You could try Atlantic Systems in Hanover, MA (Paul is the Mgr) - they're cheaper than the NYC repair shops even when cost of shipping is taken into account.  But I think this might be one of those cases where it's more cost efficient to buy a working one off of eBay or Craigslist and selling yours as a parts/repair unit.   Unless of course someone replies to your post with an easy do-it-yourself fix.

You have the classic symptom of a failed piston.

Read this for further details - copy and paste the URL in your browser

http://www.condoraudio.com/wp-content/uploads/Projects/BeoGram-4500-Turntable-Restoration-Repair.pdf

If arm goes at begining of record, plays but does not move foward, it is probably LDR or bulb problem on base of arm assembly. Checking this needs a little disasembling. Not big problem and fixable.

There is threads about this on forum (though, I did not find one now 🙁)

Hi Patrick,

If the Play function works, the "problem" is not in the piston (PHEW!).

I don''t understand if it "plays the record properly" , then where's the problem?

What do you mean "the cartridge does not slide anymore"?

If you could be more specific about what is happening EXACTLY, I can probably help you, but right now, I really don't understand what's going on! 

Menahem

Hi Menachem

Many thanks for replying and apologies for the delay in getting back to you as for my fuzzy explanation and improper use of the term cartridge. I'll try and clarify:

- when I press play, the platter starts normally, but neither tone nor detector arms move (with or without a record on the platter)

- the play function continues regardless and the tone arm lowers straight on to the actual deck

- if I manually slide both arms over the record and lower the tone arm, it lands on the record plays the track normally - for a few seconds: as the arms don't move, the tone arm is gradually pulled away from the detector arm until it eventually lifts back up and the play stops.

Hope this makes more sense - and hopefully still does not involve the piston :-)

Looking froward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Patrick

OK, now it is quite clear!

Open up the machine, as per the Service Manual, and look at the back under the tonearm.

Is the white cable secure and tension-ed?

Is the rubber belt on the servo motor OK? That's the small rubber belt, not the large belt which rotates the platter.

Those are the 2 most likely causes of the problem.

It sounds like the carriage is not moving at all so it must be the drive string has become un-attached, probably due to a broken attachment point on the carriage.

Agree with Graham - seems to happen more often due to aging plastic I presume.

Hello Menahem

Many, many thanks for your reply and again apologies for my late response - we have now started our annual family trip to visit the relatives et al, so am away from the dear Beogram 5500 until early August. But I will definitely check this out when I'm back and let you know the results.

All the best.

Patrick