Why does this antique record player not work?

[AntiqueM53]

Hello, people,

In an old Zenith Stereophonic High Fidelity AM FM Record player,
the radio parts work, but the record player needs some help.
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The Speed Selector (A) nicely changes between 16, 33, 45, and 78.
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That puts the Rubber Flywheel (C) at different positions on the shaft of Motor (B).
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The problem is that the Flywheel (C) does not touch the Belt Driver (D).
IF I push down on that (E) part, then (C) does touch (D),
but that also pushes the Flywheel (C) away from the Motor shaft, so (C) stops.
I cannot see how to get (C) closer to (D) while (C) still touches the Motor shaft.
A friend thinks that the Flywheel (C) has been worn down, so the diameter is now too small,
but I don't think that's it, because we would then see tiny dropped black rubber particles.

Any clues?

Thanks for your time.

AntiqueM53

[cogar]

Me thinks the “driver” belt is your problem …… and needs to be replaced.

All smooth “drive” belts (round or flat) are either elastic (stretchy) or use a spring loaded “tension” roller to maintain sufficient pressure for transferring mechanical power from the motor to the mechanism.

Those rubber belts lose their “elasticity” after a few years or decades. 

[AntiqueM53]

Thanks for the reply, Cogar, but I'm sure That's not the problem.
The problem is that the Flywheel (C) does not touch the Belt Driver (D).
Thus, there's no contact / connection from the Motor B to the Flywheel C to the Driver D.
?

[cogar]

AntiqueM53, if the drive belt is not elastic, stretchy (like made from rubber) ….. then there has to be a “tension” adjustment for it.

The “adjustment” could either be a “spring” affixed to an “idler” pulley ...... or an “idler” pulley on a “slotted” bracket with hold-down screw ……. or the motor itself could have “slotted” mounting holes.   

Anyway, it is obvious via your 3rd picture that you removed the drive motor. Thus, the question is, …… is the drive belt installed correctly?

Me thinks you might begin here ……

How to Replace a Record Player Belt
https://www.wikihow.com/Replace-a-Record-Player-Belt

[AntiqueM53]

Apparently, I am not explaining this clearly enough.
Well, Cogar, the belt IS rubber/elastic/stretchy.
And while the belt MIGHT be a problem Later, IT IS NOT THE CURRENT PROBLEM.
The drive motor does Not move the belt Directly.
The drive motor moves ONLY the "Flywheel" (C).
The Flywheel is SUPPOSED to contact the Driver (D), causing (D) to turn.
The belt is attached to that Driver (D).
I can see no method of moving the B, C, and D parts closer together, like slotted mounting holes.
There is a constant, but varying gap between the Flywheel C and the Driver D.
The gap is least at slow (16) speed, most at 78 speed.
In the last picture, you can sorta' see a gap between Flywheel C and Driver D.
IF those two parts, C and D, would be in contact with each other, I think the turntable would turn.
Does that explain it adequately?
Thanks for your time, people.
AntiqueM53

[mart]

OK,, I am not one that knows much about these things but I think what Cogar is saying is the belt tension is why the two do not make contact !!  Usually the belt is the first thing replaced if there is a problem !!  These things are set at a precise tension and any variance can cause problems !!  If you can not see a mechanical reason it doesn`t work,, I  would replace the belt first,, then if that doesn`t fix the problem,, look for something else !!  The two most common problems in these old stereos are the belt and the spring in the player arm !!

[cogar]

Antiq, upon looking back at your 1st post, I think I see an error in your reasoning, to wit:

That puts the Rubber Flywheel (C) at different positions on the shaft of Motor (B).

The problem is that the Flywheel (C) does not touch the Belt Driver (D).

Antiq, its now obvious to me that the “rpm” selector moves the Rubber Flywheel (C) up/down the motor shaft with 78 rpm selected when at the top of the shaft and 16 rpm selected when at the small end of the shaft.

So that mean that Rubber Flywheel (C) not only has to move “up/down” the motor shaft but also “away from/closer to” the motor shaft when the rpm is changed.

Given said, I really don’t think that Flywheel (C) and Belt Driver (D) should ever come in direct contact with each other …. simply because the belt drive would have to move up/down when flywheel moved up down. Thus, the rubber drive belt is driven by the flywheel shaft, not the flywheel itself.

And it works because of the “tension” strength of the rubber drive belt. And when those rubber belts “age” they lose their tension/stretchiness/traction and things stop moving.

Search the internet for “spare parts” for your make/mode

[AntiqueM53]

OK,...  with Multiple experts pointing at the Belt, I jury-rigged an additional rotating spindle, to stretch the belt out tighter.  That didn't help.
EXACTLY!, Cogar...  The Flywheel (C) moves a tiny bit "away" from the motor shaft, when swithcing RPMs.
However, B and C and D are not in a direct line with each other.
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Therefore, C CAN move away from the Motor shaft (B) while D stays in one place.
You can also see that the belt is wrapped around the Belt Driver (D).
And, new pictures show the "wear" patterns that have been left on the Belt Driver at different speeds.  The Belt Driver surface is still very smooth to the touch.
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The Make is Zenith.  The Model?...  there's a paper label attached to the underside of the turntable with 8838 and 169-196 on it, and the speed assembly has S-53315 on it.
I'm still looking.