The lenco platter rests on a tapered spindle, and is not fastened in any other way.
No screws, no glue, in other words.... you can just lift it off.
That being said, it can be quite well stuck to the spindle after many years.
How to remove it, without damaging anything?
If you put your fingers under the lip of the platter, and try to lift it up, you will find that it comes up easily for the first 5 mm or so, and then it gets "stuck". This is because there is a little locking screw in the side of the bearing housing. The end of this screw is in a recessed part of the spindle, and prevents the spindle from coming out of the bearing housing.
Of course, one could simply remove that screw, and lift the platter out, spindle and all. However, this is not the preferred way of removing the platter, because it disturbs the grease and there is a chance that dirt may fall into the bearing. In case you may prefer to follow this path, be aware that you may damage(scratch) the bearing bushings and/or the spindle.
Of course, you will remove the spindle from the platter before you put it back into the bearing housing.
It is better to leave the spindle in the bearing, and break the stiction of the taper by lifting the platter up.
First, try to pry it off using your fingers:
Using both hands, work your fingers under the lip on the platter, on opposite sides of the spindle to maintain symmetry. This ensures that the force on the bearing and top plate is straight up, and not sideways.
Now, lift the platter till it "stops" and then try to force it further.
If you are lucky, the platter will now pop loose from the spindle.
If the platter is stuck so much that you cannot get it loose using your fingers, more drastic measures are needed.
If you have a helper, you can pry the platter up with your fingers as far as it will go, and ask your helper to tap on the spindle with the handle of a large screwdriver or block of wood. One light tap should loosen the spindle, after which the platter can be lifted off.
If you there is no helper around, you can fold some pieces of paper, and use them as a wedge to hold up the platter.
You can then tap on the spindle yourself, you have at least one hand free.
Text: Sander & Colin.
Illustrations: David's Twins.
