Hello.
I am trying to restore a couple of old turntables, a Sony PS-X50 and a Denon DP-30L II. I am trying to find a good source for bearing balls. The Denon one measures 3.95mm but 5/32 seems to work.
I was able to find these https://www.mcmaster.com/bearings/steel/tight-tolerance-hard-wear-resistant-52100-alloy-steel-balls/ but they don't seem to be a high enough grade.
This is what I was working with for the Denon:
And this is the replacement I received from MacMaster:
If anyone has a good lead for a reputable source, I'd love to know about it. Thanks so much.
I am trying to restore a couple of old turntables, a Sony PS-X50 and a Denon DP-30L II. I am trying to find a good source for bearing balls. The Denon one measures 3.95mm but 5/32 seems to work.
I was able to find these https://www.mcmaster.com/bearings/steel/tight-tolerance-hard-wear-resistant-52100-alloy-steel-balls/ but they don't seem to be a high enough grade.
This is what I was working with for the Denon:
And this is the replacement I received from MacMaster:
If anyone has a good lead for a reputable source, I'd love to know about it. Thanks so much.
52100 is premium ball bearing steel. If you're looking for something harder, McMaster also carries tungsten balls. I've used them in a thrust bearing on a turntable bearing. When mated to a steel thrust plate, the tungsten balls won't gall.
https://www.mcmaster.com/tungsten/ultra-hard-c2-tungsten-carbide-balls/
https://www.mcmaster.com/tungsten/ultra-hard-c2-tungsten-carbide-balls/
An expensive cycle shop might have ceramic balls, although I have no idea if the standard sizes will correspond with what you want.
Search for a complete bearing in P /EP /EP1 / EP2 grades, progressively more precise, and way more expensive.
SAE 52100 is a standard ball bearing steel. Same as the old EN31 material...nothing special.
It is the purity of the steel, and its machining accuracy, along with the heat treatment, that decides its quality.
Check if the rest of the bearing is good, or you may have problems with new balls in rough races.
A suitable conical thrust bearing will work wonders, and take much more load.
Alternately, use a 7xxx series (thrust ball bearing) in place of the 6xxx series bearing, better performance in thrust, though a turntable platter will weigh much less than the weight capacity of a regular ball bearing.
Using hard balls on a relatively softer race will also cause issues.
Bear that in mind before using ceramic or tungsten balls.
Tungsten is kind of hard to machine, and expensive, cheaper to change the entire bearing.
And it will eat regular steel races for breakfast.
SAE 52100 is a standard ball bearing steel. Same as the old EN31 material...nothing special.
It is the purity of the steel, and its machining accuracy, along with the heat treatment, that decides its quality.
Check if the rest of the bearing is good, or you may have problems with new balls in rough races.
A suitable conical thrust bearing will work wonders, and take much more load.
Alternately, use a 7xxx series (thrust ball bearing) in place of the 6xxx series bearing, better performance in thrust, though a turntable platter will weigh much less than the weight capacity of a regular ball bearing.
Using hard balls on a relatively softer race will also cause issues.
Bear that in mind before using ceramic or tungsten balls.
Tungsten is kind of hard to machine, and expensive, cheaper to change the entire bearing.
And it will eat regular steel races for breakfast.
I bought a bag of ceramic bearings off eBay. I only needed one. At first it was noisier than the 50s vintage steel bearing it replaced. But after about 24 hours run time, it was quiet and smooth as silk.
Cripes Pano... if they bed-in (wear) that fast then in a few days you may need to add more.....
You may find these economical ! 🙂
https://www.amazon.com/Kitchencraft-Ceramic-Baking-Beans-Pastry/dp/B0001IWZ2W
LOL, you might think so. But no, it seemed to not change after an initial break-in. Also I used some goofy silicone oil with Teflon in it that lowered noise and made the platter spin longer. No "night and day" difference, but enough of an improvement to be worth it.
"NareshBrd,
There are no races in turntable bearings."
The place where the balls are put are called races by me.
If they are rough after wear, it would bear attention to polish them before putting new balls.
Even motor cycles and scooters have "cones", where the steering is supported, we get packets of balls to replace the worn ones.
If there is a dent in the cones. your steering will not be smooth, or may pull to one side.
So the cones, which are really races, are removed, polished on a lathe, and put back.
If the dent is big, the cones are replaced.
Same principle here, the balls are in between a moving part (spindle) and fixed part (frame), and are moving in a constrained place, which functions as a pair of races.
There are no races in turntable bearings."
The place where the balls are put are called races by me.
If they are rough after wear, it would bear attention to polish them before putting new balls.
Even motor cycles and scooters have "cones", where the steering is supported, we get packets of balls to replace the worn ones.
If there is a dent in the cones. your steering will not be smooth, or may pull to one side.
So the cones, which are really races, are removed, polished on a lathe, and put back.
If the dent is big, the cones are replaced.
Same principle here, the balls are in between a moving part (spindle) and fixed part (frame), and are moving in a constrained place, which functions as a pair of races.
Pano:
You changed the entire assembly (my understanding is that), or just put ceramic balls in the old races?
You changed the entire assembly (my understanding is that), or just put ceramic balls in the old races?
On the TT in question it is a single bearing down in a well. The platter shaft rests on that bearing. Only the bearing was replaced.
A bush is also a bearing.
The more correct term for a ball bearing, or other types with rollers, is "anti friction bearing".
The more correct term for a ball bearing, or other types with rollers, is "anti friction bearing".
Except for a turntable bearing its definitely a friction bearing as its a rotating shaft on a ball in a tube.
To me:
Bearing:
Bushing:
The other bushing being the cheap computer fans that use oiled felt instead of ball bearings...
I'm with Pano though. Ceramic is usually very smooth compared to steel, and harder.
Remember though, if you make the ball harder, whatever it's in contact with will wear instead!
Bearing:
Bushing:
The other bushing being the cheap computer fans that use oiled felt instead of ball bearings...
I'm with Pano though. Ceramic is usually very smooth compared to steel, and harder.
Remember though, if you make the ball harder, whatever it's in contact with will wear instead!