Excellent. I still use my PL 115D that I bought the summer of 1976 and have had auto return issues that I have just lived with a long time. Not any longer! Thank you.
I gotta say, this video saved my ass. Bought my 115D from a local record shop maybe 15 years ago, had to take it somewhere else for work (had the wrong belt on it) and kept having issues. The platter was contacting something on the platter each revolution and giving a *ting* sound, life got in the way and it wound up in storage for 8 or so years. I’ve gotten back into vinyl using my buds loaner turntable and was about to put this in the shop again…turns out the ball bearing wasn’t even in the spindle, I found it in the bottom section of the cabinet area. Makes absolute sense it would lower the platter if it’s missing the bearing just enough to cause the ting issue. Saved me some money on another shop visit where they might not have even caught the issue, 2 others didn’t.
I’ve owned my PL-115D since 1977. Thanks for posting this video. Fortunately the lubricant for the auto return and cut button are still working and their lubricant is satisfactory believe it or not! I did lube the motor as you directed and the platter spindle bearing too.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! My 115d Tone Arm quit returning and the motor wouldn't turn off. Opened it up, found most of the sliding pivot points pretty dirty and no lubricant. Cleaned it up, lubricated it, made some final adjustments and it's working again like a dream. Thank you for posting this video, I wouldn't have been able to do it myself without your video, and would have had to pay a shop (and wait a long time) for the maintenance. Although not a top-of-the line Turntable, it's also paired up with my Pioneer SX-650. The receiver has been re-veneered, and I've also retrofitted the 115d with a solid walnut plinth. Thanks again! They're both Show-Pieces and very functional, I enjoy them daily!
@@TurntableGuyso, I’ve done about all I know how to do, as far as cleaning and lubricating, but it has one minor issue. If I cue the tonearm, move it to the start position and lower the stylus, it plays though great, but won’t trigger the auto return/stop. It will return mid record or even at the end, if I push the return button. Weirdly, the next time it will auto return/stop at the end, but then again the next time it won’t. I’m stumped.
@@TurntableGuy Is it possible to clean it too well, or use too light of a lube on it? I know certain mechanisms on Dual tables, for instance, actually require a certain amount of friction or resistance to operate properly.
Thanks a bunch! Great video! I got the same table a few weeks back. I removed old gunk and applied new oil in all the places you did. Everything works flawlessly except the motor won’t turn off and the plate won’t stop spinning once the tone arm has returned to its rest. Sometimes it works but most times it won’t stop spinning until I unplug the power cord. Do you have any idea of what the issue could be? Either way, thanks for a great video!
Great video! very informative since turntable repairs on older vintage turntables are hard to find. I was looking for this turntable as a starter turntable since I'm new to vinyl, because it has auto return. But got a Pioneer A-300s instead (PL-117D) unfortunately someone removed the suspension system and is sitting on the plinth and very susceptible towards vibrations and hums. Since its mdae in the same era with similar design, is there a way to put in a Pl-115 suspension springs into the A-300s?
I have this and a PL-514. I don't think the 5 series is better quality, I think it's just a different take. It's easy to like the idea of the 5-series' solid plinth, but it can be resonant. Requires sorbothane bubbles under the feet to truly isolate it. Of course you need new actual feet on those as well. The PL-115D doesn't have a lively chassis-and it's suspended. And if you're going to point out it has some plastic-that's some pretty nice plastic on a plinth that's mostly MDF or the equivalent. Excellent motors on both.
I've been thinking about getting one of these. It's a toss up between one of these and the PL12-D. The latter seems to have a huge following with loads of parts and info out there.
I have been following you on TH-cam. You are a great resource for turntable repairs. I have a Pioneer pl-200 that I thought had a bad microswitch, but turns out that isn't the problem. I took the assembly apart and when I align the cut wand, the tone arm and the auto return mechanism , the tone arm comes back short about 1.5". Goes past the spindle, but comes back short. Seems out of alignment. The cut switch works, so that is good. I have to move the tone arm almost 3/4 the way across the platter for it to go on, turns off when I pull it back, meets resistance at about an inch at the beginning of an album. Any advice?
Can you help me with the PL-115D? The tone arm recently started popping back up after auto return or after the return button is pressed. I took things apart to try to get oriented and it seems to me that it was a sporadic issue where the trip pawl lever gets stuck or hit against the center gear white plastic lower pawl if that's what it's called? After reading some articles, some say it's the lack of grease or using oil on those parts. I have done everything I can think of including taking apart the two metal plates/paws on top of each other, I polished them with flitz and a dremel to mirror finish. I have greased a few things and no dice. Do you have any experience with this issue? It still does it sporadically, it can keep lifting 2-4 times before finally setting down and turning off. Thank you sir for your guidance.
@@TurntableGuy I don't believe so, it's been fine for months. Also, I can see that the trip pawls can get stuck occasionally when I manually articulate the center cycle cam gear. Thank you.
Hi Turntable Guy, I bought one of these units with a faulty return after watching this video and was able to get it working thanks to you. However it only returns if I manually use the return button, it will not return automatically once it reaches the end of a record. Any suggestions on what may be happening here?
