General Electric RP-2080-A "Trimline" stereo

[electra225]

This little rig is "almost the top of the line" Trimline GE built. This is the TOTL one without a radio tuner. IT has a power transformer with a 6CA4 rectifier, 12AX7 phono amp, first audio, and single-ended 6AQ5 output tubes. It uses a V-M 1200 series changer with a GE C-100 ceramic cartridge. It has two speakers in each enclosure. I had this running a number of years ago, using the changer that is in the RP-1590 I'm restoring. The changer in this one has the Custom tone arm and a really bad needle. All it will do is skip across the record. The needle in a C-100 cartridge looks like it might be more of a challenge to replace than some are. This changer also needs a drive tire and a new platter mat. Someone has taken sandpaper to the trim, ruining it. Gary at VM doesn't have the exact trim I need, so I'll have to replace the entire mat and use a slightly smaller diameter trim. The filter caps in GE products of this vintage are horrible in quality. They are always found to be bad, or severely leaky. You want to replace those first thing. I used a Katie Cap in this stereo, using a 100@ 350 volt for the input filter, a 100@ 350 volt for the output filter and a 100@ 160 volts for the cathode bypass cap. The fanciest part on this little stereo is the carrying handle. The cabinet is made of embossed (grained) aluminum, painted black.

[electra225]

I believe this will be my next project. It won't take a lot to make it right.

What I know so far is that the tone arm is at 8 grams. Both needles are shot. The changer cycles, it stalls, but it cycles and drops the record. The tone arm misses the edge of the record, worse on 45's. That might be partially due to having a really shot needle. I'll replace the needle then retest. I may need to give it a nudge of adjustment. It needs a drive tire and a platter mat trim. The controls are really dirty. There is a boo-boo in one of the speaker cloths. The changer will need a good tune-up which will have to wait until I get the parts for the Imperial so I can have my changer stand.

[electra225]

I have most of the tune-up jobs done. Controls cleaned, cabinet cleaned, chrome cleaned. You have to pull the knobs, the trim around the knobs, the trim under the knobs, remove the tubes, remove the shield around the tubes in order to clean the controls. This thing was built with the electronics all in one lump, nothing except the changer is plug-connected. Next up is tuning up the changer. I have a manual on the VM 1200 series changers, with instructions on how to service a changer.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Bookmark this master class V-M 1200 service by Ed over at ARF.

https://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewto ... ion+zenith

[electra225]

Fortunately for me, I have another changer out and available to look at if I can't figure something out. Escaping springs will be my biggest challenge.....

[electra225]

Okay, guys, wish me well.....

I'm going to "dive" into a VM changer, head on. I want to take it apart to the last part, then put it back together and make it work. I am totally out of my wheelhouse doing this. If you don't hear from me for about a week, call the Bomb Squad.....

[electra225]

Well, I took it apart like the instructions guided. There was one piece I didn't totally remove. The instructions said that if the reject linkage was free that it wasn't necessary to remove that part. I haven't had the changer connected to power yet. That will be the next project. I have spun it by hand and it seems to work okay. It won't drop 45's, but that may be due to me. I need to power it up to see how it behaves. I really didn't have any problems. It came apart and went back together just like it said. The thingy that goes in the slot is the only part I had to remember how it went. The ball fell out of the spindle then went back just fine. The motor mounts are so-so and I haven't done the motor yet. I want to see if it will run and work. This changer goes in the RP-2153 Trimline stereo. The needle is broken, so there is that. I need to see if the cartridge still works. I was amazed to see how hard some of the "lube" was on some of the parts.

[electra225]

Another thing. It seems to me like that platter makes a lot of noise as it rotates. KInd of a "rubbing, grinding" noise. I lubed the bearing like the instructions said to. I haven't replaced the really hard drive tire yet, and my thinking is that the rim of the platter is rubbing on the drive tire, creating that noise. Am I all wet? The drive tire does move back from the rim when you shut the changer off. Plus, the platter coasts like it should. Suggestions?

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

It seems to me like that platter makes a lot of noise as it rotates.

I lubed the bearing like the instructions said to.

The drive tire does move back from the rim when you shut the changer off.
Plus, the platter coasts like it should. Suggestions?

Is the noise ONLY when the motor is driving the platter ?

[William]

I would ask the same question as Mr. Mogul, but more than likely it's the drive tire they can make weird noises when they are harder than stone.

Bill

[electra225]

It sounds like it is grinding walnuts when the motor runs. This is from the hard drive tire. What I'm asking about is when the motor is off, the control is in the "off" position. If I spin the platter by hand, it seems like it makes a lot of noise. There was no washer under the bearing, there was one on top of the bearing. The platter seems to be able to coast for an appropriate amount of time. The little ball is in the pusher thingy in the spindle. I didn't lose it. I am going to figure out how to power this thing up then see how it works otherwise.

Another question, if I may. I didn't remove the last assembly, the one with the spindle and tone arm attachment on it. The one with five screws that holds it to the motor board. If this changer works, if I didn't kill it, I am going to have to pull it back apart and remove this assembly so I can paint the motor board. It looks to me like if I remove the tone arm, overarm then disconnect linkages, I should be able to remove those five screws and remove the guts to the changer, minus motor and linkages all in one chunk. Am I seeing this wrong? I really don't want to take everything apart again...

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

What I'm asking about is when the motor is off, the control is in the "off" position.

If I spin the platter by hand, it seems like it makes a lot of noise.

There was no washer under the bearing, there was one on top of the bearing.

There should be a thrust washer UNDER the ball bearing race, also.
Gary has those washers.

Remove the bearing race and check for damage, you may need
a replacement of that also.

[electra225]

I fixed it, but I don't know what I did to fix it.....

I removed the platter, looked around, put it back on, all is now well. I didn't DO anything.

I put the spare changer into a GE Trimline, model RP-2153 for test. It runs okay, the drive tire is really hard, so it slips. I have to help it when the changer cycles, but it drops records, the tone arm lands in the right spot, it turns off after the last record has played. I haven't tried the 45 adapter since the needle is broken. The cartridge is good. So, I believe my maintenance has been successful.

One MORE question, if I may impose....

Is is possible to interchange tone arms between VM changers? Can I use the GE "Custom" tone arm on a 1200 series VM changer that uses a different tone arm?

Mr. Mogul, I will check to make sure there is something under the bearing. I may have overlooked it.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

As long as the hinge arm assembly from the
donor V-M is the same,
a different V-M tonearm can be substituted.

I've subbed out damaged tonearms with good ones
from donor 1200s.

Of course differernt weight tonearms will require
adjustments of the tracking force.

[electra225]

Pictures.....

[William]

Definitely needs to be serviced.

Bill

[electra225]

That changer is the spare one, the one I did first. It basically worked. It will make a dandy changer if I get something that needs a changer. I've been thinking about putting it in the old S-C 1121 I have in place of the Garrard that is there. I wonder why the platter trim is so beat up on these GE stereos? I have four of them and each has had a hard life....