I've seen Mats educational YouTube video on lubing VPI turntables. I have a question about lubing the motor at the hole in the top of the pulley. Does enough oil really get into the motor from that spot? It seems like the oil just doesn't go anywhere further than the bottom of the pulley. Also, is it recommended to let the motor run several hours straight or overnight to make sure that the oil does get where it needs to be? And yes, I agree with Mats saying removing the pulley isn't a recommended practice as it's factory set for the best performance.
Thanks!
Does VPI sell replacement standalone motor feet?
What got me to wondering whether that oil has been getting past the pulley is I've religiously done my yearly 3 drops into that hole and it never seemed to get any further.
Anyhow the table is about 5 1/2 yrs old and I've been noticing some very feint low level hum in the blank grooves. I've recorded albums to CD since day one and listening back the hum was either non existent or much lower from discs recorded from the Primes early days in my system. So I decided to investigate. On long lead out grooves I would stop the motor and the hum would continue while dropping steadily in pitch until the platter stopped and then the hum was done. If I rotated the platter by hand the hum would begin again. Very low hum.
Next I grabbed a stethoscope and listed to the plinth with just the motor on, platter spinning, no disc playing and I could hear the hum. And again when I spun the platter by hand I could also hear it.
Hmmm, maybe that 1/4" by 7" square mousepad I used to use under the motor before I had the whole table isolated would cancel the motor noise. Sure as heck, it solved the problem. Pitch black silent backgrounds once again. But I do now feel that possibly not properly lubing the motor got that hum started in the first place.
I'll take care of that shortly!
Thanks again Brf!
IMHO......No, that is not the best way to lubricate the motor. Due to the tight interference fit of the motor pulley, asking capillary action to move the oil down to the motor bushing is asking too much. Also, it could days (if at all) to move the oil and that assumes no centrifugal force when playing the motor. If you have access to a hypodermic needle, fill it with some light sewing machine oil and inject the oil underneath the brass balance wheel under the pulley. I believe that magic lube also sells oil with an needle extension.