Hopefully it's o.k. to post turntable tech help here - I figure since it's for use with my boomers it would be o.k. -but feel free to move it to off topic if that's a better place.
Anyway for those of you like me who like to read stuff. Here is the whole story. When I was a little jr. hi dude, there was a guy in high school down the street with an awesome Pioneer stereo setup. He was already in H.S and he let us little dudes come over and listen to tunes sometimes. He had a Pioneer turntable with a pitch meter on it that we thought was the greatest. So just last year I found one like it with a meter on it on ebay and of course the seller said it worked great (exact words - "it rocks"). When I got it had a problem with part the the record sits on and spins around on being a little warped and rubbing against the protective cover underneath it (so I know it wasn't "rockin" like the seller said it was for sure). I removed the cover piece that was slowing it down by rubbing against the plate part and it solved that problem.
Anyway the main problem that I can't fix still is that is doesn't have any volume. It plays nice and clear with no skipping or scratchiness now, but it has no volume. I can plug it into my 5350 and turn it up full blast and it's still not that loud at all. Do you think this could be a new needle fix? Or any other thoughts about what could fix it? thanks

More likely a cartridge problem.

Long shot and unlikely, but the only other thing that springs to mind is that it could be a moving coil (mc) cart instead of moving magnet (mm), moving coil being a MUCH lower output requiring either an amp with an MC input or a separate transformer.

I checked it last night again and the model is the silver PL-560 (from 1978 - not the black 80's version) - So I should probably look for a cartridge and needle setup somewhere?
The second thing you said really has me thinking - from the first time I tried it just seems like it was missing something like an amp to get it right. But every other turntable i have plugged in to my boomboxes doesn't have this problem - so I kind if discounted that idea.

I have a PL-530 and have always had Pioneer turntables. As noted before, install a moving magnet cartridge. If that does not help, here's what I need to know:

Does the 5350 have "Line In" only? If so you will need a phono pre-amp and need to ground it properly.

Does it have a switch from AUX-Line In to Phono and available grounding screw? Check for that.

If it does have dedicated phono or switch to select between AUX/Phono, and if it has a ground screw, is the ground bad?

If you have everything in place to accomodate a turntable with this box, then it's possible that the built in pre-amp is shot. Getting an outboard pre amp would be the easy fix if that's the case.

I have tried it on several boomboxes with the same low volume results. I don't think that I made sure it was grounded . I will try it again with your suggestions this weekend. I also just bought another one for parts from ebay. The seller said this plays great, but is missing some other parts. So I am hoping to combine the 2 and get 1 really good pl-560. It sounds like I might need this "outboard" pre amp" - either way I am making progress - thanks for the help. I will update after I check it out again this weekend

when i use turntables with my boomboxes i always use a seperate preamp.
just sounds better.
i got my itrack needle and cartridge set up for pretty cheap. allthough its a dj cartridge and needle it still sound pretty good.
i dont think its a mc on this table. i am almost positive its a magnetic cart.
i would remove your cartridge and shell.
take apart all of the bits you can and clean everything really good.
look at the needle up close with a magnifying glass.
is it properly inserted into the cartridge.
clean the pins on the tone arm where the shell screws in.
then try it again.
you can get new needles only.
just replacing the needle could help depending on what style of cartridge you have it should be pretty simple.