Good question. On the official guide available on this site, they cite some lubricant references adapted to each part of the mechanism… On my side I always wondered if everything could just be lubricated with a bit of WD40!

mbee wrote:

Good question. On the official guide available on this site, they cite some lubricant references adapted to each part of the mechanism… On my side I always wondered if everything could just be lubricated with a bit of WD40!

I wouldn't.  Avoid lubricants that spray.
The Beogram 4002 does require some lubrication once in a while but it depends where you are starting from.
If you are starting from a second or third hand Beogram that was purchased used and you don't know the full history then a good disassembly, cleaning a lubrication is probably called for. 

The Beogram 400x service manuals call out the lubrication but the products are now difficult to find. Modern synthetic oils can be used but avoid applying oil to everything that moves. Things that spin like the long spindle that drives the tonearm will throw excess oil everywhere if it is over oiled with a thin oil.

In the service manual B&O mixed a thin oil (Esso NUTO H44) with some grease (Rocol MTS 1000) to get the proper consistency for the spindle. It provides the necessary lubrication but doesn't spray off the spindle when it turns (i.e. fast forward or reverse).

Some thin oil is appropriate for the platter hub bearing.  The service manual calls for M4 Oil or Esso NUTO H44 or Teresso 43.  A modern synthetic oil should be fine.  There are synthetic oils out there that say they are for turntables. 

The two shiny rails that the tangential arm travels on (as the spindle drives it) just needs some light grease.  The service manual calls for Molykote DX paste.  You can still find that on Amazon and Ebay.  I have used Triflow Dry Lubricant there before. It goes on as a liquid and quickly dries to a nice, slippery paste.

The arm lowering damper should be lubricated with a silicone oil.  The service manual specifies Dow Corning 200 fluid.  That is still available but not in small containers unfortunately.

Some other mechanical pivot points could use some oil occasionally (like the spring lever for the arm lowering). A modern synthetic oil should be good there. However, when those levers have become a problem it is typically because of a build up of dirt and grease so they should be disassembled and cleaned first. 

I would recommend again that everything be cleaned really well first if you are dealing with a Beogram that was stored away for a long time or comes from an environment that had a lot of smoke.

-sonavor 

Apologies its taken so long to reply but I've had a few problems with my phone. 

I wanted to say many thanks for the replies they are really helpful

I have looked at some posts on Beolovers site that has some good photos but I'm still a bit confused as to where exactly to lubricate the turntable, maybe someone could post a video sometime of how and where to apply the grease and oil.

As you say, I don't know the history of this particular deck so I would be very interested to know if there is anywhere near me in the S. E. London and North Surrey in the UK, someone who knows how to renovate these decks properly..... We do have a vintage music equipment specialist locally but I'm not sure he would be up to it as he specialises in mainly Japanese equipment.

So if anyone knows somebody in Britain, hopefully close to London, I'd love to know about them please.

Anyway thank you again for your help it's been very helpful.