Stylus alignment help

Like @tablejockey says, the grid is a means of initial relationship. Going forward it is how the cantilever/stylus is in alignment.

Your pictures should be taken at straight angles.

I do find the Op's post timely as I was recently thinking about a thread on helpful hints/tools for audiophiles into vinyl that are aging or disabled that would be helpful.

nosleep-

Unless your eyesight is superhero strength, get a magnifying glass and sight the cantilever as close as possible by putting the stylus on the "X’ and lining up the cantilever with the grid line. This is done looking at the cart from the front.

Once that is accomplished, try adjusting the headshell level with an average record. Listen, and bumping the arm up or down may fine tune the sound. Good luck.

edit- I wouldn't obsess on getting it perfect. Trust your ears.

I see what your saying about the reference pictures but at the time I gave it no thought. I will retake them and have also worked out how to light the cantilever so it can be seen and not washed out with camera flash.
This seems a daunting task regardless of having hands that refuse to do what they are told, I guess it’s easier once you have done it and understand what you are doing. 

My adjustment options are limited, my deck is an LP5, when I decided to dive back into records and sound quality I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to handle getting records out of a sleeve and back and forth to the plattter so I couldn’t commit to purchasing what I wanted so this is an inbetween deck. 
I shall concentrate on getting the cantilever aligned properly tomorrow and then move into hopefully I’m right in understanding the two are separate. 

@slaw anything that is a help to someone with any impairment can only be a good thing. I’m only 47 and arthritis and fibromyalgia has ripped through my body over the past eight years and made everything difficult. The one thing I don’t think anyone expects is the confusion and inability to absorb information at the level you used caused either by their illness or medication ( hence asking for help,with something that many seem to find easy ) I used to be able to learn a new programming language now I get confused by cooking instructions 😂 you have to laugh or you would go mad. 

Thanks for the pointers

@nosleeptilldownload,

Hi, I'm intimately familiar with these debilitating issues. I've been dealing with polymyalgia rhuematica (primary) , for years, and fibromyalgia (secondary) diagnosis recently. I got to the point that I could barely take care of my most intimate basic daily functions.

It's been a real point of frustration. The fact that for almost one month, I could not even think about listening to music was a big feeling of "not much left for me". I'm able to function right now due to the miracle of (predisone).

I'm going to think more about this and respond.

Good Luck!

@slaw Luck and pills are all we have somedays, I understand totally,  some days I cannot get out of bed. Music is the last hobby and enjoyable thing I have left, its not being taken without a fight. Oxycontin and the residual effects of methotrexate are keeping me upright currently but the mtx attacked my respiratory system, back to rheumatology and the  musculoskeletal experts in the morning and then put the info here into practice after.  

Thanks again for all the replys