Galibier Design Serac User manual

Galibier Design LLC
Installation Manual
(includes instructions for Triplanar Tonearm)
Available online at:
http://www.galibierdesign.com/images/assembly_manual_01.pdf

Table of Contents
1Introduction................................................................................ 1
2Preparation and Unpacking ...................................................... 1
2.1 Preparation:.....................................................................................................1
2.2 Unpacking and Organizing the Components....................................................2
2.2.1 Unpacking....................................................................................................2
2.2.2 Organize the Components According to the Assembly Steps.......................2
3Installing the Bearing and Platter............................................. 4
3.1 Install the Brass Bearing Body: ........................................................................4
3.2 Install the Ground Wire on the Bearing ............................................................4
3.3 Install the Bearing Spindle ...............................................................................5
3.4 Install the Platter & Seat the Bearing ...............................................................6
4Fitting the Belt and Installing the Motor Pod........................... 7
4.1 Fit the Belt .......................................................................................................7
4.1.1 Position the Motor Pod.................................................................................7
4.1.2 Fit the Belt (preliminary)...............................................................................8
4.1.3 Fine Tuning Belt Position .............................................................................8
4.2 Set Final Belt Tension and Motor Speed..........................................................9
5Armboard, Arm, and Cartridge Installation and Setup: ........ 12
5.1 Sample Installation – Triplanar Tonearm........................................................12
5.2 Arm and Armboard installation.......................................................................12
5.2.1 Mount the Armboard to the Turntable Base................................................13
5.2.2 Mount the Tonearm....................................................................................14
5.2.3 Orient the Tonearm’s “Parked” Position. ....................................................14
5.2.4 Reset the Pivot to Spindle Distance. ..........................................................15
5.2.5 Verify the tonearm's orientation when locked in the arm rest......................15
5.3 Mount the cartridge........................................................................................15
5.4 Remaining Adjustments.................................................................................16
5.4.1 Triplanar.....................................................................................................16
5.4.2 Schröder ....................................................................................................16
6Cleaning and Maintenance...................................................... 18
6.1 Cleaning ........................................................................................................18
6.1.1 Aluminum Parts..........................................................................................18

6.1.2 Graphite / TPI Platter Surface....................................................................18
6.1.3 Serac Platter (PVC) ...................................................................................18
6.1.4 Serac (Painted Base).................................................................................18
6.2 Maintenance ..................................................................................................18
6.2.1 Lubrication .................................................................................................18
7Frequently Asked Questions .................................................. 19

1
1 Introduction
This manual covers all three Galibier models:
Serac
Gavia
Stelvio
The Serac assembly and packing differs slightly from the Gavia and Stelvio.
These differences will be highlighted.
In the US and Canada, the Gavia and Stelvio are delivered in extra-duty
cardboard cartons with encased in laser cut, high density foam. A similar
packing process has been designed for the lower mass Serac.
If your turntable is delivered outside of the US and Canada, your Gavia and
Stelvio will arrive in a single crate containing 3 inner cartons.
We are still working on an overseas shipping solution for Seracs.
2 Preparation and Unpacking
On more than one occasion, we’ve been told that the most daunting task involves
unpacking your Galibier. We take great pride in carefully preparing your Galibier
for its journey from Colorado to your listening room.
Take a few moments to review this preparation section and packing list in order
to familiarize yourself with the components and their names.
2.1 Preparation:
You will need to supply the following tools and materials:
Philips head screwdriver
A metric ruler long enough to measure your tonearm's pivot to spindle
distance. A 12” / 300mm ruler will suffice.
Alternatively, you may use an English ruler - knowing that there are 25.4mm
to the inch.
Paper towels
Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
A soft suface (blanket, towel, etc.) to lay the turntable base upside down to
attach the ground wire to the underside of the bearing.
Extension cord for charging the battery
Your own cartridge setup tools (tracking force scale supplied)
All other tools and materials are supplied with your turntable (see packing list,
below).

2
2.2 Unpacking and Organizing the Components
2.2.1 Unpacking
“Top off” the Battery Charge:
Immediately after unpacking Box #3, top off the battery charge. Your battery
shipped in a fully charged state. Strictly speaking, this will not be necessary.
North America: Plug the female end of a standard (2 prong) extension cord into
the battery and the other end into a 115 VAC outlet. Follow the instructions in
the charger’s manual and use the lowest charging rate available (always a good
idea with any battery.
Unpacking Hints - North America (cartons):
This section to be completed later.
Unpacking Hints - Overseas (crate/cartons):
This section to be completed later.
2.2.2 Organize the Components According to the Assembly Steps
The major components (base, platter, motor pod) are wrapped in plastic stretch
wrap to protect their finish from fine scratches during transport.
We advise leaving this stretch wrap in place on the turntable base until after you
have installed the brass bearing housing and have attached the ground wire to
the underside of the bearing.
This last operation requires turning the turntable base upside down.
Assembly
Step Part Box # Inner Box
Platter Platter 1 n/a
Base / Bearing Turntable Base
Tip toes 2 n/a
Base / Bearing Bearing
Ground wire 3 8” x 4” x 4”
Base / Bearing Strap Wrench
Bearing oil 3 n/a
Motor Drive Motor Pod
Umbilical Cord
Tip Toes
3 9” x 9” x 6”

