Victrola Record Player Won’t Spin? (Don’t Panic, Easy Fix!)
If your Victrola record player won’t spin, there are quite a few different possibilities for this!
Some of them include:
In this guide, we’re going through all of these possibilities in-depth, which will help you find the reason for the spinning problem. Let’s get started!
How to Fix When the Victrola Record Player Won’t Spin?
Note: Have you tried reconnecting the Victrola record player from the electrical outlet?
1. Switch OFF the Auto Stop Switch
If you take a close look at the switches and knobs of your Victrola record player, you’ll notice the Auto/Manual Stop switch.
The convenient purpose of this switch automatically stop the spinning of the motor and the platter when the tonearm reaches the end of the vinyl record.
This prevents the needle from staying on the grooves when the record is over, and you don’t have to worry about stopping the record player yourself.
However, this works via a sensor on the tonearm and when this sensor is not working correctly, the auto-stop function might prevent the platter from spinning.
So, set your Auto/Manual Stop switch to “OFF” (that is upwards), which will ensure the sensor cannot interfere with the spin.
If this doesn’t help, continue reading ahead!
2. Try Changing the Spinning Speed
The Speed Selection switch can be found right under the Auto/Manual Stop switch, where you can control the spinning speed of the platter.
If your Victrola record player is not spinning at all, we recommend attempting to switch to a different speed to check whether things will work out.
You can select from three different speed options:
- 33 RPM
- 45 RPM
- 78 RPM
We recommend trying all three-speed options to check whether the platter will start spinning.
If not, then set the option to 33 ⅓, which is the optimal speed for most records, and keep reading!
3. Remove any Platter Obstructions
The next and one of the most important steps is to check whether something is obstructing the platter of your Victrola record player.
The platter is the disk that is being held to the spindle with a small ring, which you can remove and gently lift the platter.
This will reveal the underside of the platter where you’ll see the belt and the motor’s pulley.
At this point, the belt comes loose, but don’t worry as we’re going to walk you through installing it.
What’s important to do now is check whether something got underneath the platter, and if you have a soft cloth (preferably microfiber), clean the underside of the platter.
Make sure to take out any debris, foreign objects, or anything causing an obstruction.
Important: Don’t rush into reinstalling the belt and putting everything back together just yet.
4. Check & Clean the Motor’s Pulley
The motor pulley, or “spinner” is the sticking part of the motor which you’ll locate on the right of the platter’s spindle.
This is the part that drives the belt, which in turn, rotates the spindle in the middle, making the platter spin.
If you notice any hair wrapped around, or something else preventing the motor from spinning, you definitely need to clean it now, while the turntable is disassembled.
Motor Pulley Lubrication!
If you have a precision oil (e.g., sewing machine oil) you can use a flathead screwdriver to apply some lubricant on the base of the motor’s spindle.
It’s crucial to ensure that the oil goes into the shaft, where the spindle meets the motor, and be careful not to apply too much or spill it around.
Note: If you haven’t been using your turntable for a long time, applying oil might be necessary.
5. Reinstall the Record Player’s Belt
Now that you’re ready with the inspection, the biggest reason why the Victrola record player not spinning is the belt.
The belt on a turntable is somehow a “consumable”, that wears over time, and when the belt becomes too stretched it can no longer drive the record player’s mechanism.
However, it’s not necessary for this to be the case. For now, let’s reinstall the belt properly, and test whether the platter will start spinning correctly.
Here’s how to reinstall the belt on the Victrola record player:
- First, disconnect the record player from the power.
- Next, locate and clean the inner ring on the platter.
- Info: The inner ring is where the belt wraps around.
- Wrap the belt around the inner ring of your platter.
- Flip the platter over and hover it above the spindle.
- Pinch the belt with your finger from the right side.
- Pull the belt out, and wrap it over the motor pulley.
- Release the belt and put the platter on the spindle.
That’s it. Now the belt must be wrapped around the motor’s pulley and spindle, which will drive the mechanism when you turn on the turntable.
So, turn on your Victrola record player and test.
Note: If the belt comes loose, or won’t stay tight when installed, it’s time to purchase a belt kit, which contains 5-6 brand-new belts for your record player.
6. Connect to a Proven Power Outlet
If everything is clean, and the belt is in good condition but the Victrola record player is just not spinning, it’s possible that there is a power supply issue.
One quick step that you should take is to reconnect the record player to a proven-to-work electrical outlet to exclude this possibility.
Also, make sure to connect the power adapter of your record player directly to the socket!
- Avoid all kinds of power extenders, dividers, surge protectors, or smart plugs.
If you have to, test multiple wall outlets in your home, just to justify where the issue with the turntable comes from.
Quick Tip: Closely inspect the power adapter and cable for any visual defects such as burnt sports, melted plastic, or obvious rips/cuts.
7. Verify You Use the Correct Voltage
Victrola record players are very quirky when it comes to input voltage.
- Most models strictly need a 5 V power supply, while others require 6 V up to 12 V.
This is why it’s very important to ensure that you’re using the supplied power adapter, and if using a replacement verify the voltage input.
In short, if you’re using an incompatible power adapter to connect your Victrola turntable to the outlet, the motor will not start spinning.
So, if you have a replacement power adapter, or cable at home, feel free to try using it, which will instantly exclude the possibility of a faulty connector.
If your original (supplied) adapter has been replaced, you need to check the label of your record player and the voltage requirement.
Based on your findings, you must verify that you’re using precisely the right voltage AC input.
Tip: You can purchase a replacement power adapter/cable for your Victrola record player for cheap and many online stores like Amazon.
Why Won’t My Victrola Record Player Spin?
If your Victrola record player is not spinning after everything you’ve tried, the problem is either in the power adapter or motor.
Hence, you can easily buy a new replacement adapter to test with, but if this doesn’t work, perhaps the motor of your record player is faulty and requires servicing.
Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.