Hi, thanks for your reply. My deck might be a slightly different version, as it doesn't have the microswitch near the solenoid. If I replace the fuse everything works again until the arm is lowered. The solenoid operates for perhaps a second, then the fuse blows again. I'm tending to think it might be the Darlington transistor IC4 and the two associated transistors ( TR 9 & TR 10) in the magnet coil circuit. I hadn't thought of checking the solenoid coil, but will do so now.Thanks Richard 

Hi, regarding the magnet coil circuit, I've changed TR9, TR10 and IC4 transistors, all the tantalum capacitors, and checked the solenoid coil (measures 8 or 9 Ohms). The problem is just the same. Everything appears to work, except that when the solenoid activates a power supply fuse blows after a few seconds. The only parts unchanged in the circuit are 4 resistors. Have you any ideas on what I should check next? Thanks Richard

Further to my last post, I've checked the current going to the solenoid coil. It measures 140 mA approx., which is in spec. What other circuits begin to operate after the arm drops which could cause the fuse to blow? All the best Richard 

Hi, the mains voltage is 240 v, and the two fuses are T250 mA slow blow. If the arm isn't dropped on the record the fuses don't blow. When a fuse does blow there is no smell of overheating etc, and when replaced everything is as before. All the best Richard 

Found the cause of fuses blowing to be a defective mains transformer. On running the turntable from an outboard 24 v ac supply, everything is fine. Thanks for help given, all the best Richard