Thorens TP16 headshell setscrew? Shell just spins

[NJNeal]

Hello, just picked up a TD160 that looks pretty clean. One thing I don't like is the way the headshell rotates or spins. I've read the owners manual for the TP16 tonearm. It says this is a feature. It also says there's a set screw on the headshell. Cannot see one on mine. All the photos suggest my headshell is the right one for a TP16. Is there some other way to keep the headshell from rotating on the end of the arm?

 

[ehoove]

There is a pin missing in the head shell that fits in a slot on top of the tone arm.
Regards,
Jim

 

[gadget73]

That pin also locks the plastic connector plug in position, but if the plastic has crumbled it might not be able to do that job anymore. Worth a look in the end of the headshell to see if yours still has most of it's plastic.

 

[NJNeal]

so I need to find a new headshell?
I just looked at it again. If you back off the locking collar, you can see a 'pin' that fits in a groove on the arm tube. Even with that pin in that groove or slot, the shell spins.

 

[Barncats]

Does it spin freely or with a little persuasion? I believe that at least some of the headshells were *intended* to be rotated to make azimuth adjustments. The TP16 on my TD160 is like that and I appreciated that I could move it to adjust the angle rather than using shims at the top of the cartridge, which is a much more fiddly process. Although in the case of my headshell, you rotate it and it stays put. If yours spins freely, maybe it is worn.

What about using the rotation to your advantage to get the azimuth correct, and then adding a minuscule dab or two of blu-tak to help it stay put?

 

[mech986]

 

[NJNeal]

Does it spin freely or with a little persuasion? I believe that at least some of the headshells were *intended* to be rotated to make azimuth adjustments. The TP16 on my TD160 is like that and I appreciated that I could move it to adjust the angle rather than using shims at the top of the cartridge, which is a much more fiddly process. Although in the case of my headshell, you rotate it and it stays put. If yours spins freely, maybe it is worn.

What about using the rotation to your advantage to get the azimuth correct, and then adding a minuscule dab or two of blu-tak to help it stay put?

I'd say it needs a little persuasion. But, if you use the headshell to pull it out of the arm rest, you've changed the alignment...that's how little pressure it needs.

 

[gadget73]

They can be moved some, but it should hold it's position even when lifting it up by the finger lift. The collar that fits into the tonearm isn't hard fixed to the flat part where the cartridge mounts. Looking at mine, it appears to have a spring washer in there to hold it in position. Maybe yours is missing? If it is, a bit of something to hold it in position should do the trick. Those headshells aren't exactly easy to come by for a reasonable price.

 

[NJNeal]

Thanks gadget73. There are some wavy washers that are supposed to apply pressure to the 'collar' that goes through the rear of the headshell. There look to be three of them. They are not applying strong enough pressure to keep it from moving. Lifting the tonearm, no problem. Using the headshell to pull the arm out of the rest, is too much pressure for it, and causes it to move. Thinking I may just bite the bullet and mount an old RB250 I have, although that will probably mean giving up the Pickering XSV-3000 that is mounted....don't think that will pair well with an RB250. It is wearing a Linn K9 at the moment. Don't think that will pair well either.