Hello all.
I was cleaning a basement of a friend's father's office and I found a nice Beogram 1000 with it's original styrox packet. It was buried so deep under other stuff that I think it was hardly used for years. I asked and it was given to me for free!

However, there are some small troubles. The mains plug was wrong type so I replaced that. Also the DIN plug was broken so it was replaced by a modern one (I will use this with my Beomaster 901 so I kept the DIN plug). Now, when I tested it the speed selector seems to be needing some cleaning; sometimes it won't spin at 33 rpm - but 45 works fine. Turning the selector around some times usually makes it work. The small speed adjusting knob is jammed - I pulled the speed selector knob out and tried to turn it with pliers but no go.

I noted that this is a belt-driven deck. The belt seems to be quite good. Still, I don't know how to take off the platter. I took off the single-record-holder-thing and the small part around the tip but the platter wont' come off. How should it be taken off? 

Thee cartridge and needle are B&O - however there is no marking of model. I made a quick test-listening and it sounds good.

(I guess this has been asked again and again but I couldn't find it by quick search - better ask than break it).

I believe you have to drive a pin out which is only accessable from within. Maybe you have to invert the whole unit?
Don't quote me!!

Lucky you - what a result!

There's two sorts of hub, the later one has a pin like Jandyt says and its well awkward to drive out and worse to get back in. The early one has a screw that you back out (do not completely remove, cos its well fiddly to put back) and is much easier to deal with. Either way though, you're better off leaving the platter in place unless it's sticking in the hub (causes major wow/flutter!) cos removing it really doesn't help much when it comes to changing the belt or doing anything else. You don't mention 78rpm so I guess you have the later type.

The speed changer and adjustment mechanism really likes to gum itself up on this deck after about 40-odd years. The good news is that it doesn't actually wear out - just needs a strip down, clean, and re-lube. The service manual on site will tell you all you need to know about doing that and setting it up right. Cartridge and stylus on these tend to last a very long time.

Cheers, Steve

 It took three days to verify who the owner was but finally it was solved and he said he won't need it and I was more than happy to collect the Beogram. I guess this is one of those "once in the lifetime" founds!

 I didn't mention the 78 rpm mode but yes, it is there so this is the older one. Ok, I shall leave the platter to be. If the belt is changed in some otherway, how is it done from the underside? Can the speed changer mechanism be taken off from the underside? I will take a closer look again tomorrow.

 Also there seems to be some trouble with the arm and tracking weight setting. The weight (on the arm with 1-3 scale) has to be set around max to get the stylus to touch the record. I tried to lubricate it but no luck. 

 Thanks!

 

 

Changing the belt is a major hassle on these decks. Luckily the belt is the round type, nice and thick, lasts for years. Allegedly it is possible to change the belt from the underside - I've tried, and failed miserably. Last time I did this I lifted the deck up from the wood surround (remove 4 top crosshead screws and loosen the power and DIN cables first) and got at it from that angle - much easier tho I felt like I was lesser mortal for cheating.

Speed changer mechanism is accessed from underneath. You're a "silver" so you should be able to download the manual on site no prob. You'll need this just to see what goes where. Three nuts off to get the motor loose, and it lifts off with the mechanism attached. (Pull the speed changer knob off first!) After that the work is awkward but easy - needs slightly smaller fingers than mine!

Getting the arm balanced is a once-only job, and not even fiddly. The manual describes how to do it in great detail.

Cheers, Steve

Oh, that's excellent - way to go!

I have a '1000 with exactly the same problem on the fine adjustment knob. If I can ever figure out a way to hold the socket together tight enough I reckon that packing the empty space in the knob with epoxy resin would be ideal and permanent. Also a permanent way to ruin it if the split socket isn't held perfectly together tho.

I had to replace the entire DIN cable too. Soldering a DIN plug is awkward, so I ended up getting a DIN extension lead from Maplins and doing the soldering at the other end of the cable - much easier and the moulded plug is nicer. 

Chances are more likely that the stylus has crud stuck to it than it is worn. I've had a few of this type off eBay and after a clean they all came up looking and sounding like new. Most odd. I vaguely recall reading somewhere tho that B&O used to polish their diamonds more than anyone else to make them last longer, tho I'd hate to be the one to prolong an urban myth.

Cheers, Steve
 

The cable I used was just their regular DIN extension lead - plug at one end, socket at the other. I cut the cable to the same length as the original I replaced. I can't remember how well it was shielded now, there wasn't much choice available anyway though. What I got works great - no interference and no grounding problems. I also replaced the mains lead entirely too - I now have one of those nice round low profile molded mains plugs. I observed the original colour coding on the leads anyway, though the original two-pin plug can go in either way round so I don't think it matters.

I wouldn't use a cotton bud - likely to snag the stylus and get tangled. I use a stylus brush dampened slightly in distilled water, that seems to shift the dirt off eventually. I go at the stylus at 45degrees from either side to get at the front and sides of the stylus as well as the regular rear-to-front. Like this "/ \ -" (brushing in the direction away from the cartridge.) The brush I have is quite soft, the cantilever barely moves if at all - best to be gentle.

Cheers, Steve
 

 

Excellent news!

Enjoy.

Cheers, Steve
 

Now I replaced the DIN cable. I had some extra DIN-DIN cables and I used one for this. Now it has more professional-looking moulded plug. (The original cable was white and the new one is black but it doesn't matter to me). I decided to keep the original mains cable as it works and it's not too ugly or yellow.

Also I made some general cleaning and polishing and now it looks indeed very good. It is now installed next to my Beomaster 901 and I am just now listening "The Strauss Family" record at the background. The stylus have been cleaned now few times and now there is no sign of distortion left. It sounds to pick up the dust on the record more sensitively than my other deck, Lenco L-75 but still: most of my records are old and scratchy (as they are bought second-hand). Still the good ones sound very good; both high- and low-ends sound strong and balanced and warm.

I announce this restoration project to be succesfully completed!  To all of you who helped - I and my Beogram thank you!