Above: Top view of the SP-10 at the start of this project.

With the bottom cover off, showing the missing the Control PCB, which should be on the right side.

The first step was to get the unit operating at all.  I was fortunate to find the missing control PCB from Angus MacDonald in the U.K.  Angus was also very helpful with some repair and debugging advice, so thanks very much!

The SP-10 Mk2A manual shows a work stand to raise the table off the workbench allowing you to lower the single PCB for test and maintenance.  No such stand is shown in the Mk2 manual, as the four PCBs cannot be easily dropped down for service.  I built a simple stand to hold the table level, as normal, and also flip it up 90 degrees to give full access to the underside and PCBs.  NOTE: I suggest you always remove the platter when standing the turntable upright to avoid stress on the main bearing, and the danger of it falling off if not bolted on.  Also, since the table was not made to be run without the platter, test connections should be made with the table upright, then it should be lowered, the platter put back on, and then the unit can be run for testing.

A bit of research turned up a replacement switch suggested by Dave Cawley (here, post 443) the Omron SS-5D, available at Mouser here.  I ordered some and disassembled the switch.  It was dirty and sticky (obviously something had been spilled on the unit), so some clean-up was needed.  The cosmetic cover/top of the Start-Stop button was scratched and banged up, but thanks to a suggestion from Angus, I used a heat gun to loosen the glue holding the thin aluminum cap on the switch and pry it off without much trouble.  I then sanded the top using fine sandpaper to remove most of the scratches, and sprayed it with semi-gloss polyurethane (Minwax).  It isn't perfect, but is much better than it was.  The new Omron switch went in with no problem and works fine now.  Note that you should install the switch assembly into the base before re-gluing the cap on (I used a bit of silicone glue).  There is a small brass screw in the base of the button that is used to adjust the switch action, and must be done BEFORE the cover is installed (photos below).

I found that the action of the speed switches felt inconsistent on my unit, and upon inspection found a lot of gunk that had at one point been spilled into the switch assembly.  I decided to replace all 3 speed switches as well, as shown below.

 

Above: After heating the switch cover, I was able to gently pry the cover off.  This shows the double sided adhesive tape that was holding it in place.

Above: closeup of the cover, after cleaning.  Note that its just a very thin aluminum stamping.

Above: switch with cover sanded & refinished.  Note the brass screw in the center of the plastic base of the switch, used to adjust the switch action once re-assembled in the base. Once you re-glue the cover back on, there is no access to this adjustment.  Note the very dark yellow color of the 33, 45 and 78 RPM labels - to be fixed shortly.

Above: Internals of the switching assembly with the new start-stop micro-switch in place.  These are the 3 LEDs for speed indication.

Above: speed switch assembly top part.  I was disappointed in the color of the speed labels on the switches as shown 2 photos above, so I dabbed a bit of gloss white enamel on each one, then wiped the top surface clean with isopropyl alcohol, and they look MUCH better, as you can see here.

  

Above: The three new speed switches installed (bottom view), not yet wired up.

Above: The completed rebuilt switch assembly ready for installation.  The start-stop button cover was glued on after assembly into the base and adjustment of the switch action, as described above.

The brake works by activating a solenoid that tightens a loop around the inner platter.  The solenoid never worked on mine.  Thanks to Angus again for advice, I replaced TR213 (along with the diode on the solenoid, just as a precaution), and the brake worked again.  I couldn't find the stock transistor (2SC1384A-Q), but I found a reference to a substitute: Fairchild KSC2690AYS available at Mouser.com.  Note the legs on the replacement transistor are too large to fit thru the PCB holes, and rather than risk damaging the PCB, I filed the legs down a bit to fit the board.  There is some additional maintenance that should be performed on the solenoid.  When I fully disassembled the SP-10 to have the base powder-coated, I discovered there is a rubber washer on the solenoid that had fallen apart.  That washer measures 14mm outside, 8mm inside by 2mm thick.  I found a close replacement at the local hardware store, and just had to trim the outside diameter to fit.  There is also a rubber stop on the end of the plunger that was completely missing from my unit, so I made a simple replacement as shown in the photos below.  A bit of white grease to lubricate the plunger was added during reassembly.

Disassembled solenoid plunger.  Original rubber washer at upper right (in pieces).  New washer below it, cut down from larger rubber washer.  Once I had installed the solenoid and plunger, it looks like I didn't have to trim the washer - a larger outside diameter would have fit fine.

Above: Assembled plunger with new rubber washer and stopper (on the right).  Since the stopper was missing in my unit, I guessed on length, and ended up trimming a bit shorter than shown here for proper operation.

Some good additional SP-10 brake info is here.

The base of my unit had numerous scrapes and marks and showed a bit of corrosion, so after considering various options (including trying to clear coat it with polyurethane) I decided a new paint job was in order.  Instead of normal paint, I decided to have the unit powder coated in the hope it would be more durable.  After removing all the bolted-on parts, I used a heat gun to soften the adhesive under the Technics logo.  Unfortunately, the logo was made of a thin copper, and although it didn't look great when I started, it definitely looked worse for the wear after I removed it.  I eventually decided to have a new custom nametag made at Frontpanelexpress.com.  

