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Possible Cure for Collapsed Stylus Suspension

I think the best advice is to go slowly. Prop (or hang weights, &c) the cantilever in the down-toward-the-record position as boreas advised. Add droplets, let soak/dry for a day or two, then test to see if there's been a desired effect, however tiny, and if there is to do the front surface of the grommet, let sit, test, and so on. Do everything to avoid overdoing it. Where the limits are with Rubber Renue, I don't know, but I hope we never find out on a valuable stylus! --Do I speak from personal sadness? o yes.
 
wualta said:
I think the best advice is to go slowly. Prop (or hang weights, &c) the cantilever in the down-toward-the-record position as boreas advised. Add droplets, let soak/dry for a day or two, then test to see if there's been a desired effect, however tiny, and if there is to do the front surface of the grommet, let sit, test, and so on.
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How about the opposite end of the shank?
 
If I understand your earlier post correctly, you already did the rear of the grommet, yes? So after resting and testing, you do the front surface, then rest and test again.
 
wualta said:
If I understand your earlier post correctly, you already did the rear of the grommet, yes? So after resting and testing, you do the front surface, then rest and test again.
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My first unsatisfactory go round with all of this was more than 10 years ago, and it hasn’t been touched since. Just today, as in the image in a previous post, I have it perched stylus-end up, and I put a few droplets in there. That’s all I’ve done so far.
 
Let it cook awhile, then see if the problem has retreated somewhat, either using the Educated Fingernail or by actually playing a record. If the improvement is small, keep the stylus propped recordward, point the diamond end of the cantilever to the ceiling, and drop some on the grommet just inside the square shank-tube.
 
wualta said:
Let it cook awhile, then see if the problem has retreated somewhat, either using the Educated Fingernail or by actually playing a record. If the improvement is small, keep the stylus propped recordward, point the diamond end of the cantilever to the ceiling, and drop some on the grommet just inside the square shank-tube.
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I realize that earlier photo isn't entirely clear, but the shank right now is pretty much vertical in the foam. Here’s a side view.
 

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Looking good! And I see I misunderstood which end was up, but it doesn't matter-- you treat 'em the same.
 
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wualta said:
Looking good! And I see I misunderstood which end was up, but it doesn't matter-- you treat 'em the same.
The N16 is one of my favorite Shure styli, so I have some skin in this game.
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I’m gonna flip it today and give it a couple of drops at the back end of the shank opposite the needle. I assume I don’t have to try and come up with some kind of crazy jig to hold the shank in any special position while that’s going on. Is that correct? In other words, I’ll just take the little twist tie off, flip it over, and figure out some way to prop it up vertically (in the opposite direction), and then put the RR into the bottom end of the shank.
 
Puddintane said:
I’m gonna flip it today and give it a couple of drops at the back end of the shank opposite the needle. I assume I don’t have to try and come up with some kind of crazy jig to hold the shank in any special position while that’s going on. Is that correct? In other words, I’ll just take the little twist tie off, flip it over, and figure out some way to prop it up vertically (in the opposite direction), and then put the RR into the bottom end of the shank.
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One last advice before you start to damage your records by puncher. If your cartridge has VN45MR (or VN35MR) micro ridge stylus in mint condition but with damaged suspension, it worth repair so send it to retipper they are able to replace suspension.


If your cartridge has elliptical stylus simply find new replacement. But your records, you can do what you want of course.
 
radiokom said:
One last advice before you start to damage your records by puncher. If your cartridge has VN45MR (or VN35MR) micro ridge stylus in mint condition but with damaged suspension, it worth repair so send it to retipper they are able to replace suspension.


If your cartridge has elliptical stylus simply find new replacement. But your records, you can do what you want of course.
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I don’t know which stylus it is. It came with a used Denon TT that I brought from the original owner’s ex-wife. And she had no clue about any of it. She just wanted to sell it. How does one ID it?
 
radiokom said:
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Interesting that the link you provided from Shure's website (that I then commented on) differs from Shure's own 2004 list of discontinued models (from HiFiEng). Here's a snip of all the V15-IV versions in that chart. Note the only versions described as having light lettering (they say "gray," mine looks white, but may be what they call gray) against black are the VN4G and VN45MR for the V15IV-G cartridge. Ever more confusing.
 

