ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
I recently noticed my Beogram 4002 making ominous crunching sounds when the tonearm was in motion, so lubrication appeared to be in order.
What I found was the pulley wheel cracked nearly in half. I also noted the belt was well past its prime, looking good, but lacking flexibility.
When in “trouble” I know to contact Martin, who kindly supplied a new belt and provided the name of a gentleman in the UK who makes replacement pulley wheels.
Nick Robbins [nick@avxsystems.plus.com] manufactures beautifully machined aluminum replacement pulley wheels that are a testament to his keen attention to detail. The precise duplication makes installation effortless and the end result a flawlessly functioning 4000 series Beogram with a pulley wheel that will last indefinitely.
As a side-note, I super-glued the original broken pulley wheel and as a test dropped it 1 meter on to a hard surface with NO effect. So I imagine it might still function as designed.
Still I much prefer Nick’s aluminum pulley wheel to my “repaired” original, which I will still keep as a spare.
Lastly, I asked Nick since I have three 4000 series Beograms (4000, 4002, and 4004) might I be better off replacing all of them and he told me, “Jeff my policy is, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This is the hallmark of an honest man.
As I am technology challenged I will post the photo of my broken pulley wheel as I found it, followed by a photo of the new aluminum wheel next to the broken wheel.
Jeff
Beogram 4000, Beogram 4002, Beogram 4004, Beogram 8000, Beogram 8002, Beogram 1602. Beogram 4500 CD player, B&O CDX player, Beocord 4500, Beocord 5000 T4716, Beocord 5000 T4716, Beocord 5000 T4716, Beocord 8004, Beocord 9000, Beomaster 1000, Beomaster 1600, Beomaster 2400.2, Beomaster 2400.2, Beomaster 4400, Beomaster 4500, Beolab 5000, Beomaster 5000, BeoCenter 9000. BeoSound Century, S-45.2, S-45.2, S-75, S-75, M-75, M-100, MC 120.2 speakers; B&O Illuminated Sign (with crown & red logo). B&O grey & black Illuminated Sign, B&O black Plexiglas dealer sign, B&O ash tray, B&O (Orrefors) dealer award vase, B&O Beotime Clock. Navy blue B&O baseball cap, B&O T-shirt X2, B&O black ball point pen, B&O Retail Management Binder
The new and the old side-by-side.
Hi Jeff!
I've had Nick's pulley in my Beogram 4000 for two years I think. He even supplies the hex key!
Jacques
Hi Jacques,
Nick produces a quality product that in the case of the “expenses be damned” quality-build of the Beogram 4000 should have been the original spec. (Or so it seems to me.)
Nick also included excellent instructions in case of “difficulty,” which I didn’t encounter. The wheel easily slipped on, tighten the hex screw, put on the pulley…… and good to go.
The original pulley in the BG 4000 is sturdier than that of the 4002, though. It is made of a moulded plastic that doesn't melt in acetone. But yes I agree it should have been even better. Is is most definitely wobbly.
Jacques,
Something in me is just SO pleased that B&O put better quality pulley wheels in the Beogram 4000 as opposed to the [lesser] Beogram 4002/4004. But it was still plastic.
In addition (and this is not important) I had written off the broken plastic wheel from the 4002, but on a sheer caprice, decided to glue it back together. Well it looked pretty good, but from my experience when plastic breaks from age, it continues to do so.
Hence my drop-test. I fully expected the wheel to shatter to pieces, but that didn’t happen, as the wheel looks virtually perfect with only a “hint” as to the repaired crack, even after the drop.
That was good enough for me to package the plastic wheel up as a spare….. for future use.
However, I rather suspect when the time comes for another replacement I will order another of Nick’s aluminum wheels as they are clearly an improvement over the original.