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The Korf Blog
The inside story: our research,
development and opinions
development and opinions
12 September 2022
Turntable Drives. Part III, Idler Drive and its Problems
In our previous posts, we have introduced the turntable belt drive and explored its function as a lowpass filter, rejecting the motor's torque ripple. Then, we went through the key problems associated with the belt drive—and some of the solutions.
Today, we will discuss the idler drive, and go through its typical troubles.
Today, we will discuss the idler drive, and go through its typical troubles.
Idler Drive
The belt drive has been dominant for such a long time, it's easy to forget it wasn't always like this. From 1940s all the way to the late 1960s, belts on turntables were an exotic rarity. Idlers ruled the industry, and were found on everything from affordable briefcase-type players to the most expensive studio drives. Why did the idler drive disappear so quickly and so completely?
But first, a few words on how an idler turntable drive works.
Just like with a belt drive, we need a way to convert a fast and uneven rotation of an affordable motor to a slow and smooth movement of the platter. A suitable RPM reduction is achieved by a rubber-tyred idler that sits between the small diameter motor shaft and a large diameter platter. It also couples the motor and the platter quite rigidly. In effect, the inertia of the motor's rotor is increased by the (comparatively huge) inertia of the platter.
But first, a few words on how an idler turntable drive works.
Just like with a belt drive, we need a way to convert a fast and uneven rotation of an affordable motor to a slow and smooth movement of the platter. A suitable RPM reduction is achieved by a rubber-tyred idler that sits between the small diameter motor shaft and a large diameter platter. It also couples the motor and the platter quite rigidly. In effect, the inertia of the motor's rotor is increased by the (comparatively huge) inertia of the platter.
A. Motor
B. Motor Shaft
C. Idler Wheel
D. Platter's Inner Rim
E. Platter
F. Main Bearing
G. Idler Bearing
Compared to the belt drive, idler drive represents a very different approach to torque ripple compensation: instead of filtering the ripple, larger rotating mass is smoothing it out. A relatively inelastic link also solves the problem of energy replenishment with load variation. Remember, the platter is virtually an extension of the motor. Great, isn't it?
Not so fast. Hard-coupling the motor to the platter transmits all sort of noises right into it. Electrical hum, grating bearings, squeaking motor supports—all there to be picked up by the stylus. This makes the idler drive a lot more demanding of motor quality. And, of course, it requires a solid heavy platter to work.
Alas, most consumer idler drives used the cheapest fan-type AC motors and lightweight stamped platters. This resulted in truly terrible wow and flutter performance plus an even worse dose of annoying rumble. No wonder the consumers switched to much quieter and steadier belt-driven turntables as soon as they appeared.
Are all idler drives that bad? Let's look at their characteristic problems and decide.
Alas, most consumer idler drives used the cheapest fan-type AC motors and lightweight stamped platters. This resulted in truly terrible wow and flutter performance plus an even worse dose of annoying rumble. No wonder the consumers switched to much quieter and steadier belt-driven turntables as soon as they appeared.
Are all idler drives that bad? Let's look at their characteristic problems and decide.
Dual 300A in all its stamped steel glory
Typical Idler Drive Problems
We started our belt drive problem discussion with the resonances. The great thing with idlers is, they don't have any. The combination of hardness and damping of the tyre elastomer means it doesn't have a perceptible own frequency. But many other belt drive problems do have corresponding idler drive ones.
1
Rubber Degradation
The rubber compound used for idler tyres is usually harder and more resilient than a typical belt formulation. The tyre might appear good even after 50 or more years of duty. Of course, it is not. No elastomer on Earth can keep its original properties after half a century.
Old worn idlers slip just as well as dirty pulleys. Old idlers warp. They develop cracks that are not visible until the pressure is applied. Old idlers lose their grip and need a lot more force applied to them to drive a platter reliably.
Old worn idlers slip just as well as dirty pulleys. Old idlers warp. They develop cracks that are not visible until the pressure is applied. Old idlers lose their grip and need a lot more force applied to them to drive a platter reliably.
Old idlers need to be replaced. Even the ones that look and feel ok. Your turntable is not performing to specification with a geriatric idler. This said, idlers can last a decade, sometimes more.
In most cases, replacing the idler will also give you a new idler bearing. Replacing the idler tyre while keeping the old bearing is usually a bad idea.
In most cases, replacing the idler will also give you a new idler bearing. Replacing the idler tyre while keeping the old bearing is usually a bad idea.
2
Idler Coaxiality
Just like with a belt drive, axis misalignment spells trouble. Here's a side view of a typical idler that's slightly off. What happens when the vertical axes of the idler A and the driven platter B are not exactly parallel?
In our illustration, the idler A would try to "drive" down on the platter rim. This would put a vertical load on the idler bearing (and it was never designed for it). It would also create a tipping force on the platter, trying to turn it over away from the viewer. And, of course, there is a telltale scraping or squeaking sound.
