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Tonearm drops down sometimes faster, sometimes slower when released

A

AlmostHuman

New Member
I thought I figured everything out with the tracking force, but what got me thinking recently is when my turntable wasn't in use for a while (say a couple of days) and I decide to listen to some music, the tonearm is reluctant to go down on the first listen, but when I go for the side b of the record or decide to listen to another record immediately, when I release the tonearm it goes down pretty fast the second time.

It feels like the tonearm needs to "warm up" or something. This really makes me doubt if everything is OK with the tracking force.

Does anybody know how it can be explained?
 
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AlmostHuman said:
I thought I figured everything out with the tracking force, but what got me thinking recently is when my turntable wasn't in use for a while (say a couple of days) and I decide to listen to some music, the tonearm is reluctant to go down on the first listen, but when I go for the side b of the record or decide to listen to another record immediately, when I release the tonearm it goes down pretty fast the second time.

It feels like the tonearm needs to "warm up" or something. This really makes me doubt if everything is OK with the tracking force.

Does anybody know how it can be explained?
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Yes.

Welcome to the AK turn table forum. :)
 
The tracking force, VTF, should not change. Using your hand,does the tonearm move freely up and down ( bearing check)? I would say the cue fluid is gummy. I replaced the cue fluid on a friends table. The tonearm would drop a nice slow rate, 4-5 seconds. He informed me recently, turntable in his cold basement ( winter here ) that the tonearm takes 8-10 seconds to drop.
 
Welcome to AK. Many tonearms employ silicon oil friction based cueing. It ages, air bubbles get in, temperature and the seasons take its toll... It's typically an easy and cheap fix. What tonearm might that be???
 
tnsilver said:
Welcome to AK. Many tonearms employ silicon oil friction based cueing. It ages, air bubbles get in, temperature and the seasons take its toll... It's typically an easy and cheap fix. What tonearm might that be???
Click to expand...

It's a Pro-Ject Debute Carbon DC turntable, bought less then a year ago. Is this fluid supposed to get spoiled that fast? Anyways, It's not that cold in my room, but not too warm either, so that might be the case.
 
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