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Puddintane said:
Interesting that the link you provided from Shure's website (that I then commented on) differs from Shure's own 2004 list of discontinued models (from HiFiEng). Here's a snip of all the V15-IV versions in that chart. Note the only versions described as having light lettering (they say "gray," mine looks white, but may be what they call gray) against black are the VN4G and VN45MR for the V15IV-G cartridge. Ever more confusing.
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Better buy Audio Technica at-vm95ml and put your Shure in the box. Cheapest cartridge with micro linear stylus:

www.audio-technica.com

AT-VM95ML

This VM95 Series cartridge with 2.2 x 0.12 mil Microlinear stylus fits half-inch mount turntables. The cartridge offers excellent channel separation and low distortion for outstanding tonal qualit ...
www.audio-technica.com www.audio-technica.com

You can not use your Shure anyway. And decent replacement stylus will cost more than new cartridge.
 
radiokom said:
You will damage your records. Suspension/damper can not be cured it can be only repaired/replaced. Send cartridge to repair workshop.
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Without any real data, I don't know if I can agree with that sentiment, considering the luck I've had in my own experiences.

I will say, without any question, your heart is in the right place, and I personally appreciate your efforts. Reminds me of another person who advocated not using the glue method (as I have, again with wonderful success) because it removes plasticizers. Since I won't make it another 2 decades or so, I'm okay with that, but it's a great thing to know (and therefore, consider).

Now that there's your original point to consider, maybe some of us will just pony up for new stuff.
 
onwardjames said:
Without any real data, I don't know if I can agree with that sentiment, considering the luck I've had in my own experiences.

I will say, without any question, your heart is in the right place, and I personally appreciate your efforts. Reminds me of another person who advocated not using the glue method (as I have, again with wonderful success) because it removes plasticizers. Since I won't make it another 2 decades or so, I'm okay with that, but it's a great thing to know (and therefore, consider).

Now that there's your original point to consider, maybe some of us will just pony up for new stuff.
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I am talking about the same - no any real data.
If you buy a new cartridge or stylus, it comes with a manufacturer warranty and specification.
When you "repair" something in a garage without without knowledge and any measurements it is charlatanism. Nothing personal :)
But when I sometimes try to play used records, it is immediately audible if they are played before on FUBAR devices, like "repaired" damper.
 
radiokom said:
I am talking about the same - no any real data.
If you buy a new cartridge or stylus, it comes with a manufacturer warranty and specification.
When you "repair" something in a garage without without knowledge and any measurements it is charlatanism. Nothing personal :)
But when I sometimes try to play used records, it is immediately audible if they are played before on FUBAR devices, like "repaired" damper.
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Considering the sheer variety of attitudes that humans have towards doing things "correctly" and all the variations in application (see examples, below)

1) Proper tracking force
2) Possible old needle
3) Cleaning regimen?
4) Smoker's home?
5) Improper mounting?
6) VTF?
7) Stylus ever cleaned?

I am absolutely gobsmacked that you can "hear" when something hasn't been played laboratory-proper. For me, I buy used records, I clean them exhaustively, and I play them. I don't worry about that last .01 %, and I try to have fun. This is a hobby, not a task to be conquered.

You have a valid point, sir. What you don't appear to have is any tolerance for those who are happy with getting something "good enough". I cannot imagine what admonishments you might have for replacing the oil in my '05 Honda Civic with 260k on the clock.

If you not so secretly consider us all fools for doing this, please have a good time in other threads.

Nothing personal.
 
Well, I don’t know if my records are being destroyed or not, but my Shure V15-IV is definitely looking more like “normal” than its previous condition. I don’t know exactly what “normal” is, since it was “collapsed” when I first acquired it already mounted to a turntable that I had purchased at a yard sale. But it’s now riding much higher than when I first tried the Rubber Renue treatment many years ago. This time, as shown in a previous post above, I added a little downward tension on the stylus as well as a couple of WD-40 treatments after a few RR applications. Bottom line, it sounds pretty good. I’ll call it success, for now, after approximately 15 LPs.

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