AF-977 bottom cover realign

[Fotohuis]

My paintstripper has also two fan speeds only.
Summarized: My export market must be Italy ...... instead of Dutch Marktplaats.

The Phase Locked Loop on the turntables is more a gimmick. All the DC motor-tacho electronic turntables from Philips up from model 22GA212 (1972) have about the same specs in wow & flutter. If a turntable has less then 0,1% in spec it is already not noticeable. In rumble >62dB it is already good and when activating a rumble filter on the amplifier even not important anymore.
Philips spec in turntables is on the high end in the middle class belt drive systems. The reason that a Thorens in NL will costs up from Eur. 600 second hand in a good condition.

[Hoewie Loewie]

Definitely not a hairdryer............

Maybe you used it once ?

Hair dry and gone in just one second..............

[pserci]

My paintstripper has also two fan speeds only.
Summarized: My export market must be Italy ...... instead of Dutch Marktplaats.

The Phase Locked Loop on the turntables is more a gimmick. All the DC motor-tacho electronic turntables from Philips up from model 22GA212 (1972) have about the same specs in wow & flutter. If a turntable has less then 0,1% in spec it is already not noticeable. In rumble >62dB it is already good and when activating a rumble filter on the amplifier even not important anymore.
Philips spec in turntables is on the high end in the middle class belt drive systems. The reason that a Thorens in NL will costs up from Eur. 600 second hand in a good condition.

Agree.
In the past i have Thorens TD160 and last a TD320 MkII this last a very great TT. Now I have a linear arm TT (a Pioneer PL-L800) and as a reserve a Technics SL10 This particular PHILIPS TT was a dream when i was young...
Thanks to all!!

[Fotohuis]

My first serious TT was a Philips 22GA312 around 1978. Like my CD104 in 1986 stupid enough sold in time. My last TT was a B&O Beogram 3500 tangential TT with a MMC-2 element. But a new replacement is now Eur. 800 for the MMC-2. So I sold it for Eur. 350 and bought back two 22GA312 and a 22GA222. Equipped with GP401 and a GP412 Mk2 with Jico Shibata needle. The GP412 Mk2 is a very good element, in fact the best Philips ever made. And when doing the refurbishment myself you have enough money left for three brand new needles, even a Shibata from Eur. 130. If you want a real improvement you have to buy a Thorens and a very good Ortofon element but then you will even go second hand far over Eur. 1000. Upstairs I am using the 312's on a 2006 NAD (C352) amplifier, however in that time no RIAA pre-amp anymore so I made my own dual RIAA pre-amp with 5 pole DIN in and RCA out for the NAD line signal. OPAMPS Burr Brown OPA 2134.
Downstairs the 22GA222 with an upgraded Dynavox TPR-3 vacuum tube pre amp in the RIAA stage used LT1028 OPAMPS.
In the Netherlands the Philips turntables in that time era "made in Holland" are now cheap, in fact you can buy all types which in that time with a lot of effort I could afford only one with a standard GP400, maybe 401.
So I can combine and switch and try my own favorites. If you do not like it, you can resell for the same or a bit more money. The service manuals from Philips are very complete and easy to understand which helps a lot in the problem shooting. In fact so far I got them all in successful repair and upgrade. The weakest point is often the main switches which you now can swap for a suitable Alps switch 1:1 in exchange. The same switch you will find in a 212-312-222-209, recorders N4504-N4506, cassette N2521 so in my whole line 1972-1978 the same type. I prefer vintage audio from the 70's-beginning 80's. In fact your 977 was in electronics the top in Philips turntables however in mechanics too many plastic so I prefers the series before 1978. Looking at the real specs e.g. in wow & flutter the 212 starts with 0,1%, 312 0,09%, 222 0,08% all in the margin and neglectible. The 222 has an aluminium socket, 212-312 wood. You will never have any problem with these parts.

[schoute]

It's a pitty the bottom isn't made of the best kind of plastic. The plastic used for the top part however is very good. This part feels very solid and sturdy. I tried the trick with the airgun also but the result wasn't very good. Currently I'm making a new base-part from wood. Maybe an idea to do the same. I'll post pictures of the result when it's ready.

[Fotohuis]

@Schoute: Do you know if the base part of a 777-877 and 977 has the same dimensions? If it has it could be an idea to make a small series in wood and put it in the web shop of Thomas? The problem is not the less expensive wood material but make the professional cutting with a programmed CNC machinery.
Another, maybe a less expensive solution a combination of glued wooden parts. Anyhow it is always a problem of demand and how many you can put on stock.

[FransW]

Just looking at the shape in the service manual, a lot more turntables in that era use the same bottomcover.

It's a pity that the 7610 en 7813 are on there own.

[Fotohuis]

The problem is that I am not doing these turntables in repair because this part is a serious problem which has no quick and cheap fix. In this way many TT of this series have been put in the waste.

[schoute]

I'm not sure, but I think it's highly likely the bottom of the 677, 777, 877, etcetera will be the same. For somebody with the right tools it's quite easy to make the necessary parts from MDF. A nice finish is probably the most work.

[Fotohuis]

MDF is fine and together with a box of Black paint spray and very fine sandpaper it is a matter of patience to paint with spray 3-4 times.

[FransW]

I'm not sure, but I think it's highly likely the bottom of the 677, 777, 877, etcetera will be the same. For somebody with the right tools it's quite easy to make the necessary parts from MDF. A nice finish is probably the most work.

I do not know the 677, and the "etcetera group" is quite large
But I just verified the user manuals and the 877, 967, 977 and 7215 look completely the same. It's a pity the part numbers are not in the service manual, that would have been the proof. Probably 887 is also the same.

A small problem with building a mdf bottom frame will be the support feet. Because wood and glue together is not very accurate, probably adjustable feet will be required. That will result in a very high bottom frame, maybe 25 - 40 mm higher than the standard one. That will totally change the looks of the turntable.

[Fotohuis]

Making a turntable non original will always give unexpected troubles. Therefore I normally keep it simple by original replacement and spare parts.

[pserci]

Problem fixed!!
"hairstripper" has worked very well. With a little help of my hand protected by a glove, i could remodel the bottom and make touch the four rubber feet.
Now i'm waiting for the CMOS IC 4737 to finally fix the RPM counter...
It was a very pleasure share with you.

Thanks again
Regards
Paolo

[Fotohuis]

OK, great job then!

[Hoewie Loewie]

"hairstripper" has worked very well.