3
Assembly
Step Part Box # Inner Box
Motor Drive Battery 3 n/a
Motor Drive Belts 3 Small, flat box
Armboard Armboard Assembly **
Front pillar ** 3 8” x 5” x 4”
Tools, etc. Cotton gloves
Platter removal - nylon strap
Hex wrench (for ground wire)
5/16" Hex Wrench (armboard)
Tracking force scale
Strobe Disk **
Cartridge Protractor **
Microfiber cleaning cloth
3 n/a
Arm Mounting Hardware
The following parts are packed in an 8” x 5” x 4” box:
Gavia and Serac Armboard:
7/8” tall armboard
3/8" (1.75” long) stainless steel socket head pivot/fixing bolt and washer
1/2” tall cylindrical pillar
Stelvio Armboard:
1.400” tall armboard with integral damping cylinder
3/8" (1.75” long) stainless steel socket head pivot/fixing bolt and washer
Thin, stainless steel washer (2” diameter)
Front Pillar (all single tonearm turntables):
Front cylindrical pillar (1.5” tall)
3/8" (1.75” long) stainless steel socket head fixing bolt
Strobe Disk:
We are currently negotiating with a supplier for a speed strobe and strobe disk. This
will become available in the latter part of 2006.
Cartridge Protractors:
These are supplied with some tonearms we sell. Currently, Schröder and Triplanar
Tonearms are delivered with protractors.

4
3 Installing the Bearing and Platter
Parts, tools, and materials for this step:
Turntable base
Bearing
Strap Wrench (supplied)
Ground Wire
Small hex key to tighten bearing ground wire
Cotton gloves
Blanket / towel to rest turntable base on
Bearing Oil
Paper towels
Isopropyl alcohol
Notes:
The black, Delrin thrust plate has been installed into the bearing body.
Your turntable bearing has been run-in for 48 hours, so the thrust plate has been
broken in. You'll note the formation of a small dimple in the center of the thrust
surface.
3.1 Install the Brass Bearing Body:
Note: after you install the bearing body, you will need access to the underside of
the turntable to install and tighten the ground wire.
Set the turntable base on a convenient work area. Your turntable stand is fine
for this purpose
Carefully cut away the stretch wrap from area around the bearing hole on the
top side of the turntable base. Leave the remainder on the base to protect
the base from handling until after you have installed the ground wire.
Remove the stainless bearing spindle from the brass body and place it in a
safe place, on a paper towel.
Thread the brass body into the turntable base by hand.
Once it fits snugly against the base, use the supplied strap wrench to tighten
it further. You do not need to apply excessive force. A moderate tug - 10-20
pounds of pull - is all that is necessary.
3.2 Install the Ground Wire on the Bearing
Rest the base upside down on a protective towel, blanket or other soft
surface, and attach the ground wire to the threaded hole in the bearing. The
10-32 socket head bolt and washer are taped to the correct ring terminal.
Return the base to your turntable stand.

5
3.3 Install the Bearing Spindle
Because of the close tolerances in the bearing, both the stainless bearing
spindle and the top journal of the brass bearing housing are assembled dry -
with NO lubricant on their surfaces.
This allows trapped air to escape as the spindle seats into the bearing housing.
With normal care, there is no danger of scoring or galling the surfaces.
Add oil to the bearing. Note the ledge about .100" wide (2.5mm) inside the
bearing housing.
This ledge is 1.750" (45mm) from the top of the bearing.
Add oil so that the oil just barely covers this ledge.
If you add a bit too much it will do no harm (minor spillage on the top of the
turntable), but try to cover the ledge with a thin film.
This provides enough oil to fill the small reservoir at the bearing top (the small
rebate on the top surface of the brass housing).
Moisten a paper towel with alcohol and wipe off all oil from:
i. The top journal in the brass bearing housing. This is the surface which
begins at the top of the bearing, extending downward for .750" (19mm)
ii. The stainless bearing spindle
Insert the bearing spindle.
It will meet with resistance as it contacts the oil.
Exert moderate downward pressure on the bearing by pressing the wide
spindle flange with your palms.
The object is to engage the stainless spindle into this lower journal.
The spindle needs to penetrate below the oil level by perhaps 1/8” (3mm).
After you do this, you may install the platter and can spin it to seat the
bearing fully (next section).
The thin oil we specify, in addition to providing superior musical dynamics
than thick oil does, allows for easy seating for a bearing with such fine
tolerances.
Proceed to the next step - to install the platter and fully seat the bearing.