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SME 3009 Series ii FIXED HEADSHELL...is wobbly

davstev

davstev

Well-Known Member
Hi folks,

I have a SME 3009 series ii tonearm with a non-removable headshell. The headshell pivots inside the end of the arm, pivoting both clockwise and counter-clockwise, throwing the azimuth off. I can't figure out how to tighten or secure it. There is a little screw on the underside of the arm, about 1 cm from the headshell. Tightening it fully does nothing. I have looked over the service manual, yielding nothing.

I can't think of anything else to try. The only option seems to be this little screw.

Any ideas or experience with this?

Thanks.
 
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I think it's the headshell it self loose from the bayonet. I had a couple of SME fixed arms that had the same problem. Without taking the whole thing apart I ended up using some JB weld on the inside of the shell around the bayonet. It worked.
 
I just talked to Alfred at SME TONEARMS about this.

The headshell is supposed to move slightly left and right. That is for azimuth adjustment. DO NOT over tighten or weld.

The movement should not be so loose that you cannot set azimuth and hold it there. If so you have a problem. I think adjusting that screw just sets the limits for how much adjustment travel is provided.
 
The screw under the arm is for the azimuth adjustment. If that is tight the headshell should not move slightly. If it still moves when the screw is tight then your bayonet is loose. Check it and see.
 
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The headshell the black part is crimped to the bayonet, the part that has the wires. I have had a couple of them that the crimp was loose. The only way to fix it right is to unsolder the headshell from the wires inside the tube then re crimp it. Or you can do what I did. But you do have to check and see what is moving first. The reason they get loose is people adjusting the azimuth with out loosing the screw underneath.
 
bobins08 said:
I just talked to Alfred at SME TONEARMS about this.

The headshell is supposed to move slightly left and right. That is for azimuth adjustment.
I think adjusting that screw just sets the limits for how much adjustment travel is provided.
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I just checked one of my SME's and your right the little screw does just limit the travel of the adjustment it does not tighten it from moving. It should be snug as not to move on it's own. That's why you have to check and see where the movement is coming from. But I did have two of them that the bayonet was loose.
 
bob06 said:
I just checked one of my SME's and your right the little screw does just limit the travel of the adjustment it does not tighten it from moving. It should be snug as not to move on it's own. That's why you have to check and see where the movement is coming from. But I did have two of them that the bayonet was loose.
Click to expand...
Yep, mine is a loose bayonet. The headshell (the black part) is indeed loose from the metal collar that should keep it snug. In other words, the headshell is moving while the silver coloured collar is not moving. Looks then like i will need to follow your instructions re: unsoldering the wires, re-crimping, etc. Darn, that doesn't sound like much fun! Thanks nonetheless for your writing here and instructions!
 
I ran my headshell wires straight off the cart and down to the connector in a single shot. Got rid of the splice behind the azimuth joint.
 
I have heard of others having that problem also. You can use some JB weld or some Super glue on it. It doesn't take much. You just need a little on the inside of the shell where the wires come out for the cart. You can't see it when done. It save's all the trouble of taken it all apart.
 
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