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AR77XB tracking issues.

tinkerwalsh

tinkerwalsh

New Member
Hey All -

Im having some tracking issues with my AR77 wondering if anyone knows what this could be? It seems to be skipping every once and awhile over certain records that I never noticed any issues on before on my Pioneer pl-518. Ive got a AT95e on at 2.0 grams. I was hoping to swap my Grado Green onto the AR but noticed that the screws I have are too long? I could cut the screws down in order to make em work.

The headshell on the AR is in okay shape - Im thinking about buying a aftermarket one just to have a backup. Anyone have any recommendations?

Best,

Dave
 
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tinkerwalsh said:
Hey All -

Im having some tracking issues with my AR77 wondering if anyone knows what this could be? It seems to be skipping every once and awhile over certain records that I never noticed any issues on before on my Pioneer pl-518. Ive got a AT95e on at 2.0 grams. I was hoping to swap my Grado Green onto the AR but noticed that the screws I have are too long? I could cut the screws down in order to make em work.

The headshell on the AR is in okay shape - Im thinking about buying a aftermarket one just to have a backup. Anyone have any recommendations?

Best,

Dave
Click to expand...
the screws cannot extend more the 0.100" above the cart body. that's the maximum depth of the threaded hole. 3 x 48 screw. tracking issues can be one of several issues. most common one is binding of the vertical pivots, second it dressing of the arm wires as they exit the pivot block. they may be twisted too much causing too much antiskate, not enough causing too much skating, and they can interfere with tracking weight, adding/reducing the tracking weight across the album. check tracking weight at outside of album, and then in the runout groove area. if you have a shure scale, you can check sticktion in the arm bearings. gently blow on the headshell, the arm should teeter totter evenly, smoothly.
 
marcmorin said:
the screws cannot extend more the 0.100" above the cart body. that's the maximum depth of the threaded hole. 3 x 48 screw. tracking issues can be one of several issues. most common one is binding of the vertical pivots, second it dressing of the arm wires as they exit the pivot block. they may be twisted too much causing too much antiskate, not enough causing too much skating, and they can interfere with tracking weight, adding/reducing the tracking weight across the album. check tracking weight at outside of album, and then in the runout groove area. if you have a shure scale, you can check sticktion in the arm bearings. gently blow on the headshell, the arm should teeter totter evenly, smoothly.
Click to expand...

thanks again marc for sharing your knowledge. its super helpful!

i will start with the vertical pivots. should i remove the screw in the arm in order to grease that? i have a feeling that might be the issue. i tried the blow test and didnt noticed a lot of movement in the arm.

kind regards,

dave
 
the pivot screws are simply running into a piece of delrin. the condition of the pivot screw end and bevel, and condition of the hole in the delrin they go into is your vertical movement. the arm wire dressing would suggest that skating forces are being added to the arm. however the photo shows that the pivot post and it's bushing are dry also. energy imparted in the horizontal manner, but prohibited to move freely in that direction will expel the energy into a vertical motion, and vice versa
 
marcmorin said:
the pivot screws are simply running into a piece of delrin. the condition of the pivot screw end and bevel, and condition of the hole in the delrin they go into is your vertical movement. the arm wire dressing would suggest that skating forces are being added to the arm. however the photo shows that the pivot post and it's bushing are dry also. energy imparted in the horizontal manner, but prohibited to move freely in that direction will expel the energy into a vertical motion, and vice versa
Click to expand...

okay - i will investigate the pivot screw. because it is dry - i will attempt to lube the pivot post and bushing.

in terms of the arm dressing adding skating force - should i simply untwist the wire by rotating the arm counter-clockwise to counteract some of the skating force.

i used sewing machine oil in the tone arm bearing well - about 8 drops. should i have used heavier oil or should that suffice?

thanks again marc!
 
tinkerwalsh said:
Hey john - by balance beam test do you mean float the arm? I’m a bit new to all this. Got into vintage hifi in my 30s. I’m 33 now. Hah
Click to expand...

the arm shouldn't zero float, easily, which is why the Shure tracking force gauge was recommended. A static balance type arm wants to float, a neutral balance arm doesn't. a shure gauge is a 'static balance' device.
 
marcmorin said:
the arm shouldn't zero float, easily, which is why the Shure tracking force gauge was recommended. A static balance type arm wants to float, a neutral balance arm doesn't. a shure gauge is a 'static balance' device.
Click to expand...

Hey Marc - I looked into the Shure gauge. Looks like a sweet unit. I don’t have the funds right now to afford it overwise I’d buy it ASAP.
 
In the meantime, back out the right side(when facing the turntable head on) vertical bearing screw by about 1/8th turn and see if it fixes your problem. It should. Always worked for me and I have had 4 AR XA, XB, 77-XB turntables.
 
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