Why does it happen? In most cases, the reason is a worn idler bearing. Also, the turntable might have been dropped or mishandled. In this case, the idler bracket or the shaft might be bent out of shape, introducing a permanent angle α.
Why does it happen? In most cases, the reason is a worn idler bearing. Also, the turntable might have been dropped or mishandled. In this case, the idler bracket or the shaft might be bent out of shape, introducing a permanent angle α.
What can you do to fix a squeaky idler?
Once you're sure the turntable itself is solid and the idler shaft isn't bent, just go ahead and replace the idler together with its bearing!
Once you're sure the turntable itself is solid and the idler shaft isn't bent, just go ahead and replace the idler together with its bearing!
3
Side Load on the Bearing
Interestingly, an idler can be designed to create much less of a side load than a belt. But unless you're looking at a EMT, chances are the idler you see pushes on the platter with quite a force.
This creates exactly the same problems for the main bearing that we have described in our previous post: oil starvation, dry spots, poor stick-and-slap performance.
On the positive side, designing low diametric force idlers is easy. There's no need for extra moving parts, just a careful consideration of a drive geometry. Another approach is a Lenco-type drive (covered below) that doesn't create any side force at all.
This creates exactly the same problems for the main bearing that we have described in our previous post: oil starvation, dry spots, poor stick-and-slap performance.
On the positive side, designing low diametric force idlers is easy. There's no need for extra moving parts, just a careful consideration of a drive geometry. Another approach is a Lenco-type drive (covered below) that doesn't create any side force at all.
An idler creates a side load on the bearing
What can you do to minimize the side load on your idler drive turntable's bearing?
Never adjust the idler pressure to compensate for the worn or slippery idler tyre. I've said it before, I'll say it again—replace your worn idler with a new one!
Never adjust the idler pressure to compensate for the worn or slippery idler tyre. I've said it before, I'll say it again—replace your worn idler with a new one!
4
Tipping Force on the Bearing
Bad design isn't exclusive to belt drives. Before the belts became dominant, inept engineers used ill-positioned idlers to tip the turntable main bearings.
Fortunately, the idler drive is a bit more resilient in respect of this force. Yes, the bearing is stressed exactly the same way as with a belt drive, but no wander or scraping is introduced. The drive will run fine until the bearing self-destructs.
Fortunately, the idler drive is a bit more resilient in respect of this force. Yes, the bearing is stressed exactly the same way as with a belt drive, but no wander or scraping is introduced. The drive will run fine until the bearing self-destructs.
Poor idler position creates a tipping force
5
Idler and Rim Circularity
Here lies one of the key reasons for the idler drive's fall from grace: its typical middling measured performance.
Remember, commercial wow and flutter meters only concern themselves with speed variations that fall between zero and 250-350 Hz ("perceptual weighting"). More rapid fluctuations get filtered out.
Let's take a typical belt drive, with a 13-15mm motor pulley driving a 6" (150-160 mm diameter) subplatter at 33 1/3 RPM. This means the motor rotates at about 300-400 RPM. The belt's defects (variation in thickness, elasticity etc) will change the effective diameter of both pulleys as they rotate. If you think about it for a second,
In our case, it means the speed varies 600-800 times a second. No wow and flutter meter will detect this—but our ears certainly will!
Remember, commercial wow and flutter meters only concern themselves with speed variations that fall between zero and 250-350 Hz ("perceptual weighting"). More rapid fluctuations get filtered out.
Let's take a typical belt drive, with a 13-15mm motor pulley driving a 6" (150-160 mm diameter) subplatter at 33 1/3 RPM. This means the motor rotates at about 300-400 RPM. The belt's defects (variation in thickness, elasticity etc) will change the effective diameter of both pulleys as they rotate. If you think about it for a second,
- The smaller one matters a lot more. Its effective diameter variation has proportionally greater impact;
- The smaller pulley RPM times 2 is the lowest frequency limit of the fluctuations that belt imperfections can cause
In our case, it means the speed varies 600-800 times a second. No wow and flutter meter will detect this—but our ears certainly will!
What about an idler? With a typical 2"-3" idler driving an inner 11" rim, the speed fluctuations caused by the idler not being exactly circular will fall between 120 and 200 Hz.
Bam! The wow and flutter meter arrow moves to the right, the magazine reviewers give the thumb down, the public stops buying "inferior" idler-driven turntables.
Bam! The wow and flutter meter arrow moves to the right, the magazine reviewers give the thumb down, the public stops buying "inferior" idler-driven turntables.
Cheap stamped platters are often not very round
For completeness' sake, here's a diagram of a warped platter too. This mostly happens with stamped platters, but some Zamak and aluminium cast ones can also suffer.
I'll spare you the calculations here; if you see anything like this, the platter is beyond hope. Get another one (or a different turntable).
As the idler's elastomer ages, it can (and does) warp. This isn't always visible to the naked eye. But the sonic performance degradation is obvious and easily measureable.
