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Trio Kenwood KD-1033 turntable main bearing service

  One of my first posts in this blog was regarding the servicing of the Pioneer PL12D turntable, and that has proven to be the most popular by a significant margin. The Pioneer PL12D had its competitors, and probably the most popular alternative was the Trio Kenwood KD-1033 turntable. I use both names (Trio and Kenwood) as the company operated under different names in different markets. In the UK they were Trio, possibly because the brand Kenwood was most famous here for food blenders. 95% of a KD-1033 is similar to  Pioneer PL12D, and servicing them is very much the same process. Both are belt drive , have an AC synchronous motor,  mechanical speed change , a main bearing, sprung top deck and rubber motor mounts. the KD-1033 uses a different type of anti skate mechanism, employing a thread and weight. The plinth is shallower with an internal cross brace. One aspect that is different is the design of the main bearing, and servicing it is a little harder than a PL12D. The ...

Pallets & Compost bins

Pallets are all around. I see them as I drive about. In yards, loading bays and car parks. I have collected some, with the approval of the site owners, nay, with the enthusiastic approval of the site owners. There is a lot you can do with pallets. You can build compost enclosures. Here is one from my garden - 6 pallets and 12 cable ties and you have a really good compost bin. You can cut up pallets for firewood. Breaking them apart is hard, a circular saw is the best way I have found. Only use untreated or unpainted pallets for firewood as burning the other sort will give off various toxic substances . Pallets range in size and construction but most have rectangular blocks in the corners , middle and centre positions to take the weight. These burn especially well, though on some they are made from compressed wood chips and unsuitable for burning. the pallet plank wood is soft wood and burns very well but rather quickly. Sometimes it's worth taking 4 or 5 pieces and nailing the...

A Dalek at the bottom of the garden

I emptied out one of our compost bins, and at the same time took delivery of a couple of old leaking water butts which I cut the bottoms off to use as compost bins. The bottom of the water butt and the LinPac composter just seemed to suggest one shape to me .. a DIY Dalek ! The eye is one of those old adjustable legs from a fitted kitchen cabinet carcass with a CD stuck on the end . Two brass cup hooks support the limbs - in this case a plastic compost 'spike' (Found in France - a handy device to push in and aerate the compost) and a tool for clearing a shredder, but any garden tools could do. Shame no body makes an Official BBC Dr Who Dalek shaped garden compost bin It's for the kids you understand ..... Update September 2009 this one constructed in the same way, except the waist section is an old washing machine drum, which I use as an occasional incinerator/ tree stump burner. The original has moved and now has a motorcycle tyre adding some stability to it'...