Speed Problem Page

Do the string passages in your music "warble"? Have the piano passages become annoying?

If the answer is yes, you may have a speed control problem!

Problem

Resolution

Stobe Light isn't stable, it

On a belt drive turntable the belt may be old and or / slipping. Before

meanders back and forth.

you replace the belt, try this. Remove the belt from the turntable. Dampen

-OR-

some lint free tissues (camera lens wipes are good for this) in Isopropyl

Strobe light won't stabilize

Alcohol. Gently pull the belt through these tissues between your fingers,

on speed

allow the belt to dry. Then using a clean set of tissues again dampened

in Isopropyl Alcohol, wipe off the belt pulley and the area on the platter

where the belt comes into contact. Be careful not to touch these areas

with your fingers after cleaning. When everything is dry, reinstall the belt

and see if the problem goes away. If it doesn't and the belt is old, replace

it. We highly recommend using authentic Dual drive belts. They are available

from the vendors listed on our Parts/Service page.

On a turntable with Idler Wheel drive, remove the platter and clean off

the inside of the rim with a cotton ball dipped in Isopropyl Alcohol. Making

sure that the surface is clean and dry before replacing the platter. If this

doesn't help, you can try using an emery board pressed very lightly on the

idler wheel while it is turning. This sometimes can clear the hardened rubber

on the edges of the idler wheel allowing it to have better contact with the

platter rim. If this doesn't work, you may have to send the idler wheel out

for rerubbering. We have a vendor or two on our Parts/Service page that

can do this for you for a reasonable price. Or, sometimes on Ebay you can

find NOS idler wheels up for auction. Also check with our vendors, they may

have the idler wheel you need in stock.

Or the bearings in the motor could be dragging due to lack of lubricant or

thickening of the lubricants. This is common with Dual turntables, especially

if they have been sitting without use for many years. To fix this, disassemble

the motor and relubricate according to the Service Manual.

My Dual turntable has strobe

You will need a light source that is the same frequency that your local power

markings on the platter but

is. We recommend a portable fluorescent light. You can find these at home

no strobe light. How do I use

supply / hardware stores for a reasonable price. A regular incandescent light

this?

bulb won't work for this purpose.

The strobe light on my

The bulb has probably burned out, or there is no power to the turntable.

turntable doesn't light up

First check to make sure the turntable is plugged into the wall outlet and

platter is turning. Replacement stobe lights are available from vendors

on our Parts/Service page. Make sure all the internal connections are

tight.

How do I use my stobe light?

Most Dual turntables are equipped with a strobe light to assist you with

accurately setting the turntable speed. There are a set of markings on

the platter, usually one "line" of marks for each speed (33/45). The Dual

1245 only has one line that is used for both speeds. With a record on the

platter look at these marks. One line will appear to be stationary, or will

be moving slowing in one direction or another. If the lines appear to be

moving, turn the pitch control until the lines appear to be holding still.

When the markings stop moving, your turntable is correctly set to

the speed selected. Some turntables have four lines of strobe markings.

These are usually for 50/60-Hz power. You will only use the ones that

correlate to the power in your country.