LINN Krystal cleaning advice

[Coyote Jim]

Another possible answer might be depending on the purity of aluminium used corrosion cannot take place but in the case of less pure aluminium then any catalytic reaction will take place in an accelerated fashion in the presence of moi re hence "catalytic reaction".

[LD100]

The latest from Linn staff----

David Williamson Linn Staff
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

RE: Krystal Cleaning Advice. Please Read and Share
Gentlemen, to set the record straight, as this thread appears to have unnecessarily caused panic, and to re-iterate what I said earlier on this post.

The Krystal is made by Armour, therefore it is their advice we should heed. The cantilever is an aluminium tube which has a flattened end to insert the stylus into.
They recommend that “Liquid stylus cleaners must be used sparingly if at all”. They state this in some of their own cartridge manuals.

Armour have also already investigated these failures and attributed them to the overuse of wet cleaning, not material flaws or anything else. They have seen the same failure mode before with customers using wet cleaning fluids.
The cantilever used in the Krystal is the same one as we used in the Klyde, so we have some 22 years of reliability data on this part.
These 2 failures are the only ones we can find due to cleaning fluid.

There is no issue with using SPT fluid on Arkiv, Akiva, or Kandid as were/are all made for us by Lyra and have solid boron cantilevers.

Furthermore Lyra also read our forum, and have been in touch with me directly to advise that they will be changing the wording of their manuals and website to:-
“clearly spell out that this product should not be used with any cartridges where the manufacturer recommends that liquid cleaners be avoided”

Regards,

David

[Derosa]

It is with a heavy heart that following the information from David W above I will be selling my Lyra SPT brush it is barely used, just 30 times , and I am open to any genuine offer
Cheers

[Steven]

Can I ask a simple question to all Krystal owners ?

Did you receive any written instruction from Linn about what you cannot clean you stylus with ?

[Coyote Jim]

Can I ask a simple question to all Krystal owners ?

Did you receive any written instruction from Linn about what you cannot clean you stylus with ?

No!

[Steven]

Says it all really ......

[Red Chris]

Can I ask a simple question to all Krystal owners ?

Did you receive any written instruction from Linn about what you cannot clean you stylus with ?

No - but I am pretty sure that I did with my Lyra Kleos - and a bottle of SPT

Having said that I am also pretty sure I had a Linn handbook which advocated green paper (with a little diagram showing how to use it) and a dry use vibrating pad cleaner (and said only use the fluid to clean the pad)

[The Kaptain]

I sent an email to LYRA's UK distributor regarding this and have just had their reply, which I have quoted for reference.

I have already had communications with Linn regarding this issue. The issue seems to be that the Linn Krystal cartridge cannot be used with ANY LIQUID STYLUS CLEANER, and that this does not have anything to do with our product Lyra SPT (which we have not recommended to be used with any Linn products in particular).

Lyra SPT consists of purified, distilled, deionized water and less than 2% organic surfactants, and can be characterized as “organic soap”. Over 20 years of production we have never ever received any complaint over the use of this product for stylus cleaning, and we have been of the belief that our liquid cannot damage any stylus/cantilever (any more than soap and water would).

However, it is up to Linn and their subcontracting manufacturer of Linn Krystal to decide whether their product is suitable to be used with ANY LIQUID CLEANER (not limited to Lyra SPT). In light of the write-ups at Linn Forum, and our follow-up communication with Linn Product staff, we have decided to alter our user manual for Lyra SPT to add that it should not be used with phono cartridges that the manufacturer makes it clear that they should not be used with liquid cleaners. We will also add this to our web-site under SPT explanations. Obviously the SPT already in circulation will not yet have updated manuals.

In order to make it perfectly clear, what Linn Products and their subcontractor for Linn Krystal is saying is that you should not clean the stylus with ANY LIQUID, including tap water.

I hope this helps, and I thank you for your information and cooperation.

[Derosa]

Thanks for posting Kaptain clearly after 20 years without a problem why should just 2 fail in this way ???
I have checked on the linn site and on Goldring but no specific information about cleaning is provided
this is the only instruction I can find that refers specifically to cartridge cleaning
Regards
Tony

[Derosa]

Here is a copy of an email sent today to linn and their subsequent reply I have forwarded my question and reply to Goldring to confirm that this is sound advice as Goldring are the manufacturer



Sent from my iPhone
Dear. Sirs
I am writing to as I am the owner of linn Krystal number 1081 and I was the owner of no 138
As you aware no 138 failed after just 300 hours despite the very careful application of Lyra SPT and green paper to ensure the cartridge was “scrupulously clean “ as advised in the linn owners manual under general installation image1.jpeg
I would appreciate your advice with regards to cleaning
I currently have green paper and an Audio Technica vibrating cleaner and a lightly used bottle of spt
I understand that your view is that “no liquids should be used”
despite having used the green paper,AT vibrating pad,and stylus fluid without any problem on 3 asakas and 2 troikas in the past.
I have NOT cleaned no 1081 as yet and it now has 30 hours use
Please can you send me specific instructions on how to do this because as far I can see no information is available on how to do this safely on your website or your manufacturer, Goldrings website.
Obviously as you know no instructions or guidance is available with the cartridge when it arrives
Kind regards
Tony lamb

Dear Tony,

Thank you for your e-mail.