Same here. Followed the video(great, btw). Everything’s works as it should except won’t return on its own. Return button works great. Looked over both service manual and user manual and saw nothing about ‘adjusting return’. Oh well, manual tt now.
Hi Turntable Guy. Thanks for the video on the 115D. I pickup up one of these a few years ago at a thrift store for $15. After a bit of servicing and cleaning it is working great in my 70's vintage Pioneer audio system. It is currently paired up with a Pioneer SX-650 receiver from the same year. Here is a link to my video on the 115D turntable. th-cam.com/video/shbIBOHP91Y/w-d-xo.html
Good job on the service. I try not to poo-poo turntables, but this unit is highly overrated. People like the Pioneer brand name. I have serviced them many times. Early design. No pitch control. Lucky if the speed is accurate. A lot better turntables compared to this "Poo-o-neer". You should use the rpm ap and show the results before service and after service. The cart is worth more than the table.
You're off base (commenter). Speed issues come down to having the correct belt. A great vintage table to have, built like a brick s-house. Super quiet, and only needs minor maintenance. The normal servicing show in the video. RPM shows mine as accurate. They don't cost much either. I have many vintage tables and it compares well.
@@hankalspach1 good luck with the speed. I like my LP's at 33.33 not 32.9 or 34.0. Sorry man, but those old belters have AC sync motors and no pitch control. I have worked on hundreds of tables. Im not a noob.
@@Poppinwheeeeellllllieeeeez Thanks, I have had good luck with speed. A good quality, correct spec belt will get you there. It was one of the ways to do a turntable in 1976. Very common. Otherwise, you could have bought a Technics. Sure, a PL-115D is not quartz lock, but if I were ever to to hung up on that, I have Technics too.
Excellent. I still use my PL 115D that I bought the summer of 1976 and have had auto return issues that I have just lived with a long time. Not any longer! Thank you.
I gotta say, this video saved my ass. Bought my 115D from a local record shop maybe 15 years ago, had to take it somewhere else for work (had the wrong belt on it) and kept having issues. The platter was contacting something on the platter each revolution and giving a *ting* sound, life got in the way and it wound up in storage for 8 or so years. I’ve gotten back into vinyl using my buds loaner turntable and was about to put this in the shop again…turns out the ball bearing wasn’t even in the spindle, I found it in the bottom section of the cabinet area. Makes absolute sense it would lower the platter if it’s missing the bearing just enough to cause the ting issue. Saved me some money on another shop visit where they might not have even caught the issue, 2 others didn’t.
I’ve owned my PL-115D since 1977. Thanks for posting this video. Fortunately the lubricant for the auto return and cut button are still working and their lubricant is satisfactory believe it or not! I did lube the motor as you directed and the platter spindle bearing too.
This was extremely helpful for me to restore a Pioneer PL-15D-II that I picked up and needed a lot of work. Thank you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! My 115d Tone Arm quit returning and the motor wouldn't turn off. Opened it up, found most of the sliding pivot points pretty dirty and no lubricant. Cleaned it up, lubricated it, made some final adjustments and it's working again like a dream. Thank you for posting this video, I wouldn't have been able to do it myself without your video, and would have had to pay a shop (and wait a long time) for the maintenance. Although not a top-of-the line Turntable, it's also paired up with my Pioneer SX-650. The receiver has been re-veneered, and I've also retrofitted the 115d with a solid walnut plinth. Thanks again! They're both Show-Pieces and very functional, I enjoy them daily!
Really enjoyed this video. I held my breath when you dropped that washer. Lol
I was just gifted one of these today, so it will be my next project.
Nice tables to work on.
@@TurntableGuyso, I’ve done about all I know how to do, as far as cleaning and lubricating, but it has one minor issue. If I cue the tonearm, move it to the start position and lower the stylus, it plays though great, but won’t trigger the auto return/stop. It will return mid record or even at the end, if I push the return button. Weirdly, the next time it will auto return/stop at the end, but then again the next time it won’t. I’m stumped.
@@TheAgeOfAnalog Check for dried up sticky lubrication somewhere on the auto-return mechanism.
@@TurntableGuy Is it possible to clean it too well, or use too light of a lube on it? I know certain mechanisms on Dual tables, for instance, actually require a certain amount of friction or resistance to operate properly.
@@TheAgeOfAnalog Doubtful on this unit.
Thanks a bunch! Great video! I got the same table a few weeks back. I removed old gunk and applied new oil in all the places you did. Everything works flawlessly except the motor won’t turn off and the plate won’t stop spinning once the tone arm has returned to its rest. Sometimes it works but most times it won’t stop spinning until I unplug the power cord. Do you have any idea of what the issue could be?
Either way, thanks for a great video!
Great video! very informative since turntable repairs on older vintage turntables are hard to find. I was looking for this turntable as a starter turntable since I'm new to vinyl, because it has auto return. But got a Pioneer A-300s instead (PL-117D) unfortunately someone removed the suspension system and is sitting on the plinth and very susceptible towards vibrations and hums. Since its mdae in the same era with similar design, is there a way to put in a Pl-115 suspension springs into the A-300s?
They are from the same line, but I could not say 100% that it would fit.
