SUPEX AL-2 Tonearm lift repair

[RCruz]

Hi all

I have to repair a Supex AL-2 tonearm lift and after some googling I believe I should start by filling the piston area with silicon fluid... My question is: What viscosity should I look for ? 1000 ? 50000?

PS: I am not sure but I believe this lifter is also used in the Fidelity Research FR-66S tonearm.

Hope someone has had experiences with these lifters....

 

[RCruz]

Some pics of the tonearm I am working on:

 

[samsamsam]

you can try 10000

 

[RCruz]

Thank you sam

 

[RCruz]

I saw here Silicone Damping Fluid For Tonearm Cueing Mechanisms, Damping Troughs and Monopivots that one should use 300.000 centipoise fluid for tonearm lifter.... somehow it seems quite distant from 10.000

 

[samsamsam]

my turntable is Well Tempered,so no tonearm lift, last time i bought the tonearm life from Ebay,and add to the turntable,and i remember i change the original fluid because too soft,so let me check,i will let you know

 

[RCruz]

thank you again sam

Some pics would be very instructive

 

[samsamsam]

sorry for wrong answer before,after check it should be 300,000cst,but it's depend on your tonearm light or heavy.

 

[curryman]

Most lifts work with something in the range from 100.000cst to 500.000cst (as sam mentioned it depends on the wheight of the arm and the tolerances used in the lift). 300.000cst should be a good start 🙂

 

[RCruz]

Today I experimented with 50.000cst and this stuff behaves more like glue... it sticks to everything and is difficult to remove.... Now I poured some 5000cst into the lifter and I am sure it is not enough... something in between might do the trick 🙂

 

[bear]

Unless it is clear that it has seals, no way to leak down with gravity, I think you want silicone grease.

 

[RCruz]

Yes... silicone fluid "grease" with around 20000 centipoise

 

[worldwidebeagle]

Sorry to be reviving a very old thread.

Just got a beautiful old, Suprex AL-2. The mechanism works smoothly up and down. But it does not stay in the up position. When you release the lever, the lever and piston slowly return to the bottom.

Would appreciate thoughts on repair. Thanks.