Hello, I am a fan and I have read your valuable advice many times. This is my first question to all of you. I recently bought a used BG 4500. It arrived properly packed and all I did was I uptight the 3 screws at the bottom and connected it to my ouverture. When I put the first record I realized that the platter was not turning straight and as a result a noise could be heard from the needle (MMC2) going up and down and also noise from the platter hitting something. I removed the platter to check under but I did not find anything. Your advice will be appriciated! Best Regards, Spiros.

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to forum! just to make sure, you didn't tighten the screws, did you? they are supposed to be fully open, i.e hanging loose. then the platter and arm should just bounce on the leaf springs. Many sellers don't tighten the transport screws before shipping or don't even know that they are there, so they might have been open already when you got the deck...

If you have released the transit screws and the platter is able to bounce but is still catching, take the platter off and have a look at the leaf springs. There are three. I attach the instructions - if this is not enough, a surreptitious tweak of the springs upwards to level the deck will probably suffice.

I agree.

- Or the subplatter has been deformed. That happens very easily if the Beogram was
shipped with the platter mounted. The result is a wobbly platter, wobbling up and down as it rotates.
ALWAYS ship Beogram's without the platter.
Pack the platter separately and put it under the Beogram in the box.
A few of the older models are exceptions as the platters do not come off very
easily, Beogram 1000, 1001, 1200 and the old 1500 springs to mind.

Martin

Hello, thank you all for the quick responses. I checked again and the screws are fully open and hanging loose. As you mentioned the platter and arm are bouncing on the leaf springs but the platter is still catching. I will take the platter off and I will have a look at the leaf springs as you recommended. I hope the sub platter has not been deformed since the BG 4500 was shipped with the platter not mounted. Actually the platter had been removed packed separately and put not under the Beogram as you recommend but on top of the sub platter. Again I hope the sub platter was not damaged. I will inform you as soon as I try the leaf springs. Thank you all for the valuable advice.

Even if the sub platter is slightly warped it isn't the end of the world. Any of the turntables of the this era (both tangential & radial tracking) plus the Beocenter 2200 share the exact same assembly so finding a donor shouldn't be too difficult. It is also possible to "tweak" your existing one by applying some 2 part epoxy resin to one of the 3 lugs which support the upper platter to make up where the low point is.

My guess is that the leaf springs need adjusting though as already mentioned

Chris.

Hello again, I just realized that I cannot adjust all three leaf springs? How do I remove the cover in order to reach all three ? Thank you again ! Spiros.

• unplug from mains
• remove platter
• carefully push the arm carriage as far to the left (center) as it will go
• under the right side of the deck, you will find two small screws - remove them
• now the frame of the deck (along with the dust cover) can be lifted up from the right, there are hinges on the left. Look after the tone arm assembly, this is why it needed to be in the center: the top plate cut-out won't clear it otherwise. Be very careful not to let it smash back down, there are no service position supports as in some other B&O gear...
  

Then you can reach the third leaf spring in the rear. When tilting the top of the deck back down, once again make sure the cover won't scratch the tone arm. Then just push the tone arm back to rest position and see if you got the springs high enough.

I've had to reset all the springs higher on both of my Beograms of this type when I got them to get rid of the scraping. I guess the springs get a little bit saggy with time.

Thank you Mika,

It seems too risky for me so I have decided to take the BG 4500 to an authorized B&O service center to do it for me here in Athens Greece. Hope the sub platter is not warped and needs only adjusting the leaf springs. Thank you all so much for the valuable advise. I will keep you informed. Take care! Spirtos.

  

tournedos:

• unplug from mains
• remove platter
• carefully push the arm carriage as far to the left (center) as it will go
• under the right side of the deck, you will find two small screws - remove them
• now the frame of the deck (along with the dust cover) can be lifted up from the right, there are hinges on the left. Look after the tone arm assembly, this is why it needed to be in the center: the top plate cut-out won't clear it otherwise. Be very careful not to let it smash back down, there are no service position supports as in some other B&O gear...
  

Then you can reach the third leaf spring in the rear. When tilting the top of the deck back down, once again make sure the cover won't scratch the tone arm. Then just push the tone arm back to rest position and see if you got the springs high enough.

I've had to reset all the springs higher on both of my Beograms of this type when I got them to get rid of the scraping. I guess the springs get a little bit saggy with time.

Good advice but I disagree on some parts of the described procedure.

The rear adjuster can be reached far easier and with less danger of ruining something by simply removing the plastic trim (the black thing with Beogram xxxx on it) at the rear of the dustcover (only requires the removal of 2 screws and just lifts off!).

Just as an aside, if you need to lift the hood/bonnet, every one I have ever seen have been fitted with a stay/prop which is stored at the rear left corner when not in use.

Be aware that you are meant to make these adjustments with the arm carriage toward the centre of the turntable.

joeyboygolf:

The rear adjuster can be reached far easier and with less danger of ruining something by simply removing the plastic trim (the black thing with Beogram xxxx on it) at the rear of the dustcover (only requires the removal of 2 screws and just lifts off!).

Just as an aside, if you need to lift the hood/bonnet, every one I have ever seen have been fitted with a stay/prop which is stored at the rear left corner when not in use.

 

Thanks, I will remember these points next time

Spiros, you might still consider trying it yourself as the above advice makes it much easier - the service center will probably charge you quite a bit, and it's always somewhat risky to move these decks anywhere!

Hello again, I tried to adjust the two out of the three (I did not remove the cover yet) screws but no luck. Same behaviour. The platter goes up and down. As a result I think, without being an expert, that the problem is that the subplatter has been deformed. I will try few more times and I might finally end up at the B&O service. The best would be if I had another subplatter to test it. Thank you very much again for the valuable advise! Regards, Spiros.

Misadjusted leaf spring(s) will not cause for a wobbly movement. It will
merely have the platter sit too high, too low or off horizontal.
If the platter itself is still nice and flat I'm sure the problem is with the subplatter.
As others suggest, it wouldn't be the first time we see this.

Martin

Thank you Martin. I agree with your point. I should be able to get the BG to an authorized B&O service center. Can the subplatter be fixed? or I will need to find another one? I will inform everyone of the outcome.

Thank you again to all !!!!

Spiros from sunny Athens. 

Hello again ! Finally I got my 4500 to my local authorized B&O dealer. After all the required checks the problem was clear. You had guessed it. (Martin I think). The subplatter has been deformed. The problem was that during shipping the platter had been put under the hood wraped in a piece of paper and not under the beogram. Not a lot but enough to wobbling up and down. The technician checked with B&O in Denmark and the part is not available from B&O anymore.  So what can I do? Is there someone know where can I find one used in very good condition (or new?). Any idea of the cost? Is there any way to have this one fixed? Please let me know since I would like to fix it or find another one. Thank you for your helpful assistance ! Regards, Spiros.