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Empire tonearm not in balance

bkatbamna said:
When you gently push it down by the headshell is there any resistance or does it move freely up/down/left/right?
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It does move in all directions. Cueing works too,
 

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Just to be clear, did you balance the tonearm with the VTF force (knob on side of arm) set to Zero? Then did you dial in the
desired weight with the VTF knob on the side of the tonearm?

It almost sounds like you are trying to balance and adjust the VTF weight with just the counterweight like a static balance arm which this is not.
 
orthophonic said:
Just to be clear, did you balance the tonearm with the VTF force (knob on side of arm) set to Zero? Then did you dial in the
desired weight with the VTF knob on the side of the tonearm?

It almost sounds like you are trying to balance and adjust the VTF weight with just the counterweight like a static balance arm which this is not.
Click to expand...
I set the VFT dial to 2 grams but the headshell is no where near the record. Even if I set the tonearm post very low.
The stylus looks close in this photo, but it's not.
 

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malden said:
what happens when you remove the counter-weight?


The tonearm should be parallel to the record surface when the stylus is in the groove.
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When the counterweight is off the stylus goes down hard to the record surface. Photo is parallel arm, no counterweight.
 

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cgallery said:
Is there any chance the VTF knob has turned beyond its normal limit? Like it is 360-degrees off somehow?
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I don't believe so. It travels negative of 0 just a fraction of an inch. Travels past the 4 mark by just a fraction of an inch
 
I'm using a Shure V15 II which weighs about the same as the cartridge you have.

With tracking force set to zero and tonearm floating horizontally (balanced), this is how much latitude I have with the counterweight...

598 tonearm.JPG
 
malden said:
I'm using a Shure V15 II which weighs about the same as the cartridge you have.

With tracking force set to zero and tonearm floating horizontally (balanced), this is how much latitude I have with the counterweight...

View attachment 3395798
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Mine is as close to the pivot point as it can go?
 

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noted said:
And the cartridge is a good inch above the record
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It feels like the cueing platform is restricting the tonearm from being where it should be. The person I purchased this turntable from said his dad played it a lot. So this is very puzzling.
 
Here's something I just discovered, the counterweight has a removable plug. Maybe someone added some weight inside of yours? It's from the 1970's so maybe a gram of hash :smoke:

3.JPG

4.JPG
 
Did that circlip slip out of the groove or was the weight and clip moved on purpose towards the rear?
 
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