Turntable Maintenance

The LP12 is designed to have a long operational life. To preserve the appearance and maintain the performance of your LP12, you should observe the following points:

Stylus care

It is important that the stylus is kept clean.

• We recommend using Linn ‘green stylus paper’ to clean the stylus. Cut a strip of green paper approximately 20mm x 40mm in size. Support the strip at one end only. Applying minimal force, draw it gently in the direction a record would be played (from back towards front) across the stylus tip, taking care to avoid touching any other areas of the cartridge. This method will clean and polish the stylus tip. Please contact your Linn retailer for further advice on using green paper.

• A dry, ultra-sonic stylus cleaner can be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. It should be used dry. Any liquid supplied with it should only be used to clean the pad after use. This method will clean the complete diamond if used for 3 - 5 minutes.

• Do not blow dust off the stylus as this can blow dirt and moisture inside the mechanism and clog up the coils.

• Our general advice is to avoid using any wet cleaners as we have found that liquids can corrode some cantilevers, drastically reducing the lifespan of the cartridge. Liquids can also travel up the cantilever and affect the cartridge suspension. Particular care should be taken to prevent any liquids from coming into contact with aluminium tube cantilevers.

• On the advice of the cartridge manufacturer, Lyra SPT can be used, as directed in the instructions, on Linn cartridges with solid boron cantilevers. It should not be used on any other Linn cartridges. Please contact your Linn retailer for further advice.

Bearing

• The bearing is a closed unit, so under normal circumstances it should not be possible for any contaminants to enter the bearing. If no contaminants have been introduced into the bearing, there should be no need to replace the bearing oil.

• When removing the inner platter, always use the recommended spindle cover to protect the spindle and place a clean bearing cap on the bearing housing to prevent any contaminants from entering the bearing.

• If the bearing oil is thought to need replacing, simply invert the bearing and allow the old oil to drain naturally. If desired, the bearing can be flushed by refilling it with LP12 oil and draining again. Do not flush it with anything other than the correct LP12 oil. Don’t try to remove any remnants of oil after draining. Do not use any cloths, tissues or solvents to clean the bearing or spindle. No foreign objects should ever be introduced into the bearing.

• Inspect the spindle for signs of wear. The spindle is designed to wear before the thrust pad, so any wear should be visible on the spindle. It is not necessary to replace the bearing if it rotates freely and there are no visible signs of wear.

• Always use the correct type of LP12 oil for the type of bearing. Some older bearings do not use the standard black LP12 oil. If in doubt, seek advice.

• Partially fill the bearing housing with approximately 2ml of LP12 oil. Wrap some tissue around the base of the bearing housing to catch any overspill. Gently place the spindle into the bearing housing and allow the inner platter to gently lower under its own weight. Lift it back out again and check the tissue for overspill. If there is none, add a little more oil and repeat the process until there are signs of overspill on the tissue. Remove the tissue and clean any residual oil from around the base of the bearing housing. Refit the inner platter as described above.

• Never insert the spindle into a bearing housing which has no oil in it.

Tonearm

Ensure the tonearm is set to the correct tracking weight and anti-skate bias. Every cartridge has an optimum tracking weight which can be found in the cartridge specifications. Using a cartridge with incorrect settings can cause damage to the cartridge.

Wiring

It is important that the electrical contacts in your hi-fi system are kept mechanically sound and clean. A poor contact, especially at the first connection in the system between the cartridge and the tonearm, will degrade the signal substantially. Checks on all contacts should be performed periodically.

Plinth

The wooden plinth should only ever be cleaned with a dry, lint-free cloth. The plinth is constructed from solid, kiln-dried hardwood and should not be subjected to extremes of temperature or humidity, nor exposed to direct sunlight. Some finishes will darken slightly with age.

Platter

The platter should be cleaned with a dry, lint-free cloth. Some older platters will darken with age as the alloy is slightly photo-sensitive. Resist the temptation to polish the rim, as this removes the protective lacquer and results in rapid degradation of the finish. Newer platters have a different type of lacquer which seals the alloy, making them less prone to tarnishing.

Felt Mat

The felt mat can be cleaned with masking tape. If the mat becomes really dusty, you can beat it like a carpet or rug. If you have a problem with static and the mat clings to your records, you can use some double-sided tape to secure it to the platter. When removing the felt mat, note the orientation and refit it in the same orientation, with the ‘right side’ up.

Top Plate

The stainless steel top plate should be cleaned with a slightly damp cloth, then finished with a dry, lint-free cloth. It should be cleaned in the direction of the grain.

Armboard

The armboard should be cleaned with a dry, lint-free cloth. Ensure the stylus guard is in place before you start. A slightly dampened cloth can be used to remove stubborn marks. Avoid using any polishes, cleaners or solvents.

Belt

When removing the belt for cleaning, note its orientation and refit it in the same orientation. It may help to mark the belt on the outside, indicating which way is up. The best method of cleaning the belt is to gently pull it through a damp, lint-free cloth. If the belt is clean it should not leave any black marks on the cloth. The belt should last for at least five years of regular use.

Motor

The motor pulley should be cleaned periodically to remove any deposits of rubber shed by the belt. To do this, remove the outer platter and belt, then gently apply a slightly damp cloth against the rotating motor pulley until it’s clean. Any stubborn deposits can be removed using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) applied sparingly to the cloth. Great care should be taken to avoid IPA coming into contact with any other parts of the deck. Remember to note the orientation of the belt when removing and refitting it.

DC Motor

With the Radikal DC motor system there is no benefit in leaving the motor running continuously (as many considered was beneficial with the AC motor). We recommend that the turntable is switched off when not in use, as this will prolong the system’s lifespan and also consume less power.

Oil

The oil supplied for the bearing provides life-long protection. If oil is lost from the bearing housing, it should be replaced by Linn supplied oil, which is available from your Linn retailer. The turntable should never be operated without oil. When fitting oil, carefully follow the instructions provided. Never drop the spindle onto the thrust pad. The bearing should be full of oil when the spindle is inserted.

Lid

The lid should be cleaned with a soft duster. Remove any stubborn dirt or marks with a soft, damp cloth, then finish with a dry, soft duster. The lid can be very easily marked so avoid any harsh rubbing action. Lids are more often damaged through over-enthusiastic cleaning.

Transportation

The LP12 is a precision engineered product. To avoid damage it should be transported carefully in its original packaging. If transporting the turntable, please follow these instructions:

• Remove the outer platter and place it in the bottom packing tray.
• Remove the inner platter and place it in the top tray.
• Fit the bearing cap to the bearing housing to prevent oil spillage.
• Remove the counterweight from the tonearm.
• Remove the tonearm and cartridge.

Under no circumstances should the turntable be moved or transported with the inner platter or tonearm fitted.