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Cartridge touching the record

kwatch

kwatch

Active Member
I purchased the replacement stylus on eBay for Shure M91E cartridge. I adjusted and set up Technics SL-1500. However, the stylus is so flat against the cartridge, record is touching the bottom of the cartridge. How can I correct this issue? Can I bend the stylus?

Thanks.
 
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kwatch said:
Can I bend the stylus?
Click to expand...

No!

At least not unless you want to buy a new one.
We need to see if you have your VTA (tracking angle; how high your tonearm is adjusted) correct, and also VTF (how much weight you've got on the stylus). Also, it's possible that the stylus isn't seated correctly in the cart body.

Photos will help. A close up from the side of the cart/headshell and one further out, showing the whole length of the tonearm, from the side.
 
Assuming the stylus/cantilever assembly is not defective, the first thing to check is your tracking force. Also, make sure the stylus assembly is fully inserted into the cartridge.

You can find the manual for your TT at VinylEngine. Follow the instructions for calibrating the tracking weight gauge (at the rear of the tonearm) to zero. Then turn the tracking weight and the gauge together to achieve the tracking weight specified for that particular stylus.

Either your current tracking weight is too heavy, or the cantilever is defective.

VTA is not very likely to be your problem...this is more of a fine-tuning adjustment. VTF (tracking weight), on the other hand, is much more critical to proper performance.
 
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VTA cannot be adjusted on the SL-1500. I attached the pictures. I'll probably return it.
 

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That doesn't look right. Does the mounting clip seem to be interfering at all with the stylus assembly? Can you take a pic showing the cartridge from the bottom and the front?
 
Your cartridge is not seated correctly in the mounting bracket. Notice in this picture that the bracket is flush with the back of the cartridge body. Yours is way off!

m85g.jpg
 
That cartridge is not sitting at the right angle. Are you sure it is in the metal clip properly? In the first pic the back end is touching and the front end is above the record. That should be the opposite.

I don't have any M91 without the plastic housing as you have but a few with it and the back end is always a few mm higher than the front. Those clips can be easily bent (but be careful) or you can shim it and that might solve the problem.
 
Ilikevinyl said:
Your cartridge is not seated correctly in the mounting bracket. Notice in this picture that the bracket is flush with the back of the cartridge body. Yours is way off!

m85g.jpg
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's right. The front end of the clip should be above the stylus holder not behind it.
 
Montycat said:
Yeah, that's right. The front end of the clip should be above the stylus holder not behind it.
Click to expand...

What he said. The cartridge body should "snap" in and seat all the way into the clip. Yours is only partially in.

Don't give up! With a good stylus the M91 is quite nice.
 
It looks like the clip is also interfering with the stylus and not allowing it to seat all the way into the cartridge. I have this combo and the cartridge is definatly not seated in the clip right.
 
Ilikevinyl said:
Your cartridge is not seated correctly in the mounting bracket. Notice in this picture that the bracket is flush with the back of the cartridge body. Yours is way off!

m85g.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. It was not properly mounted. It looks much better now.

Thanks!
 
Interesting looking cartridge that Shure..... Different to all the Denon's, Nagaoka, Audio Technica and LPAUDIO carts I've tried. Sort of looks like a P mount with an unusual adaptor
 
mjw21a said:
Interesting looking cartridge that Shure..... Different to all the Denon's, Nagaoka, Audio Technica and LPAUDIO carts I've tried. Sort of looks like a P mount with an unusual adaptor
Click to expand...

I think it's the earliest series of M91. I thought Stanton or Pickering when I first saw it.

Anyway, it looks good now! :thmbsp:
 
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