I used a company called Imperial Metal Finishing in Stratford, CT (website here, talk to Vinny, the co-owner) to do the powder-coating. They had the unit bead blasted and powder-coated in a color that I chose, somewhat darker silver/grey than original.  Since I had trouble cleanly removing the Technics logo, I didn't even try to remove the maker's plate on the rear of the chassis - I asked Imperial to mask it over during the bead-blasting and powder-coating process.  They did so and it came out just fine.

Above: My DIY SP-10 disassembled.  This photo was actually taken just before I started reassembly, so the base has been powder coated and looks much better than before. Disassembly wasn't very difficult: first the plug-in PCBs, then the motherboard with the attached switch assembly, ground lug, and power connection plate/cable.  Then remove all of the standoffs, and the strobe lens.  Last is the brake assembly and motor.  I suggest taking some notes as you go and keeping the screws in separate labelled bags for each subassembly (as shown above) to facilitate getting it all back together correctly.

Above: Chassis after powder coating, before I reassembled everything.

While the base was out for powder-coating, I overhauled the motor.  When I removed the top portion of the motor, the shaft showed minimal wear, but the plastic thrust pad had a significant dimple where it rotates on the ball bearing (which sits stationary via friction fit in the bottom of the well).  I ordered a Torlon replacement here for $35.  Next I removed the bottom nut from the bearing housing.  Note that it is held in place with some form of threadlocking material, so you need to heat up the end cap with a heat gun before trying to remove it.  Although I've seen references to people removing it by hand once heated up, I had to use the additional leverage of a pair of water pump pliers to free mine.  Important: to ensure that the nut is tightened to the same place/tightness as at the factory, you should mark the nut and the housing BEFORE disassembly so you can align the marks during reassembly (see photo below).  Note that the ball bearing is a tight fit, and you need to gently drive it out with a wooden stick from above.  When I disassembled my unit, it had a fair amount of dark grease (formerly oil) that I cleaned with isopropyl alcohol.  The ball bearing in my unit showed wear marks on the upper side facing the plastic thrust pad, so after cleaning, I inserted the ball other side up, so a clean smooth side faces the thrust pad.  Note that the ball bearing does not rotate - its a friction fit into the bottom of the spindle shaft well. When reassembling, I used Loctite 242 (removable) threadlocker to secure the cap.  I added fresh spindle oil during re-assembly from KABUSA.com, part number SFWO 010, just $6, which is apparently Anderol 465, and is the oil Technics originally specified for this use. 

After I picked up the base, I reassembled the SP-10 in the reverse order I disassembled it.

Above: Photos showing the heatsink on the drive PCB, with heatsink compound applied, before re-assembly.  Note the area where this mounts to the base has had the powder coating removed with a wire wheel.  Although there was no heatsink compound when originally manufactured, I felt that better heatsinking would keep the drive transistors cooler, and less prone to problems.

I decided early in this project to eliminate the stock neon strobe lamp and the associated 140VDC supply.

Above: The LED board installed, with two supply wires coming from the motherboard, detail below. Off to the left, you can see the two pins originally connected to the stock strobe lamp (originally at 140VDC) , now unused, covered in white heatshrink.

Above: Motherboard connections of the LED strobe: 5V and N2 pins.

Above: New LED strobe in action.

The only adjustment (outside of the 5VDC and 32.5VDC power supply voltages) in the SP-10 is the PLL circuit, documented in the service manual on page 4.  The two pots (VR101 & 102) on the control PCB make the adjustments at 33 and 78 RPM, with scope leads attached to the O, S, and T test points on the control board.

Above: Connections to the O, S and T test points.

Above, showing 33 RPM measured value of 6.32 ms (target is 6.30 +/-0.2ms).

Above: Measured 78 RPM value of 2.68ms (target is 2.7 +/-0.1ms).

Above showing 45 RPM measured value of 4.96ms (target is 4.7 +/-1.3ms).  Note that there is no adjustment for the 45 RPM value, the measurement is for confirmation only. 

My sp-10 came without a mat.  After a bit of research, it appears the popular current production mats are the Herbie's (the 292mm Way Excellent II - 4mm is recommended for the SP-10), here, and the Funk Firm Achromat (5mm version), here.  Also Oswald's Mill makes a graphite mat, here, (similar to the discontinued Boston Audio Mat 2).

Among the now discontinued mats, the Micro Seiki CU-180 appears quite popular with SP-10 users (although now rare and expensive), along with The Boston Audio Mat 2, even more rare today.

I decided to start with the stock mat (or something close), and experiment with aftermarket mats later.  Although the Mk2 mat seems quite rare, there is a Technics branded mat sold for the SL-1200 that looks very much like the mat sold with the SP-10 Mk2A.  The stock mat for the SP-10Mk2 is part number SFTG102-01.  The mat for the Mk2A is SFTG172-01, and the model I bought that appears the same is the RGS0010A.  I found mine on ebay from Japan.

Above: The finished product, bottom view.

Above: The refurbished table and power supply.