Dual Turntable Repair & Restoration

Let’s get you spinning again.

Repair Services Offered

Providing Dual turntable repair and restoration in the greater Portland, Oregon metro region.

As the sole tech at Capacity Audio, I specialize in Dual idler drive turntables such as the Dual 1219. That’s not to say I can’t repair others. I can repair anything from common Dual failure points such as a cracked anti-skate cam or steuerpimpel replacement to more complex items like pitch / speed assembly restoration.

Other Dual repair items I offer include cleaning hardened grease and refreshing with new Dual spec lubrication, main cam service, platter bearing restoration, idler wheel optimization, motor restoration, cue lift height damping restoration, multi-play service, and more. If your Dual is behaving strangely or not quite functional I’d be happy to take a look.

Models Serviced

The following are the Dual models I specialize in. If you don’t see your model (or brand) in the list, I still may be able to service it. I have worked on Pioneer tables as well.

Process

Dual turntable repair Portland service checklist

I do a deep dive on all restoration projects, noting all pre-existing issues (if possible) prior to beginning work on the unit. There are three standard Dual turntable repair failure points that nearly any Dual will need:

  1. Steuerpimpel is old and hardened and needs replaced. This is a quick job and I offer steuerpimpel replacement as part of typical service.
  2. Anti-skate cam is cracked and needs repaired or replaced. I prefer to restore these as opposed to replacing with an aftermarket part.
  3. Multi-play grommet is dry and cracked and needs replaced. If this isn’t addressed switching between single and multi-play can possibly break a part called the dearing ring which is a catastrophic failure.

If your table needs serviced please get in touch! I charge an up front bench fee of $80.00 which covers diagnosis. After diagnosis is complete, I put a quote together for parts and labor. The bench fee is sometimes enough to cover the entire job. You’ll know ahead of time how much the cost will be after diagnosis is complete.

Restored Dual 1216 with custom walnut plinth
Restored Dual 1216 with custom solid walnut plinth

FAQ

Pricing & Service

Yes, after an initial inspection/diagnosis I provide an estimate including parts and labor and explain whether or not the repair is worth doing.

My bench fee is $80.00, which is applied to the repair if you choose to move forward with the estimate. This fee is non-refundable whether you choose to move forward or not and covers diagnosis time.

In many cases, yes! Especially high end models such as the 1219 and 1229. These are built like tanks and are meant to be serviced.

There’s a good chance I do. Get in touch to request service!

Common Problems

This is often caused by dried grease in the mechanics, a worn steuerpimpel, or a cycling issue in the cam system.

This is commonly due to old hardened grease or wear in the main cam and lever system.

Speed issues are often related to motor lubrication, idler wheel condition, or pitch adjustment mechanisms.

On some models like the 601, the SM840 motor can be faulty and needs replaced. This is a known issue caused by the power supply grids in different countries. Some SM840 motors are fine, others run fast. It’s a gamble.

The steuerpimpel is a small friction contact that controls tonearm movement. When worn or hardened, automatic functions may fail or behave erratically.

Repair Process

Restoration typically includes full mechanical cleaning (mostly of old hard grease), lubrication, replacement of worn parts, electrical inspection, cartridge alignment, and speed calibration.

Whenever possible I restore original components. Parts are replaced only when necessary for proper operation.

Get in touch if you need any of the following, I would be pleased to help.

Contact me today to get started!