Audio-Solutions Question of the Week: Why is my AT-LP60 Turntable Not Spinning?

Question: Why is my AT-LP60 turntable not spinning?

Answer: Suppose you are the new owner of the AT-LP60 turntable and after getting it out of the box and setting it up, the platter does not spin. Or perhaps you are the longtime owner of an AT-LP60 turntable. You recently moved, and at your new location, the platter on your AT-LP60 is no longer spinning. Being that the AT-LP60 is a belt-driven turntable, the key concept to keep in mind from your knowledge of simple machines is the use of a pulley system when it comes to placing the belt during setup.

The platter on our LP60 turntables spins using the pulley system, which means the platter must be connected to the gold-colored motor pulley that spins underneath the platter. If the belt is placed around the white-colored post on the right-hand side, or around the plastic rim under the platter, this is incorrect and the platter will not spin when you press start (see examples below).

The belt goes around the rim on the flipside of the aluminum record platter (see example below) and the gold motor pulley ONLY. Please follow the steps below to remove your platter and properly reinstall your belt.

To reinstall the belt, remove the platter from the turntable by placing your thumb and a finger in the two circular holes near the spindle and gently lifting the platter straight up. Turn the platter over so the bottom is facing up, and reinstall the drive belt around the drive rim, which is located about an inch from the platter's outer edge. Make certain there are no twists in the belt. Reinstall the platter onto the turntable and rotate the platter by hand until one of the large rectangular openings is located at the upper left corner of the turntable (at about the 10 o'clock position). Look down into the opening and locate the gold-colored motor pulley. Grab the belt from the inside edge of the rectangular opening and pull it over and around the pulley. Place the black felt mat back on the aluminum record platter.

After verifying that the belt is still around the pulley (or after reinstalling the belt), follow the steps below to reset the turntable's automatic cycle mechanism, then retry operating it:

  1. Unplug the AC power cord from the AC power source (typically a wall outlet).
  2. Press and release the STOP button.
  3. While holding the tonearm in the tonearm rest with one hand, use your other hand to slowly rotate the aluminum record platter in a clockwise direction for at least 10 full revolutions.
  4. Place a record on the record platter.
  5. Plug the AC power cord back into the AC power source.
  6. Press and release the START button

If you have any questions about the belt placement on your AT-LP60 turntable, please contact us here in the Audio Solutions Department for assistance with this.