Bogen B62 turntable (got it cheap - similar to Lenco?)

fxsuperglide · 11-03-2009, 05:13 AM

I went to the flea market this past weekend, and discovered that a new audio equipment dealer had taken the place of the previous. When I had a look, I discovered a few items of potential interest, including some odd BOGEN B62 turntable for $25... I was gonna pass on it, but the seller said he'd sell it for $10. I figured for the pasts alone, it'd be worth a try, so I bought it. Turns out, from what I've read online, it is similar to the Lenco L70 (the speed selector lever appears to be mechanically identical, based on photos I've seen)... Aside from some headshell repair, I'm going to need an idler tire for mine (the rubber is so dried out, it's noisy and has absolutely no grip whatsoever). I'm just curious if anyone here knows of any sources for the superior quality metal idler (to replace the original plastic type), or any Lenco sites (those who restore Lenco turntables, etc)... Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks...

KT88 · 11-03-2009, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fxsuperglide

I went to the flea market this past weekend, and discovered that a new audio equipment dealer had taken the place of the previous. When I had a look, I discovered a few items of potential interest, including some odd BOGEN B62 turntable for $25... I was gonna pass on it, but the seller said he'd sell it for $10. I figured for the pasts alone, it'd be worth a try, so I bought it. Turns out, from what I've read online, it is similar to the Lenco L70 (the speed selector lever appears to be mechanically identical, based on photos I've seen)... Aside from some headshell repair, I'm going to need an idler tire for mine (the rubber is so dried out, it's noisy and has absolutely no grip whatsoever). I'm just curious if anyone here knows of any sources for the superior quality metal idler (to replace the original plastic type), or any Lenco sites (those who restore Lenco turntables, etc)... Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks...

Bogen sold Lenco tables under their name in the US and perhaps elsewhere. The Bogen B62 is the Lenco L62.
-Bill

McLover · 11-03-2009, 06:55 AM

David Bogen Co. was the North American importer for Lenco Turntables. Your Bogen isn't similar to a Lenco, it is a Lenco. A L62 to be exact. Google for Lenco Lovers for more information and possible leads for a metal idler and tweaking advice.

fxsuperglide · 02-17-2010, 05:42 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

item 350304270925 It looks like a high quality idler wheel is indeed available for this turntable. I'm getting ready to bite the bullet and spend $80.60 additional on the aforementioned Bogen B62 turntable (it appears that this idler wheel should fit and it has the 3mm shaft). I'm just going to have to decide whether to go ahead with it, because I have additional work to do. I'll either need to do some work on the stock tonearm or modify the whole setup to accept something nicer (or more modern), such as a Rega RB300, Pro-Ject 9, or even something more "cost effective". Some say "keep it original" while others say "go all out" and make it really nice .....perhaps maybe I need an excuse to convert it to something even greater (perhaps install a 12" tonearm for 16" transcription discs).. I'll have to decide.

jmathers · 02-17-2010, 08:42 AM

Have you tried a DIY rubber o-ring to replace the one already on the plastic wheel? I have a B51 that I'm going to try to do that with. The hard part will be finding the correct o-ring size I imagine. Some folks have built up the plastic one with rubber bands prior to installing the new o-ring to get an approximate thickness - might be worth a try before you spring for the metal wheel.

Jeff

MikeyH · 02-17-2010, 09:31 AM

The metal wheels are considered better/quieter than the plastic ones, and the are less likely to 'self destruct'. I was considering a new o-ring for one of mine, since like yours the new idler would be a huge overpercentage of the original price (in my case, free).

In the end I gave the table away again. Too much trouble, too little time.

I'd try just one rubber band stretched over the o-ring idler to see what it does.

You should note that despite some glowing reviews, the drive system is quite noisy even when refurbished and can have more wow (speed stablity) problems than you'd like. Similar drive systems exist on other 50s/60s tables.

On the plus side, the continuously variable speed to above 90RPM is useful sometimes.

jmathers · 02-17-2010, 10:52 AM

This is a great suggestion - I don't know why I didn't think about just leaving the old idler rubber on there and stretching a rubber band over the top of it. Should tell me if the thing will work quieter and better.

Thanks for the suggestion. Sometimes the most obvious solutions are the last ones you think of. Doh!

MikeyH · 02-17-2010, 11:28 AM

This has been a public service..

Really, I suspect the main problem with this design, and others like it, was that the idler wheel can ride back and forth on the cone shaped motor spindle and platter surface due to alignment errors and bearing wear (this may be why the metal wheel is better). That introduces more speed variations. I never investigated if there was any way to really lock in the relative positions of the idler, platter, and motor. An interesting engineering problem, not faced by other intermediate wheel designs.

jmathers · 02-17-2010, 01:58 PM

Well, I stretched a rubber band over the old idler rubber (kinda tricky - it's actually off to one side but provides the necessary contact) and tweaked the arm lever to accommodate the greater space between wheel and motor and presto! ('cuse the pun) nearly dead silent. I'll have to check the speed but this little tweak works so far. Thanks again MikeyH.

Jeff

fxsuperglide · 02-18-2010, 03:34 AM

Thanks for the info. I'm seriously considering either option (new idler vs the rubber band tweak)... In fact, I'll probably be going to Baynesville Electronics in Baltimore, MD (large supplier of electronics goods, where just a few square feet of their store would put any Rat Shack to shame http://www.baynesvilleelectronics.com/index2.ivnu ) - they should have a small diameter flat belt that will probably fit nicely around the idler, without adding too much thickness to it (as the rubber band would). Additionally, it would last longer than any rubber band ever could. I figure it's worth a try before spending $81 on the new one. ....and there's always the remote chance that they might even have the correct idler wheel (but that's a long shot)... I'll check it out, either way. My thoughts.

