For posterity, here are details on fixes I've done to my KD-5100 turntable. Perhaps it will help others to keep theirs up and running. Thanks for those on other forums for inspiration.
PLEASE BEWARE: Don't turn the unit over without first removing the platter and locking the tone arm (and maybe removing the cartridge and counterweight). So many turntables have been completely wrecked this way...
Problem #1 - Turntable totally dead. No lights, no rotation
Fix:
Blithely ignoring the "no user serviceable parts" warning, I opened it up and found a blown fuse. Replaced it with the same rating, and the TT has been fine for years.
Problem #2 - Dust cover doesn't stay up
The hinges are of thin plastic, and the springs break through this plastic over the years and no longer hold the cover open.
Fix:
I drilled two small holes in the hinge sides just beneath the existing hinge pin, and passed a small nail through. The spring now bears on the nail shaft, rather than on the (failed) plastic. Works great.
Problem #3 - Arm doesn't return
The arm return (and set down) on this semi-auto turntable were growing sluggish over the years, and finally stopped working altogether.
Fix:
A square-profile drive belt was slipping. I got a similarly-sized round o-ring from Ace Hardware for 89 cents. So far it works fine, although it will undoubtedly wear out faster then the correct ($10+) square drive belt. The original belt lasted me 30 years, I'll be happy to get 10 out of the replacement.
I've had this TT since new (1983?), and with a Shure V15 type V I'm still very happy with the sound.
Cheers!
PLEASE BEWARE: Don't turn the unit over without first removing the platter and locking the tone arm (and maybe removing the cartridge and counterweight). So many turntables have been completely wrecked this way...
Problem #1 - Turntable totally dead. No lights, no rotation
Fix:
Blithely ignoring the "no user serviceable parts" warning, I opened it up and found a blown fuse. Replaced it with the same rating, and the TT has been fine for years.
Problem #2 - Dust cover doesn't stay up
The hinges are of thin plastic, and the springs break through this plastic over the years and no longer hold the cover open.
Fix:
I drilled two small holes in the hinge sides just beneath the existing hinge pin, and passed a small nail through. The spring now bears on the nail shaft, rather than on the (failed) plastic. Works great.
Problem #3 - Arm doesn't return
The arm return (and set down) on this semi-auto turntable were growing sluggish over the years, and finally stopped working altogether.
Fix:
A square-profile drive belt was slipping. I got a similarly-sized round o-ring from Ace Hardware for 89 cents. So far it works fine, although it will undoubtedly wear out faster then the correct ($10+) square drive belt. The original belt lasted me 30 years, I'll be happy to get 10 out of the replacement.
I've had this TT since new (1983?), and with a Shure V15 type V I'm still very happy with the sound.
Cheers!