Technics SL1200/1210MKII
Pop-up light replacement
| Note:
Usual disclaimer, don't ruin your decks, stay away if you're clueless with
a screwdriver. Replacing the bulb is dead easy, but, you need the right
driver. It's a tiny Phillips 00 crosshead. Get a proper jewelers screwdriver
or forget it! Plan some time. From about an hour on one deck to less than that on two depending on efficiency. Note, this if for replacing the bulb. You may consider an everlasting LED instead, check this nice link. |
(click thumbnails for larger pictures) |
|
Start by removing all loose objects like the 45 adapter, slipmat and the 2 kilo platter. Protect or remove the needle and lock the tonearm. |
 |
|
Place turntable upside down in the dust cover, flight case or similar rig. Remove the feet and unscrew all the screws in the base plate The easiest way is to unscrew all the screws but not remove them from the platter. Lift it off with all the screws still in their holes and it'll be a lot quicker to put it back on. |
 
|
|
After removing the base plate it'll look like this: |
 |
| Unscrew the two screws holding the light assembly. Play around with the pop-up light to see how the mechanism works. Notice the sliding wires from the bulb and the small screw that's usually hidden below the front panel.. | |
| Find that precious Phillips screwdriver number 00 and see if you can get it loose. It's a poor tiny thing and it's often over torqued making it unnecessarily hard to remove. Especially with beer and cola in it! So find your superman powers, press firmly on the loose end of the screwdriver and very carefully try to twist it. Using long pliers on the screwdriver lets you press even harder on top while applying firm and steady torque to the twist. If everything fails, which happens with stubborn old lights and especially with foolish stripping of the cross in the head, get your hacksaw and cut a new strip in the head. Do this only if you're sure you got a proper screwdriver, can't stress this enough! A poor one simply wont fit snug enough to transfer enough force before slipping. |  |
|
Now with small annoying screw stored somewhere safe it's time to change the bulb. Remove the top portion of the metal cylinder. Cut the two wires going to the bulb and remove it. If there's a bit of plastic around the wires where they touch the cylinders hole, try to make it fit on the cables for the new bulb. It softens the strain of the up/down action on the wires. |
 |
| Now comes a stage that may cause some frustration. Those two tiny wires have to make it down that wee cylinder and out of the hole, sideways. Bend the ends of the wires 90' and carefully push them down the cylinder facing the slot in the side. It should be easy to pull them out using pliers. |
|
| Twist the wires and solder them if you bother. Wrap it up in electrical insulation tape. Leave some slack for the up/down movement and tuck the rest away in the hole. Screw it back together and make smug remarks to your friends on how it easy it was. |  
|
 |
|
|
Back to more technical recipes. |
|
| Andreas
Nordenstam February 2004 www.bergenteknomafia.com BTM-info |
