Just got an old Beogram 1800 from a friend.

The symptom: When I press play, the platter spins for a few seconds and then stops.

The diagnosis: ?

I don't want to put much money into this, so the last thing I want to do is start randomly replacing stuff. Anyone experience the symptom I'm talking about?

Btw I'm an audiophile, but it's been decades since I had a turntable.

I take it you mean the 80s 1800 - the problem will almost certainly be with the record weighing device. Either it needs resetting to the correct weight or you have no record on. Or it might have a fault in the electronics controlling that circuit.

Welcome to Beoworld ! 

I take it you tried with a record on the platter ?
The symptoms you describe is what will happen if you press start without a record.

Martin

Thanks Dillen and Peter. Yep, it appears it was simply the fact that I didn't have a record on the platter. I didn't realize it had a record-weightng device. So now at least I know that the turntable works in that respect!

Two more quick questions: First, I haven't actually had a chance to play a record, so I don't know if the stylus needs to be replaced. Are there any budget recommendations you can make? Second, while the belt does turn the platter, I assume it's pretty old. Does it make sense to just go ahead and replace it, given the relatively lost cost?

Thanks again for your help

Matt

I would try with the one you have first and if that is not so good get Axel to retip it and change the suspension. Prices start from €89. Look in the cartridge review article in the general forum.The cartridges actually wear very slowly - I have a number that are still like brand new.

Equally, see what the belt is like - if it needs replacing I am sure Martin can help.

I've mentioned this before and it won't hurt to mention it again to a fellow audio-fool :)...

Unlike we manic music lovers who play our systems almost daily, many of the "Beo-customers" I had were more normal people with "lives" and didn't give their beo-systems much use apart from the radio perhaps. The Beograms often had very light use and this, in addition to the usually good quality diamond styli B&O fitted and the low playing weights, usually means the cartridges suffer very little wear as stated above. The only proviso being that the standard articles need a warm environment (over 20 degrees C)  to sound at their best. Any colder and the treble miraculously seems to evaporate... The styli themselves often need a thorough cleaning and many a supposedly worn diamond has no more than some gunk stuck to it (I use some Audio Technica stylus cleaning fluid AT607 and this works wonders on old "needles" :)..).

I don't know what Axel does regarding the suspension, but he's well worth a call or email.