Stylus sounds like its dragging the vinyl! Help on identify the issue!

[boreas]

I clean funky ones like that all the time with a few shots of CRC's electronics spray cleaner and a stylus brush when it's a thrift evaluation and have found good tips under far worse

I tend to avoid using strong solvents on styli, especially bonded ones, out of a concern that the solvents will attack the adhesive that holds the stylus in place. There's also the matter of those same solvents damaging the stylus suspension.

John

 

[Collin1141]

I tend to avoid using strong solvents on styli, especially bonded ones, out of a concern that the solvents will attack the adhesive that holds the stylus in place. There's also the matter of those same solvents damaging the stylus suspension.

John

I agree in general about solvents, but the CRC for electronics stuff is safe, even for paper labels and print, it evaporates almost instantaneously
Designed specifically for purposes such as this, delicate electronics, not to be confused with their brake cleaner which is fine for heavy things like electric motors
Best material going since they banned all the cleaners containing freon
I use it for extreme cases like this one, not anything for regular cleaning
Better for the suspension too, a couple shots of CRC followed up with a soft stylus brush than trying to scrub the crud off mechanically
I don't let them get this bad but every now and then I wind up with a cart that looks like it played a PB and J

 

[Angry Possum]

I did the same thing to my needle when cleaning vinyl. If the vinyl wasn't dried properly gack would get on ur needle. I fixed it by using a qtip with isopropyl alcohol on it and carefully removed the gack from the needle. A black spot of gack came off on the qtip. Needle worked fine. Be careful not to use to much alcoho, l as u may remove or damage the needle too.