Over the course of the last couple weeks, I had run into a few interesting data points with the Sol. To review:
1) It was taking a little more effort for the motor to get it to speed than I'd expected, and seemed to be putting a strain on the belt, even during simple procedures like speed changes.
2) While the speed was fairly accurate, the speed stability was worse than I'd expected. Since I only had the UltraDeck to compare it to, I rationalized that some variation was to be expected and that this was within spec.
3) The platter was wobblier than I'd anticipated.
4) I found that my platter speed would decrease by about 1/10th of a revolution per minute, and my speed stability would become measurably worse, when using my Big Ben record weight.
5) When free-spinning the platter, it was coming to a stop after only 20-25 seconds, which is...uh, not great.
So, figuring it's a friction issue, I lift the platter, lightly grease the bearing shaft and sleeve, reassemble. Same issue. The speed stability isn't even consistently good or bad! It's almost random!
I take it back apart. Examine the parts. They all seem fine. Finally, I decide to use a flashlight and look up into the bearing sleeve to get a look at the bearing itself. You know, the bearing that lives up in the sleeve because it's "inverted," and that's why I've never seen it on the bearing shaft itself. That bearing.
Wait, there's nothing up there but a ceramic dome. That can't be right. Check again?
Empty.
Yes, friends, I had been running this platter for a week and a half
on the bearing shaft itself.
I scuttle over to my desk to root through the spare parts bag and yep, sure enough, there's a shiny steel ball bearing just sitting there at the very bottom. "Miss me?" it says.
I install the ball bearing on top of the bearing shaft along with a very light application of Super Lube, put everything back together, and give it a free spin. It takes a minute and a half to spin down! Miracles! Pop the belt back on, get the motor pod in position, run a few tests, and...well, the Sol is now measuring as good or better than my UltraDeck.
View attachment 190405
View attachment 190406
Now, in my defense, the Sol normally comes with the whole bearing assembly in one piece, but was shipped to me broken down, so there was nothing in the manual to instruct me to look for this. But boy, what an oversight.
