same.

[@PatM-pt3gb]

Superb video, Jordan - thanks so much! My PL-530 is in mint condition so I'd love to resolve this particular quirk it has. (well, that and the fact that the 45rpm speed doesn't come to full sync with the speed control adjusted all the way ...) So did you do all that disassembly and reassembly with the turntable mounted on that rack support the whole time? I don't have one, so do you see any problem with doing the same repair with the turntable upside down, sitting on its plexi cover? I couldn't do a real-time test afterwards, of course, and would have to turn it right-side up again to see if it works properly. Now out to search for a sticky-backed piece of felt... I'm thinking a chair leg stick-on slider might be perfect! 😃 Cheers, Pat

[@PatM-pt3gb]

I ended up using two pieces of fuzzy-sided velcro pads stuck together and now my tonearm returns to its stand perfectly! The washers were not in the same exact order you showed but I just put them back in the order I removed them and all is well. I was also able to fine-tune the speed controls because the top mounted and easily accessible dials were not sufficiently adjustable. So I first set the top controls to their halfway points. Then I tried several trial and error attempts but quickly tired of flipping the turntable over, replacing the platen and pad, guessing on which way to turn the internal controls on the circuit board, etc. So finally, I set the table on a couple of 4x4s, set my iPhone camera to selfie mode and slid it under the table to where I could see the pots. Using just the removable bladed tip of a small multi-function screwdriver, I was able to see and adjust the internal controls to establish speed sync at both 45 and 33 1/3 RPM. My PL-530 is working like new again! So thanks again for the fine video. Cheers, Pat

[@zx7gp]

Also is it a major undertaking to disassemble for a re-veneering?

[@JordanPier]

Yep. Gotta pull everything including the tonearm. Then you have to align and index everything when it goes back together

[@RonaldRagn]

What about the pl2? I recently got one for 30$ hence the arm will not lift up and return when after playing a side, it just stays on there while the record keeps spinning. You can lift it and push it and it will then return, though the auto return is either shot or needs reset. Is this a difficult fix? I can't seem to find anything online about it. I figured for the price though, I could at least part it, keep the cartridge and call it a day.

[@bikdav]

How is that Numark cartridge?

[@JordanPier]

Just meh.

[@wayneg296]

👍👍😎✌️🤟⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Are you anywhere near Bowling Green, KY?

[@JordanPier]

Noper. Opposite side of the states in so cal for now.

[@joopwingen8185]

you are the best thanks

[@ericperry72]

Dude thank you for this! I have a Pioneer PL-520 doing the same thing. About to repair it. The question I have is what size are those plastic and metal washers? I would like to order some new ones.

[@JordanPier]

Wish I knew. This was done some time ago for a customer and I did not take note of it.

[@zx7gp]

How thick should the foam pad be and what type of foam should I use?

[@JordanPier]

I recall using a piece of felt about 5mm thick, but but I suppose you could also use medium density polyurethane foam. I would guess the felt would last longer though

[@zx7gp]

Thank you sir. They look so good re veneered. But everytime I look at the guys I run away like Danny from Jack Nicholson! Yes I think felt would be the right choice. Hopefully it supplies the right bounce to get that arm back.

[@wcababg]

Hi Jordan, Amazing video. What did you use to lubricate the parts?

[@JordanPier]

Usually mo98 ZoomSpout for oil and phonolube for grease. White lithium grease is ok too

[@wcababg]

@@JordanPier thanks for the lightning-fast response!

[@gritzcolin]

I had the same issue and ended up ruining the torsion spring :( Not having much luck finding a new spring.

[@EddieJazzFan]

Thanks. Great details on how to fix this. I'm gonna try this on my PL-530, which has the same problem. I also have a PL-560 that doesn't have this problem. Do you think it is only a matter of time before this happens to it or does the 560 have a different design?

[@JordanPier]

I have not seen much of this on the 560. I don't remember if design is similar or if different quality parts are used

[@That_AMC_Guy]

Pretty sure mine needs a good service. Not only does mine not return all the way, it continues to make a clinking noise as the platter winds down.

[@todomau]

Oh! thank you for this. I was going crazy.

[@julienutter9106]

My pl 500 is doing the exact same thing!

[@davemcdonald8790]

Mine will scrape across the record when it returns! Wish I could find some good information on exactly how to adjust it but I don’t have a manual or anything

[@ivergara24]

If the tonearm is scraping across as it returns, I'm thinking maybe you have the counterweight set too heavy. Try balancing your tonearm and adjusting the counterweight. You can find videos on KZbin on how to balance the tonearm and setting up the counterweight.

[@davemcdonald8790]

@@ivergara24 no, it’s ok. I figured it out. I’d tell you how I did it but I had a hard time finding any info online.

[@davemcdonald8790]

It just took a small adjustment.

[@ivergara24]

Actually, it might be the small plastic part under the tonearm that might not be raising the tonearm as it should automatically at the end of the record. Maybe it is is stuck in the lowered position instead of raising the tonearm before returning

[@tylerbarna3349]

I have an issue with my Kenwood kd-49f where the automatic function doesn't function at all. any advice?

[@JordanPier]

Hard to say where to begin without having the turntable in front of me. However if it plays an entire side of an album I wouldn't bother trying to fix the auto. It's usually due to failure of plastic parts attached to the arm and cycling system.

[@tylerbarna3349]

yeah, I ended up figuring out the auto return was getting triggered and pulling the arm back without lifting it off the record, so I kinda disabled the auto function. Works pretty well now.

[@cukedaddy]

I just bought a PL-514 and it spins as soon as I plug it in. Also the arm is very stiff, not free like it is supposed to be and the auto return doesn't work...Any thoughts? Thank you

[@JordanPier]

Mark Gray likely the set is stuck in a cycle. This often occurrs because the plastic gear on the spindle that turns the cycling cam cracks and slips up, down, allowing the platter to turn without finishing the cycle. If this is the case you can either attempt to epoxy the gear to the spindle or remove it all together and reset the cycling cam so that the machine can be operated manually

[@cukedaddy]

Jordan Pier thanks for the quick reply... I just got done fixing it... Someone replaced the RCA cord and it was interfering with the arm... Thanks again though

[@JordanPier]

Mark Gray forgot about the cable that runs along the bottom! That was a terrible idea

[@cukedaddy]

Jordan Pier yeah it was an oversized thick one. I appreciate your videos... They give me the courage to diy

[@sticksbass]

how do you remove the platter for shipping? thanks

[@JordanPier]

+Sticksbass take off the platter mat and pull up using the two holes in the platter. If it seems stuck rap on it with a screwdriver handle while pulling up

[@sticksbass]

got it, thanks. someone suggested squirting the middle w dw-40.

[@JordanPier]

+Sticksbass yeah, don't use wd40. If it gets down inside the motor it will screw up the electronics

[@corvetteusaone]

Thanks Jordan!

[@sjmphotonyc]

I’m having that same issue.

[@flickcogswell220]

Bravo.

[@JordanPier]

+Vic G I'm in San diego. If you want to get them fixed repairaudio.com is the place to start

[@liorCohenParsi]

I Follow This Video trying to fix my turntable but it didn't work for my i found there i a kind of soft pad missing on L Plate, i fit an other pad there and it worked for my www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/pl-530-tonearm-not-cradling.59910/

[@maxdavidsonchannel]

the fuckin fan?

[@alexislancaster2691]

Awesome video man!!! Thanks for video! Can you please make a video of how to fix the Same problem in a Pioneer Pl 570,,

[@dandinhofer9240]

Victor Monserrat I have a pl570 that needs some fixing. Cannot find a you tube that addresses a solution. I hope someone us listening.