Did you put the long screws back into the motor after the video? Because they were missing when you were cleaning the spindle of the motor!
I have this and a PL-514. I don't think the 5 series is better quality, I think it's just a different take. It's easy to like the idea of the 5-series' solid plinth, but it can be resonant. Requires sorbothane bubbles under the feet to truly isolate it. Of course you need new actual feet on those as well. The PL-115D doesn't have a lively chassis-and it's suspended. And if you're going to point out it has some plastic-that's some pretty nice plastic on a plinth that's mostly MDF or the equivalent. Excellent motors on both.
You’ve been taken off the dropped washer wanted list 😛
That was great hearing your repeated jokes about it.
I've been thinking about getting one of these. It's a toss up between one of these and the PL12-D. The latter seems to have a huge following with loads of parts and info out there.
@@Poppinwheeeeellllllieeeeez My current Table is a Rega Planner 3 with all the upgrades... I just want something "period".
I have been following you on TH-cam. You are a great resource for turntable repairs. I have a Pioneer pl-200 that I thought had a bad microswitch, but turns out that isn't the problem. I took the assembly apart and when I align the cut wand, the tone arm and the auto return mechanism , the tone arm comes back short about 1.5". Goes past the spindle, but comes back short. Seems out of alignment. The cut switch works, so that is good. I have to move the tone arm almost 3/4 the way across the platter for it to go on, turns off when I pull it back, meets resistance at about an inch at the beginning of an album. Any advice?
Check the rubber/foam on the auto-return arm. It may have fallen off. I show it's position near the end of the video.
Ever have a problem went up and down lever doesn’t work.
Hallo Turntable Guy
What grease are you using?
Thanks
Synthetic all purpose grease
What drill do you use in your vid? I could use something like that.
It's from Ikea
I have a PL-518 that has recently started not auto returning about half the time. Could that be a lubrication issue?
Quite possible.
Can you help me with the PL-115D? The tone arm recently started popping back up after auto return or after the return button is pressed. I took things apart to try to get oriented and it seems to me that it was a sporadic issue where the trip pawl lever gets stuck or hit against the center gear white plastic lower pawl if that's what it's called? After reading some articles, some say it's the lack of grease or using oil on those parts. I have done everything I can think of including taking apart the two metal plates/paws on top of each other, I polished them with flitz and a dremel to mirror finish. I have greased a few things and no dice. Do you have any experience with this issue? It still does it sporadically, it can keep lifting 2-4 times before finally setting down and turning off. Thank you sir for your guidance.
Is the tonearm lift arm set too high?
@@TurntableGuy I don't believe so, it's been fine for months. Also, I can see that the trip pawls can get stuck occasionally when I manually articulate the center cycle cam gear.
Thank you.
Hi Turntable Guy, I bought one of these units with a faulty return after watching this video and was able to get it working thanks to you. However it only returns if I manually use the return button, it will not return automatically once it reaches the end of a record. Any suggestions on what may be happening here?
It's probably out of adjustment. Service manual is available at vinylengine.com
@@TurntableGuy Hello i want to buy first vinyl player it is good for 1st player ?
@@SergeyKendo yes
Same here. Followed the video(great, btw). Everything’s works as it should except won’t return on its own. Return button works great. Looked over both service manual and user manual and saw nothing about ‘adjusting return’. Oh well, manual tt now.
I have the same one but the cue lever won't go up? Can you help?
Check the adjustment screw on the lifter arm.
I need help with mine!
Hi Turntable Guy. Thanks for the video on the 115D. I pickup up one of these a few years ago at a thrift store for $15. After a bit of servicing and cleaning it is working great in my 70's vintage Pioneer audio system. It is currently paired up with a Pioneer SX-650 receiver from the same year. Here is a link to my video on the 115D turntable. th-cam.com/video/shbIBOHP91Y/w-d-xo.html
Good job on the service. I try not to poo-poo turntables, but this unit is highly overrated. People like the Pioneer brand name. I have serviced them many times. Early design. No pitch control. Lucky if the speed is accurate. A lot better turntables compared to this "Poo-o-neer". You should use the rpm ap and show the results before service and after service. The cart is worth more than the table.
I rather like this model. Big, beefy motor, suspended chassis and decent tonearm. I'll try to remember the phone app for upcoming videos.
You're off base (commenter). Speed issues come down to having the correct belt. A great vintage table to have, built like a brick s-house. Super quiet, and only needs minor maintenance. The normal servicing show in the video. RPM shows mine as accurate. They don't cost much either. I have many vintage tables and it compares well.
@@hankalspach1 good luck with the speed. I like my LP's at 33.33 not 32.9 or 34.0. Sorry man, but those old belters have AC sync motors and no pitch control. I have worked on hundreds of tables. Im not a noob.
@@Poppinwheeeeellllllieeeeez Thanks, I have had good luck with speed. A good quality, correct spec belt will get you there. It was one of the ways to do a turntable in 1976. Very common. Otherwise, you could have bought a Technics. Sure, a PL-115D is not quartz lock, but if I were ever to to hung up on that, I have Technics too.
You know, wooden handled screwdrivers are better.🙄.