11-03-2009, 05:13 AM	#1
fxsuperglide Forum Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: York, PA 17402, United States Posts: 1,725	Bogen B62 turntable (got it cheap - similar to Lenco?) I went to the flea market this past weekend, and discovered that a new audio equipment dealer had taken the place of the previous. When I had a look, I discovered a few items of potential interest, including some odd BOGEN B62 turntable for $25... I was gonna pass on it, but the seller said he'd sell it for $10. I figured for the pasts alone, it'd be worth a try, so I bought it. Turns out, from what I've read online, it is similar to the Lenco L70 (the speed selector lever appears to be mechanically identical, based on photos I've seen)... Aside from some headshell repair, I'm going to need an idler tire for mine (the rubber is so dried out, it's noisy and has absolutely no grip whatsoever). I'm just curious if anyone here knows of any sources for the superior quality metal idler (to replace the original plastic type), or any Lenco sites (those who restore Lenco turntables, etc)... Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks...

02-17-2010, 09:31 AM	#6
MikeyH Forum All Star Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 3,627	The metal wheels are considered better/quieter than the plastic ones, and the are less likely to 'self destruct'. I was considering a new o-ring for one of mine, since like yours the new idler would be a huge overpercentage of the original price (in my case, free). In the end I gave the table away again. Too much trouble, too little time. I'd try just one rubber band stretched over the o-ring idler to see what it does. You should note that despite some glowing reviews, the drive system is quite noisy even when refurbished and can have more wow (speed stablity) problems than you'd like. Similar drive systems exist on other 50s/60s tables. On the plus side, the continuously variable speed to above 90RPM is useful sometimes. __________________ Mike ________Stamper King

02-17-2010, 11:28 AM	#8
MikeyH Forum All Star Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 3,627	This has been a public service.. Really, I suspect the main problem with this design, and others like it, was that the idler wheel can ride back and forth on the cone shaped motor spindle and platter surface due to alignment errors and bearing wear (this may be why the metal wheel is better). That introduces more speed variations. I never investigated if there was any way to really lock in the relative positions of the idler, platter, and motor. An interesting engineering problem, not faced by other intermediate wheel designs. __________________ Mike ________Stamper King

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11-03-2009, 06:55 AM	#3
McLover Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: East TN Posts: 2,504	David Bogen Co. was the North American importer for Lenco Turntables. Your Bogen isn't similar to a Lenco, it is a Lenco. A L62 to be exact. Google for Lenco Lovers for more information and possible leads for a metal idler and tweaking advice.

02-17-2010, 05:42 AM	#4
fxsuperglide Forum Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: York, PA 17402, United States Posts: 1,725	http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT item 350304270925 It looks like a high quality idler wheel is indeed available for this turntable. I'm getting ready to bite the bullet and spend $80.60 additional on the aforementioned Bogen B62 turntable (it appears that this idler wheel should fit and it has the 3mm shaft). I'm just going to have to decide whether to go ahead with it, because I have additional work to do. I'll either need to do some work on the stock tonearm or modify the whole setup to accept something nicer (or more modern), such as a Rega RB300, Pro-Ject 9, or even something more "cost effective". Some say "keep it original" while others say "go all out" and make it really nice .....perhaps maybe I need an excuse to convert it to something even greater (perhaps install a 12" tonearm for 16" transcription discs).. I'll have to decide.

02-17-2010, 08:42 AM	#5
jmathers Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan, USA Posts: 16	Have you tried a DIY rubber o-ring to replace the one already on the plastic wheel? I have a B51 that I'm going to try to do that with. The hard part will be finding the correct o-ring size I imagine. Some folks have built up the plastic one with rubber bands prior to installing the new o-ring to get an approximate thickness - might be worth a try before you spring for the metal wheel. Jeff

02-17-2010, 10:52 AM	#7
jmathers Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan, USA Posts: 16	This is a great suggestion - I don't know why I didn't think about just leaving the old idler rubber on there and stretching a rubber band over the top of it. Should tell me if the thing will work quieter and better. Thanks for the suggestion. Sometimes the most obvious solutions are the last ones you think of. Doh!

02-17-2010, 01:58 PM	#9
jmathers Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan, USA Posts: 16	Well, I stretched a rubber band over the old idler rubber (kinda tricky - it's actually off to one side but provides the necessary contact) and tweaked the arm lever to accommodate the greater space between wheel and motor and presto! ('cuse the pun) nearly dead silent. I'll have to check the speed but this little tweak works so far. Thanks again MikeyH. Jeff

02-18-2010, 03:34 AM	#10
fxsuperglide Forum Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: York, PA 17402, United States Posts: 1,725	Thanks for the info. I'm seriously considering either option (new idler vs the rubber band tweak)... In fact, I'll probably be going to Baynesville Electronics in Baltimore, MD (large supplier of electronics goods, where just a few square feet of their store would put any Rat Shack to shame http://www.baynesvilleelectronics.com/index2.ivnu ) - they should have a small diameter flat belt that will probably fit nicely around the idler, without adding too much thickness to it (as the rubber band would). Additionally, it would last longer than any rubber band ever could. I figure it's worth a try before spending $81 on the new one. ....and there's always the remote chance that they might even have the correct idler wheel (but that's a long shot)... I'll check it out, either way. My thoughts.