Some cheaper (or broken) idler drives keep the idler tyre pressed to the rim at all times. This creates flat spots on the tyre that are immediately audible. Replacement is the only cure.
Some cheaper (or broken) idler drives keep the idler tyre pressed to the rim at all times. This creates flat spots on the tyre that are immediately audible. Replacement is the only cure.
Similar Drive Types
In the late 1950s, the Swiss Lenco company came up with an ingenious variation on an idler drive. They placed the motor shaft horizontally, and drove the bottom of the platter through a vertical idler.
A. Motor
B. Motor Shaft
C. Idler Wheel
D. Platter Bottom Surface
E. Platter
B. Motor Shaft
C. Idler Wheel
D. Platter Bottom Surface
E. Platter
This arrangement virtually eliminates the side and tipping forces on the main bearing. It also puts the motor vibration into a vertical plane: mono cartridges, designed for horizontally modulated mono LPs, didn't pick it up at all!
Unfortunately, instead of improving performance, Lenco used the inherent advantages of this drive type to cut the costs right to the bone. Yet, even with the dire manufacturing quality and the crude Soviet-style tonearms, Lenco L75/L78 turntables remained competitive all the way to the late 1970s. They were sold in hundreds of thousands, if not millions.
Unfortunately, instead of improving performance, Lenco used the inherent advantages of this drive type to cut the costs right to the bone. Yet, even with the dire manufacturing quality and the crude Soviet-style tonearms, Lenco L75/L78 turntables remained competitive all the way to the late 1970s. They were sold in hundreds of thousands, if not millions.
There are companies selling Lenco-based turntables today. Some make quite lofty claims regarding their performance.
Before investing in one, make sure the substandard original Lenco parts such as the motor, the main bearing and the idler on its soft aluminium arm were replaced with quality ones.
Before investing in one, make sure the substandard original Lenco parts such as the motor, the main bearing and the idler on its soft aluminium arm were replaced with quality ones.
A Lenco-type drive has its own unique take on idler scrubbing.
Normally, the axis of the idler should be perpendicular to the tangent B of its path A. When it isn't and the angle α is present, the idler tries to "run away" from its path A.
Not only this degrades the wow&flutter performance, but also brings about all sorts of strange intermittent problems like idler arm resonance, clicking sounds, platter rocking etc.
Normally, the axis of the idler should be perpendicular to the tangent B of its path A. When it isn't and the angle α is present, the idler tries to "run away" from its path A.
Not only this degrades the wow&flutter performance, but also brings about all sorts of strange intermittent problems like idler arm resonance, clicking sounds, platter rocking etc.
When faced with an oddly misbehaving Lenco drive, your first check should be the idler path. Replacing the idler wheel together with its arm is often the easiest permanent fix.
Another variation on the rubber tyre theme is a rim drive.
A. Motor
B. Motor Shaft
C. Rubber Tyre
E. Platter Rim
F. Main Bearing
This "idler without an idler" arrangement needs a significant diametric force to function. It usually comes from the motor mass creating pressure on the tyre C. This leads to all sorts of scraping and misalignment problems. And while it's definitely possible to do a rim drive right, I'm yet to see a single such implementation.
Idler Drive—Summary
That's it for today. Just like with the belt drive, there's of course a lot more to idler drives than we have covered. Please forgive us for not showing all our cards.
Here are the key strengths and weaknesses of an idler driven turntable:
Here are the key strengths and weaknesses of an idler driven turntable:
+
Great reaction to load variation
+
Low torque ripple due to high effective inertia
+
Can be designed for low diametric force on bearing
+
Less servicing than a belt drive
+
Great subjective performance is achievable
-
Demanding of motor quality
-
Poor vibration isolation
-
More moving parts
-
Disadvantaged by weighted wow&flutter measurements
-
Poor consumer perception
The zillion really bad idler drives sold in the postwar decades ruined the idler's reputation. And while there were quality implementations from EMT, Dual, Perpetuum Ebner, ELAC etc, they could not save the idler's image. But is the idler gone for good?
The last mass market idler drive turntable was probably sold half a century ago. Today's motors are a lot better. Electronic speed control eliminates the need for mechanical drive shaft switching. A remarkable progress in elastomers makes inexpensive very high performance idler tyres possible.
I think the idler drive is ready for the renaissance, especially in the budget segment. The idler is not nearly as finicky as the belt, does not need servicing, and with today's motors can easily beat the belt drive's performance. It is also a great way to position yourself apart from the belt-driven crowd. Will anyone take the challenge?
The last mass market idler drive turntable was probably sold half a century ago. Today's motors are a lot better. Electronic speed control eliminates the need for mechanical drive shaft switching. A remarkable progress in elastomers makes inexpensive very high performance idler tyres possible.
I think the idler drive is ready for the renaissance, especially in the budget segment. The idler is not nearly as finicky as the belt, does not need servicing, and with today's motors can easily beat the belt drive's performance. It is also a great way to position yourself apart from the belt-driven crowd. Will anyone take the challenge?
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