idler wheel flat spots
 

I have a couple players in my collection which don't lift the idler/turret from contacting the motor shaft during periods of non-use. Kind of a bad design really, it's like asking for a flat spot to develop. Do you guys do anything special to store such players?

I don't like keeping things half taken apart, but in this case it may make sense to store the idler/turret removed from the player. This is low end stuff, which lacks a "park" position like my Thorens has.

Ive heard of people who collect the RCA 45 players who just make sure to turn them on briefly every couple weeks, or even putting them on some kind of timer, just need to run them long enough for it to avoid being in one position too long.

I like the idea of a timer, one of the players in question is an RCA 45 player, Once the new idler shows up I want to keep it pristine.