Technics SL1-200 Users Should Check Their Center Spindle Oil

When it comes to turntables, the Technics SL-1200 has always been a classic. With the current astronomical resurgence in vinyl records, many people may have purchased used models from around the year 2000 (new SL1200 MK7 models are over 100,000 yen, so they’re not exactly easy to get your hands on. Back in 2000, the MK3D was available for about 50,000 yen…). The SL-1200 series was designed specifically for DJ use and is known for its tough durability. However, just because it’s tough doesn’t mean it requires no maintenance at all.

For most machines, regular lubrication of moving parts is necessary, and the SL-1200 series is no exception. In fact, the maintenance section in the manual clearly states the need for oiling the center spindle. For the SL-1200 series, it is recommended to apply oil approximately once every 2,000 hours of use. The dedicated oil for the SL-1200 series is the TECHNICS / SFW0010 Center Spindle Oil for SL-1200 series. Naturally, it can be purchased at Sound House.

Currently, many SL-1200 series models circulating in the used market are the SL-1200 MK3D and SL-1200 MK5, which were popular among DJs. These models were released in 1998 and 2002 respectively, making them over 20 years old. Depending on how they were used in the past, many units likely have playback exceeding 2,000 hours. In that case, it might be a good idea to apply oil to your SL-1200 as well.

As for me, I applied oil to my SL-1200 MK3D, which I purchased around the year 2000. Although it was already running smoothly, I feel it has become even smoother recently. I experienced an even more noticeable effect when I oiled an SL-2000, which had been sitting unused at my parents’ house. The SL-2000 is a cool model with a slim black body that was released in 1976, and its basic mechanics are similar to the SL-1200 series.

Before applying the oil, the rotation wasn’t very stable, and I had to frequently adjust the pitch control. But after applying the oil, once the rotation stabilized, it continued spinning at a consistent speed. Just a few drops made a surprisingly big difference. (That said, it’s impressive that a nearly 50-year-old model, which hadn’t been used for a long time, still worked reasonably well when powered on again—that just goes to show you how well it was built.)

As for the SL-2000, I wasn’t sure if this oil was appropriate for it, but I applied it at my own risk. If you want to try this on other older models, please proceed responsibly at your own risk. In any case, if your SL-1200 series feels like it’s struggling to maintain a stable rotation, it’s quite possible the oil has dried up. Adding a little oil to the center spindle oil is definitely worth considering. By the way, the genuine TECHNICS / SFW0010 center spindle oil for the SL1200 series costs less than 1,000 yen, making it an easy and affordable way to give your turntable some maintenance.

TECHNICS / SFW0010 center spindle oil for the SL1200 series

I think many readers of this article will want to buy the center spindle oil, so I’ll explain how to use it at the end. But really, it’s very simple.

First, remove the slipmat (or the rubber turntable mat).

Next, remove the turntable itself. Just put your finger into the large hole and lift it straight up—it should come off easily. Once you get to this point, simply drip a few drops of oil (2-3 drops according to the manual) onto the base of the center spindle (the central shaft). There’s nothing particularly difficult about this.

After that, put the turntable back in place, then replace the slipmat, and you’re done. Once oiled, just use the turntable normally—the oil will gradually settle in.

By the way, the bottle contains a generous amount of oil, so using just a few drops barely reduces it. Once you apply it, you won’t need to do it again for about 2000 hours of playtime. Assuming you listen to one LP per day, that’s over 2000 days—roughly 5.5 years! So, it’s easy to think that this one bottle could last you a lifetime.
It’s an affordable, forever maintenance item, so there’s really no reason not to have it on hand. Just be sure to store the remaining oil carefully so you don’t lose it. It’s also helpful to jot down the date when you applied the oil; this will make it easier to know when the next application is due.

This was a quick introduction to the genuine Technics SL-1200 series center spindle oil on the model SFW0010. If you’re interested, be sure to check out the product page!

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