Thanks for the reply Joe. I did oil the top bearing of the motor and the other general maintenance spots. But I think having it all sit for the day, along with Larry's rubber rejuvenator on the idler wheel did the trick. The first time around I had to help it, but now it seems to be flying along like a champ.
I also think that not only has it been sitting unused, an armature that would engage a cam near the spindle had dropped too low to engage. It was a minor adjustment with a few turns of a screw. I'm guessing that this may have happened decades ago after using the table a bunch. Who knows. But likely working the mechanisms a few times by pushing the platter around helped to loosen things up a bit.
I think the speed was a bit slower before, which seems to be improved. I haven't checked it with a strobe. The sound is steady. The idler wheel wasn't damaged other then being really very dry. Rumbly sounding table, needs new outer and inner platter foam which turned to dust. New ones should help a little.
The needle looks ok, was extremely dirty. Mister Clean magic sponge fixed that. Played some Sinatra. Woo Hoo!
