tt cue lever problem

pglbook

I got my Thorens 160 tt serviced recently and connected it today to my Yamaha CR 2020 receiver and I am now spinning some vinyl and life is good.

However, I noticed that the cue lever is not working at all. Bummer. I wish I had known this because I just got it serviced at a local audio shop and, had I known, I would have asked the tech to look at it and fix it.

Does anyone know how I can fix it myself?

The only other issue with it is that the dustcover hinges are broken off so I have to remove the dustcover when playing a record although it does rest in place so I can cover the tt when not in use. But that is a minor issue.
I'd really like to fix the cue lever as that is a valuable tool, imho.

Thanks.

nspindel

You should remove the dustcover when you're playing records anyway, it resonates. My turntable doesn't even have a dust cover.

You should bring it back to the tech. A good shop should have done a thorough inspection of all mechanical elements, imo. You should definitely get that fixed.

[Deleted User]

Hi,
What is the cuing not doing? Does the arm drop with no damping? Or, nothing happens no lift no drop?
Ken

pglbook

Thanks.

I just played around with the cueing lever some more and got it to work. I really had to turn each cue lever all the way to the right or to the left to get the tonearm to lift or drop. On the Thorens TD 160, there are 2 cue levers. I tried them numerous times and it did not work but I guess I did not turn it all the way as I should have. I was afraid to force things.

Boy, these vintage tts are peculiar, haaa.
I am still learning the layout of these vintage tts and of vinyl.
But it is fun!

Thanks for the feedback.

[Deleted User]

I'm glad things are working. Unless someone has modified the table there should be only one cuing lever, the one on the right hand side. The other changes the playing speed.

pglbook

Ken, you are right - there is only one cue lever on the right side of the tt.

Ooops, I was going off of my memory (which is not so good, haa).

Thanks again.

[Deleted User]

No problem, I'm glad things are working better, the Thorens is a fine turntable and the Shure is the best value in audio.

billbillw

Those cue mechanisms have a viscous silicone fluid in them. Over the years it dries up and either gets stuck or it looses all of its dampening (ie: It falls very fast). The mechanism should like this: When you lift up, it should be quick and precise. When you let it down, it should be very slow approaching the vinyl. If it doesn't operate like that, it probably needs to be cleaned and refilled with new dampening fluid. The shop should have done that for you.