If your Crosley is making your head spin (not in a good way) and you’re feeling a bit lost when it comes to belt replacements, needle replacements and extending playing times, then you’ve come to the right place. The step-by-step guides below will have you back on track and spinning your favourite vinyl in no time.

Crosley Belt Replacement

Think your record player belt needs replacing?

1) Examine for any signs of wear.

2) Typically, the belt may have snapped due to dry-rot or have become stretched over time, making the turntable less responsive.

3) Make sure the belt is properly installed on the belt drive.

Whether you have the Crosley Cruiser, Crosley Keepsake, Crosley T100 or Crosley Nomad, this step-by-step tutorial will show you how to replace the belt on your turntable:

1) To begin, find the crumb spindle on the middle of the turntable platter.

2) There is a small round clip that holds the turntable platter onto the turntable assembly. Remove this clip by prying it away from the spindle with a small, flathead screwdriver.

3) Place your hands on both sides of the platter and lift it up over the chrome spindle.

4. There, you will find the drive belt lying on the turntable mechanism - the drive belt looks like a large rubber band. Remove the old belt.
   
   5) Next, you will need to attach the drive belt to the turntable platter.
   
   6) Turn the platter over and you will see a raised circle. Place the drive belt around the circle; making sure that the belt is not twisted.
   
   7) Pull the drive belt over one of the two posts, forming a triangle shape.

8. Just to the right of the chrome spindle, you will see the belt drive. Place the turntable platter right side up, and position the top of the triangle over the belt drive. Gently lower the platter over the chrome spindle.
   
   9) Next, rotate the platter for two full rotations. You should then hear the drive belt snap into place.
   
   10) It is not necessary to reinstall the round clip onto the chrome centre spindle. This clip holds the platter in place when the unit is moved.

Crosley Needle Replacement

Signs your record player needle needs replacing:

1) The sound quality is duller or noisier

2) There is distortion or elements of the record have lost clarity

3) There’s an imbalance in the speaker quality - music sounds ‘warped’

How to test if your needle needs replacing:

1) Find a familiar record, ensuring it’s clean and not damaged

2) Check that the needle is clear of dust and that the turntable is perfectly even

3) Listen to the record

4) If elements have lost clarity or you can hear any sort of distortion, you may need to replace the needle

Crosley turntables feature diamond-tipped needles and last for approximately 1,000 hours of playtime before replacement is needed. That gives you plenty of time before you need to replace a needle, but just in case, here’s exactly how you replace a needle on a Crosley record player:

Note: To install a new needle, hold the needle at a slight angle and insert the tab into the small grooves in the tone arm. Apply slight upward pressure until it snaps into place.

1) Check your Crosley record player instructions or user guide to determine which needle your Crosley turntable requires.

2) To remove an NP1 needle, gently pull down at the front of the unit and then pull forward to remove.

3) To install a new NP1 needle, hold at a slight angle, push up to the back and into the grooves and apply slight pressure to snap into place.

4. To remove an old NP3 or NS1 needle, gently pull down at the front using your fingernail then pull the cartridge forward and out to remove.
   
   5) To remove an NP4 needle, grab both sides of the unit and gently pull forward.
   
   
5. To install a new NP4 needle, position it in line with the tone arm and push back until the unit seats into place.

Adjust the Playing Time

Sometimes you get a vinyl with a couple of extra or exclusive tracks. Your player might only be configured to play ten tracks and stop short before you hit the end of the record. This is when you’d need to extend the playing time and you can do so with these easy steps:

1) Unplug the turntable and remove the lid. Position the turntable with the tone-arm side facing the front.

2) Make sure the large screw on top of the turntable is turned clockwise until flush with the turntable.

3. Lift the tone-arm side of the turntable high enough to see the chrome screw.
   
   
4. Using a Phillips head screwdriver, turn the chrome screw clockwise in half turn increments to extend the playing time.
   
   
5. When finished turn the screw on top of the turntable counter clockwise to lock the turntable in place. This screw is only used for transportation purposes so do not over tighten.

Maintenance Tips For Crosley Record Players:

1) To prevent excessive stylus wear, ensure that the cartridge is aligned correctly to allow the stylus to sit in the groove and play the track correctly.

2) Keep your Crosley as clean as possible. The less debris retained in the groove, the less wear the stylus will suffer.

3) Always clean your records and apply a contact cleaner to the stylus from time to time.

4) Try to keep note of how often you use your record player. This will lend you a rough idea of when you may need to replace its different elements.

5) Always ensure the turntable is perfectly even before using it. This will prevent any damage to both the player and your records.