Please see http://forums.linn.co.uk/bb/showthread. ... #pid458514 We would recommend the use of green stylus paper or a dry vibrating pad such as the one you have.

The method of cleaning the stylus can be found below.

Do not blow dust off the stylus as this can blow dirt and moi re inside the mechanism and clog up the coils.

Two complimentary methods of cleaning:

a. Linn ‘green paper’. Cut in strips approx. 20 mm x 40 mm and support at one end only while drawing in tracking direction (back towards front) across stylus tip. This method will clean and polish the stylus tip.
b. Ultrasonic stylus cleaner. Use dry, and keep liquid supplied to clean the pad only. This method will clean the complete diamond, if used periodically for 3 - 5 minute sessions.

Best Regards

Colin
Customer Support
Linn Products Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 141 307 7777
Fax: +44 (0) 141 644 4262
Email: helpline@linn.co.uk
Forums: http://forums.linn.co.uk
Hope this is of help to everyone shame they don’t include this info in the box
Cheers tony


Click here to report this email as spam.

[Coyote Jim]

I clicked the link they included and was dissapointed to see they've closed the thread on their own forum so no right of reply or more information about faults can be discussed.
The announcement itself has more holes than a Tea bag.

[Derosa]

Also I find it interesting that I wasn’t directed to anything in writing or instructions that have been provided previously either from linn or Goldring

[Derosa]

Hi
Well I pushed for more info today and this the reply


Tony,

Thank you for your e-mail.

As per my previous response and the forum thread http://forums.linn.co.uk/bb/showthread. ... #pid458514

Please see the line that reads “Armour have also already investigated these failures and attributed them to the overuse of wet cleaning, not material flaws or anything else”

This would indicate that the investigation has been concluded.

Best Regards
Tony
Top

[Coyote Jim]

image.jpeg

[Red Chris]

Two complimentary methods of cleaning

I know that Mr Fixit will provide the green paper but how do I get the free ultrasonic stylus cleaner?

[LD100]

Two complimentary methods of cleaning

I know that Mr Fixit will provide the green paper but how do I get the free ultrasonic stylus cleaner?

A letter to Santa???

[Derosa]

Evening all
I have now sent 4 emails to armour regarding cleaning the Krystal to ensure no blame will be laid at my door this time
Quote
“Armour have also already investigated these failures and attributed them to the overuse of wet cleaning, not material flaws or anything else”
The reason I want an answer from armour and NOT just linn is as David W said
Quote
“I have to admit I was unaware there was an issue with the Krystal or Adikt,
However it is Armour that make the Krystal, and therefore their advice we should listen too. “

Well I am trying to listen to them but 12 days after my first email the silence is deafening
I will send an email again to the linn helpline to see if they can get a response
Tony

[Coyote Jim]

Well I am trying to listen to them but 12 days after my first email the silence is deafening
I will send an email again to the linn helpline to see if they can get a response
Tony

Hi Tony,
Everything will fall on deaf ears the responsibility is with the brand not their supplier it would be the same for an electronic circuit failure would they expect you to chase the component manufacturer.?

[Derosa]

Hi Jim
That is the norm in everything else I have bought and yet David W makes it quite clear that

“However it is Armour that make the Krystal, and therefore their advice we should listen too. “
It appears that with that comment linn have removed themselves from all responsibility as they did not put clear instructions in with the cartridge
That’s why I have been blamed not for using a wet cleaner but “overuse” then on the other hand they say no wet cleaners can be used
Keep spinning us round in circles and eventually we go away after all out of 1200 Krystal only 2 have corroded

[Derosa]

And the reply was


Hi Tony,

Thank you for your e-mail.

I believe David Williamson has already spoken with them and he has posted their advice on the forum, in the link I have sent you previously.

Best Regards

Colin
Customer Support
Linn Products Limited

[Lanark]

Can I ask a simple question to all Krystal owners ?

Did you receive any written instruction from Linn about what you cannot clean you stylus with ?

No but I did get an in-person demo of how to clean it using the green paper and advice not to use anything else, this was in 2018.

I do still wonder how often I should be doing it, Im not very good at counting up how many hours the LP12 has been running!

[Derosa]

Just found a video by linn posted on July 31sr 2020 explaining how to clean a linn cartridge
Shame it wasn’t about when I bought my linn Krystal

[Wenge1]

Just found a video by linn posted on July 31sr 2020 explaining how to clean a linn cartridge
Shame it wasn’t about when I bought my linn Krystal

Aye but that's life ............