Need help with Graham Phantom III

[tony22]

So a friend of mine gave me his Phantom III to check out because he was having hum problems. I have a number of concerns after having received the boxed up arm. The first was the note inside the lid saying that the damping fluid must be drained before packing the arm, lest damage occur and repair be needed. I contacted the owner to ask if indeed the fluid had been drained. The answer was not good. So my first question is - what kind of trouble can happen here, and are we looking at “send it in for repair” type repair or “here’s what you’ve got to do to clean it up” repair.

Second question - what is the screw size of the small hex head screw that secures the DIN junction box to the pillar below the arm base? It seems it is badly damaged and should be replaced. The hex flats in the screw are almost completely rounded out, so simply trying to fit the right size Allen key in it is not going to help.

Third - does anyone have a PDF of the manual? The old standby vinylengine no longer has an active server for all their scanned and saved documents.

 

[thazeldean]

So a friend of mine gave me his Phantom III to check out because he was having hum problems. I have a number of concerns after having received the boxed up arm. The first was the note inside the lid saying that the damping fluid must be drained before packing the arm, lest damage occur and repair be needed. I contacted the owner to ask if indeed the fluid had been drained. The answer was not good. So my first question is - what kind of trouble can happen here, and are we looking at “send it in for repair” type repair or “here’s what you’ve got to do to clean it up” repair.

Second question - what is the screw size of the small hex head screw that secures the DIN junction box to the pillar below the arm base? It seems it is badly damaged and should be replaced. The hex flats in the screw are almost completely rounded out, so simply trying to fit the right size Allen key in it is not going to help.

Third - does anyone have a PDF of the manual? The old standby vinylengine no longer has an active server for all their scanned and saved documents.

Hello Tony,

I have a manual at home but won't be there until early next week. I can scan and email it to you if you like. As for the fluid spill, I don't think it causes any major damage, possibly only cosmetic.

 

[zermatt]

Question: what kind of trouble can happen here, and are we looking at “send it in for repair” type repair or “here’s what you’ve got to do to clean it up” repair. Below is what I know:

The bearing is a micro point, one is at the top of the assy (top cap on the piller), the other is contained in the pillar. If the top cap bearing is clean and no sctaches, its good. The pillar base was not secured during transit, that bearing could be damaged.

 

[DasguteOhr]

So a friend of mine gave me his Phantom III to check out because he was having hum problems. I have a number of concerns after having received the boxed up arm. The first was the note inside the lid saying that the damping fluid must be drained before packing the arm, lest damage occur and repair be needed. I contacted the owner to ask if indeed the fluid had been drained. The answer was not good. So my first question is - what kind of trouble can happen here, and are we looking at “send it in for repair” type repair or “here’s what you’ve got to do to clean it up” repair.

Nothing will break, but you will cover the entire bearing block with oil.
Start with just a little oil; too much makes it sound undynamic and muffled.
If you run out of oil, silicone oil for the tonearm lift will also work, usually with a viscosity of 100,000.

Second question - what is the screw size of the small hex head screw that secures the DIN junction box to the pillar below the arm base? It seems it is badly damaged and should be replaced. The hex flats in the screw are almost completely rounded out, so simply trying to fit the right size Allen key in it is not going to help.

All locking screws are 5/64 ( metric 2.0mm) or 3/32 (metric 2.5mm)only height adjust is smaller.If I remember correctly there is no difference between phantom 2 and 3.

Third - does anyone have a PDF of the manual? The old standby vinylengine no longer has an active server for all their scanned and saved documents.

No..sorry
P.S Hum is mostly a cable problem check it out

 

[tony22]

I have a manual at home but won't be there until early next week. I can scan and email it to you if you like.

Thanks!

 

[tony22]

the other is contained in the pillar. If the top cap bearing is clean and no sctaches, it’s good. The pillar base was not secured during transit, that bearing could be damaged.

It’s this that concerns me. There’s no way to get at the one in the pillar base, near as I can determine. I’ll have to dab out the spewed fluid with lint free dabbing swabs and 99% isopropyl (carefully), and then maybe use my Wallyskater to do friction and sticktion tests after it’s remounted. Or maybe just tell my friend to send it back to Bob for evaluation.

 

[tony22]

All locking screws are 5/64 ( metric 2.0mm) or 3/32 (metric 2.5mm)only height adjust is smaller.If I remember correctly there is no difference between phantom 2 and 3.

Really? Any idea on the thread pitch? I measured the diameter, length, and thread spacing of this screw with my dial caliper and came up with a #6-32.

 

[DasguteOhr]

Really? Any idea on the thread pitch? I measured the diameter, length, and thread spacing of this screw with my dial caliper and came up with a #6-32.

I meant Allen key size, I would buy an assortment of different lengths from Amazon and try them out.you can always use this screws for tonearms.

 

[mtemur]

Unfortunately, @zermatt is right in his assessment about bearing damage. The Graham tonearm manual clearly advises using the plastic cap to prevent such damage.

I’ll have to dab out the spewed fluid with lint free dabbing swabs and 99% isopropyl (carefully), and then maybe use my Wallyskater to do friction and sticktion tests after it’s remounted. Or maybe just tell my friend to send it back to Bob for evaluation.

I think it’s a good idea to check the bearing and the tungsten carbide tip of the pivot. You might be lucky and find that nothing was damaged during transport — you never know.