Linn Sondek Dust Cover Hinge Repair

SCompRacer
SCompRacer Posts: 9,121
edited October 2013 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
The Linn Sondek LP12 turntable I recently acquired had a broken hinge on the dust cover and wouldn’t stay open. The other hinge spring was about to pop through. No wonder, with a steel spring rubbing against a thin piece of plastic. I got a quote of around $40 for new hinges that did not appear to be made any better than these, so I decided to fix them and put the dollars toward a better cartridge.

I’ve seen other dust cover hinges designed like this so the repair could work with them. I drilled a 3/32” hole through the hinges and put a slight bend in the leg of the spring. I held the leg of the spring down and inserted the smooth shank of the drill bit through the hole. The excess bit was nipped off with a cutoff disc mounted in a Dremel tool. Now the leg of the spring is held by a metal rod.

The hinges were fixed but they looked shabby from the backside. I split an old computer floppy disk in two and cut some overlay patches out of the thin plastic case. Super Glue was used to adhere the patch to the back of the hinge.
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
Post edited by SCompRacer on

Comments

  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,358
    edited February 2007
    I saw this in person last Sunday. It was a remarkable fix considering I thought the hinges were shot. It looked brand new. Rich never ceses to amaze me with the ingenious fixes he can formulate. My hat's off to you Rich.
    Carl

  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited February 2007
    EXC.

    Yankee engineering, some of the Southern folks might learn something.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
  • pblanc
    pblanc Posts: 261
    edited February 2007
    I need you to come and work on my house. Bring the Sondek.
  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 9,121
    edited February 2007
    Thanks for the kind words.

    Bring the Sondek.

    There were moments during set up I would have given it away.:eek: Good thing I found some patience laying around.:D
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,618
    edited February 2007
    You should change your moniker to "Mr. Fixit"!
    HT Speakers: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * RSL Speedwoofer 12S
    HT: Samsung 75QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra * APC H10

    2-Channel Audio: Von Schweikert VR-2 * Musical Fidelity M2si * WiiM Ultra * FiiO K11 R2R DAC
    Vinyl: Technics SL-50C * Denon DL-110 MC * iFi Zen Phono 3 * KAB RF1
    Video: LG OLED77B4PUA * Sony BDP-S470 * Roku Ultra * APC H10
  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited February 2007
    Can I send some of my gear your way for some much needed revitalization?

    Way to go fountain of youth on those hinges with MacGuyver like resourcefulness.
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited April 2007
    Awesome!!! Richie, you need to move closer to where I live!!!
  • chriskauffman
    chriskauffman Posts: 1
    edited June 2013
    My Sony turntable (PS-LX3) has the same hinges. I discovered a fairly simple fix for you do-it-yourselfers. Drill a hole on each side of the plastic portion just above the pin and insert an additional pin that retains the spring.


    8913251046_c39443b8d8.jpg


    Photos at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjFDvoa4

    (Ignore the hole I drilled in the center of the hinge, that was a fix that was unsuccessful)

    There is more information on the problem at the following URL:

    http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/analogue-source/156092-lid-hinges-linn-lp-12-thorens-sony-turntables-repair-orig-brand-wanted.html
  • mk8
    mk8 Posts: 1
    edited October 2013
    what kind of "pin" do you use?