Issues with skipping on inner grooves and dead wax.

[Krasdale]

Hey everyone. I just upgraded from a Jelco SA-750D to a TK-850S and I'm running into a problem. Since installing the new arm a couple days ago, I've found that records are prone to skipping in the inner grooves. Also, rather than tracking through the run off toward the label, the stylus jumps back outward into the end of the last track. This doesn't happen every single time on every record, but about three-quarters of the time. I've been troubleshooting for a while now and am sure of a few things:

1) The arm is clear of the lift and that's not interfering.
2) The VTF was set correctly before the AS was set. (I've experimented with adjusting the AS, and no setting seems to make much difference.)
3) The TT, platter, armboard, and stand are all level.
4) I haven't been able to observe the phono cable while this is happening, but I'm fairly certain that this isn't restricting the arm, as it was never a problem with the previous arm.
5) Another thing I've observed is that the arm will drift outward when lowering, or when zeroed out, especially when closer to the label.

I'm really scratching my head over here, and hope this is something really silly and obvious that I'm missing. Just wanted to reach out to you guys for input before going to the manufacturer. Thanks so much for your help.

Oh, and in case it's useful to you: the turntable is a modded AR ES-1 and the cartridge is an Ortofon 2M Black. Headshell is the Jelco stock.

 

[boreas]

Check the tonearm wiring to see whether they're caught/binding and tugging on the arm as it nears the end of the record. I've had that happen before.

 

[Andre Garcia]

Bearing maybe.
If you balance it to zero and blow air gentle, its move? (Anti skate zero) no interference?
Locate the tinearm at the end and add 1 grm to antiskate. Should back without hesitation.
Is the TT perfect leveled?
AG.

 

[Krasdale]

Check the tonearm wiring to see whether they're caught/binding and tugging on the arm as it nears the end of the record. I've had that happen before.

Which wires? The ones in the arm tube?

 

[Krasdale]

Bearing maybe.
If you balance it to zero and blow air gentle, its move? (Anti skate zero) no interference?
Locate the tinearm at the end and add 1 grm to antiskate. Should back without hesitation.
Is the TT perfect leveled?
AG.

1) When the tonearm is balanced at zero, the arm tends to drift slowly outward.
2) Anti-skate can be set properly or at zero and it doesn't seem to make any difference.
3) The turntable is level.

Thanks.

 

[boreas]

Which wires? The ones in the arm tube?

Yes, where they exit the arm underneath/inside.

 

[Andre Garcia]

1) When the tonearm is balanced at zero, the arm tends to drift slowly outward.
2) Anti-skate can be set properly or at zero and it doesn't seem to make any difference.
3) The turntable is level.

Thanks.

1) is not good. That could be wires.

AG.

 

[Krasdale]

Yes, where they exit the arm underneath/inside.

I've checked and I don't think that's the case. Right now I've got the turntable elevated and can look underneath while the side is finishing and I don't see any kind of movement or obstruction by the phono cable.

 

[MRL_Audio]

As Boreas already pointed out. Sounds like the wires are getting hung up as the arm moves to a certain point in the LP. Can you feel any resistance at all when you move it manually?

 

[Krasdale]

As Boreas already pointed out. Sounds like the wires are getting hung up as the arm moves to a certain point in the LP. Can you feel any resistance at all when you move it manually?

I wasn't able to feel any resistance while moving it manually, but you guys were right. Slightly adjusting the cable seems to have completely fixed the issue. Thanks everyone for all your help and taking the time to reply!

 

[Krasdale]

Check the tonearm wiring to see whether they're caught/binding and tugging on the arm as it nears the end of the record. I've had that happen before.

I didn't think this would be it, but adjusting the cable a tiny bit has fixed the issue. Thanks for your help! I'm relieved I didn't get a defective tonearm, just a defective troubleshooting instinct.

 

[boreas]

I didn't think this would be it, but adjusting the cable a tiny bit has fixed the issue. Thanks for your help! I'm relieved I didn't get a defective tonearm, just a defective troubleshooting instinct.

Five bananas for you, my Friend!