Question Pro-Ject 1Xpression iii lopsided platter - Facebook purchase

[moonklash]

Hi there,

I'm new to hi-fi so apologies if I get any of the terminology wrong.

I've just started out on my hi-fi journey using whatever I can beg, borrow, or buy second hand. I picked up a cheap Pro-Ject 1Xpression iii this weekend from Facebook Marketplace but didn't check it properly. I've now discovered some problems - I was wondering if anybody could offer any advise on if this is repairable and what I should do next?

I've used a spirit level to make sure that the surface and the plinth are level. However, the platter looks lopsided and when I switch her on, it grinds against the plinth:




This could have happened whilst transporting it home, but I don't believe so as I can see a light scratch on the plinth:




Removing the platter, the subplatter looks lopsided:



There's a lot of play within the subplatter (don't know if this is normal). I can push it to the right, but it slumps back to the left. I can lift it up a short distance (again, don't know how much of this is normal).






It does turn on, and the motor is very quiet. However I can hear the platter grinding and I didn't want to play any vinyl for more than a few seconds as I was concerned it would damage the vinyl and stylus.

I don't suppose anybody can offer any advise as to whether there's something I can / should be doing to fix this? I'm not entirely sure that the seller would let me return this.

Many thanks in advance,

Stu.

EDIT: I've recorded a short video to demonstrate this -https://youtu.be/cnEI0ai8fj0

 

[Gray]

Ideally you can return it to the seller.

If not, you need to remove the sub platter to see what's going on with the bearing and it's mounting - which may mean getting access from below.

 

[moonklash]

Ah drat - I was hoping there would be something I was obviously doing wrong.

I'm not sure how amenable the seller will be to a return and it was quite a drive, so I'm initially focus on seeing if it can be repaired. I spent £130 on this (which I understand is good for this model if it were working) so it won't be *so* bad if I have to spend a little more on parts. One of those things - if it's too good to be true then it probably is.

I'll mull it over and research how to remove the sub platter in the meantime. Hoping there's an easy fix.

 

[Gray]

I'll mull it over and research how to remove the sub platter

👍 Everything will become clearer when you do.
Edit: I'm really hoping that he hasn't already seen something disasterous that you're yet to find.

 

[Al ears]

👍 Everything will become clearer when you do.
Edit: I'm really hoping that he hasn't already seen something disasterous that you're yet to find.

I am thinking it suffered some serious damage a while ago..... Hope I am wrong.

 

[camcroft]

£ 25 possibly cheaper elsewhere
https://www.audioaffair.co.uk/pro-j...fEyitMYGRYRgF_VwpuyPnA4OmUvsWiEBoCgQQQAvD_BwE

 

[Al ears]

£ 25 possibly cheaper elsewhere
https://www.audioaffair.co.uk/pro-j...fEyitMYGRYRgF_VwpuyPnA4OmUvsWiEBoCgQQQAvD_BwE

I don't think it's a sub platter problem though, more likely goes deeper than that, as in what's keeping it supported

 

[moonklash]

Thanks for the advice - I hadn't realised that the sub platter lifted out; removing that, there were three screws, which were loose -



I removed two screws on the bottom so I could remove a housing and tighten the nuts on the three above. Reassembled and.. seems to be working perfectly

Although that said, I did find some mysterious pieces of plastic after in my working area:



I'm not sure if they came from the turntable, were already in my working area without me noticing, or if it was just junk that had fallen inside from the previous owner. If anybody recognises these then I'd love to know what they're for.

But that aside it seems to be working perfectly! Really pleased! Although now I just need to get some more vinyl 🤣

Thanks for the advice and support along the way - some how makes it less scary when there's other people to talk it through with.

 

[moonklash]

On reflection, I think these were from an old picture frame that was broken in the area. Glad I recognised these bits -otherwise that would start bugging me!

 

[Gray]

...now I just need to get some more vinyl 🤣

That's when the expense starts 🤑
We're all glad it was such an easy fix 👍