Turntable Problem

[nono]

I recently got my dad's old turntable out, a Pioneer PL-115D, and I found that there was a small problem. For some reason, the turntable will always rotate while being plugged in. It only stops rotating when it is unplugged.

Any ideas as to what might be wrong?

Note: Everything else on the turntable seems to be fine. The sound quality is terrific.

[BillEpstein]

Probably the switch broke long ago and Dad by-passed it. You can just buy a line cord switch for a few bucks at a home center for convenience.

[Steerpike]

(1) There will be a spark suppressor capacitor across the switch - that may have gone short circuit. An easy cheap replacement. You can temporarily remove it altogether, but if it is absent long-term, the life of the switch will be shortened.

(2) Old hardened grease may have jammed the mechanical levers that operate the switch. Easy to clean out with turpentine.