Brinkmann Balance record clamp

findog

Well-Known Member
Apr 29, 2019
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Strange thing happened this week. My Balance record clamp is no longer screwing down tight. It was working but now for any thickness of record it doesn’t screw down. If there’s no record, it can screw into the spindle fine. Has anyone had this issue? How do I fix it?
 
It is threaded. The engaging threads are stripped. If you remove the record, you engage threads past the point of the stripping, and they still work.

If the male threads on the axle (spindle) are still intact, it’s the female threaded clamp, in which case the fix is to replace or repair the clamp. You might try a Heli-Coil, but if you are asking about this, you may be better served by going through your Brinkman dealer.
 
Hi, have you resolve this issue? I started to experience it last weekend too and am not sure if it’s the spindle or the clamp. Please let me know
 
Hi, have you resolve this issue? I started to experience it last weekend too and am not sure if it’s the spindle or the clamp. Please let me know
I had to send it to Brinkmann and they said they fixed it - it's hard to get specifics from them sometimes without becoming a squeaky wheel - but it is fixed.
 
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I had to send it to Brinkmann and they said they fixed it - it's hard to get specifics from them sometimes without becoming a squeaky wheel - but it is fixed.
Thank you very much. Would be a mission for me, I don’t have any original packaging. Have you sent the whole turntable or only the record clamp?
 
Thank you very much. Would be a mission for me, I don’t have any original packaging. Have you sent the whole turntable or only the record clamp?
I had to send the bearing (the bottom chassis) and the clamp. A pain I know. I did buy an used HRS clamp and now use that instead. The N.A. rep for Brinkmann uses it.
 
I had to send the bearing (the bottom chassis) and the clamp. A pain I know. I did buy an used HRS clamp and now use that instead. The N.A. rep for Brinkmann uses it.
Thank you very much, really appreciate your replies. Looks like I have to get in touch with the UK distributor to see what my options are. Would be quite nice to get also EMT-Ti inspected and 10.5 arm refreshed to latest spec, will probably skip Sinus motor upgrade - that’s around 2500 Euros.
 
Thank you very much, really appreciate your replies. Looks like I have to get in touch with the UK distributor to see what my options are. Would be quite nice to get also EMT-Ti inspected and 10.5 arm refreshed to latest spec, will probably skip Sinus motor upgrade - that’s around 2500 Euros.
Once it gets to Brinkmann, the service is rather speedy. A week or so.
 
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I faced the same issue when I had my Balance TT. Though I a am quite careful, over a period of more than 10 years, I had to replace the clamps twice. Before selling my Balance, I sent the base back to Brinkmann to get the bearing fully serviced and the spindle rethreaded. The service was performed within a few weeks. To me, this is the weakest point of the design of this excellent TT.
 
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All threaded spindle/clamp combinations are flawed from a resonance standpoint. I would recommend the HRS, Basis Audio or Acoustical Systems clamps as alternatives. I think we also need to think about what the function of these “clamps” is. They damp resonances in the vinyl record and/or spindle/vinyl interface. They are rarely effective at coupling the vinyl record to the platter. If the latter is one’s goal, vacuum hold down systems are the way to go.
 
I’ll have a look at other clamps too. For me, main reason to use them is to flatten the records, some of my records aren’t flat from new. I’ll reach out, when I have time, to UK distributor (Symmetry Systems) to get quotes for all the work and will share here.
 
Which model this one?20210131_145750.jpg

with threads, upper thread for tightening on the spindle. lower thread to compensate for lp curvature. first model called" fest"
 
They are rarely effective at coupling the vinyl record to the platter. If the latter is one’s goal, vacuum hold down systems are the way to go.
In my experience the “coupling to the platter” idea is a red herring. And the vacuum hold down systems bring their own set of issues.

My experience has been that the need for clamping is tied to the platter and arm. In some systems clamping can be HUGE. In other systems, not so much.
 

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