Removing a platter on a Sansui PM55 turntable

[gpetburg]

I have a Sansui P-M55 turntable. I am trying to replace the drive belt. I got a service manual, but it does not tell me how to remove the Platter. Need help

[Bernie]

I've had belt drive turntables in the past and all one did was pull them straight up. Some may have a small cotter pin on the spindle to hold the platter down, but I can't see it being all that complex. On direct drive turntables one needed to yank up hard to free it from the magnet underneath, but this shouldn't be necessary on your belt drive Sansui. Good luck.

[canadiantire]

I've had belt drive turntables in the past and all one did was pull them straight up.

Bernie is probably right.

Most of the turntable platters are slided down on the center shaft with no other mean of attachment.

This is why some of them were originally sold with the platter uninstalled.

The "seat" of the center shaft is often made out of brass (or other soft metal).

If you can remove the rubber mat, there should be openings in the platter that allows fingers in, in order to pry it up.

The real trick is to pull straight up with even force on both sides.

If you are afraid of breaking something, you can also remove the cartridge, lock the tonearm and carefully flip the turntable upside down over a soft protective material (like expansible foam). Sometimes it's enough to release the platter.

Give us feedback.

[Mr.Ree]

I thought all belt drive turntables were designed the same. There's a hole in the metal platter that allows you to reach in and separate the belt from groove it sits in, pull off the metal platter, replace the belt, reposition the platter and then use the hole to re-attach the belt to the mechanism that turns it. Not sure if I explained that correctly but it's the best I can do.

[canadiantire]

I thought all belt drive turntables were designed the same. There's a hole in the metal platter that allows you to reach in and separate the belt from groove it sits in, pull off the metal platter, replace the belt, reposition the platter and then use the hole to re-attach the belt to the mechanism that turns it. Not sure if I explained that correctly but it's the best I can do.

The procedure you describe seems right but didn't you say that you couldn't remove the platter?

There is one thing for sure, you can't fit a new belt without removing the platter from the center shaft.

See below some pictures of a Technics belt drive turntable. Notice the closeup on the conical shaft that holds the platter and the absence of any locking mechanism.

Maybe your Sansui has a some sort of platter locking device but I wouldn't see why...

[canadiantire]

Update to the previous methods:

DUAL turntables have their own way of locking their belt drive platter.

There is a center disk that can to be turned counterclockwise in order to free the platter.

A pair of pliers can be used to gently twist the disk for about 30 degree.