Yamaha YP-D6 Turntable Autoreturn Blues - Help

Hey everybody - I have just purchased a YP-D6 and its perfect except one major problem.

When the done playing each record - the autoreturn mechanism roughly and quickly scratches the half inch closest to the records center before properly lifting off the surface and returning to the stand. The action of the arm is fine except the initial movement of the autoreturn - which is jerky. It looks to me like it should be lifted before the jerk kicks it over to the stand.

I assume this is an easy adjustment or lubrication - I just don't know how to do it. Anyone familiear with similar autoreturn mechanisms?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.