Advice/feedback needed on Morch UP4 setup


I am trying to set up a new Morch UP4 arm on a new Amazon Model One table. I have no experience or exposure to this set up or any experience with setting up arms and carts since the early eighties. The question I have is concerning the lack of stability of the assembly at the pivot point. Should it be loose? I have put the weights on and installed the wand and it is still very unstable at the pivot point. I realize this assembly is riding on a bearing and that it is really the only point of contact but I can't beleive it is not supported laterally somehow. For instance, if I have the arm in it's base along with the prescribed weights on and the wand installed and I pick it up by the head shell with one finger it rotates, or spins, if you will. I hope this question makes sense, if anyone out there has set up a Morch UP4 hopefully you have seen the same. An advice/ experience/ feedback is greatly appreciated.
Ag insider logo xs@2xwdt
Thanks for your input as well.What digital scale did you buy?I was wondering about this subject myself.
I still periodically check my azmith and fiddle with the counterweights,and don't have a digital scale yet.
So with your scale you were able to determine that the
VTF would change alot? If so I'm curious .How much would it be off?
I also have extra info on the set up of this arm that an audiophile supplied to me.I can quote some of the info he gave me.
"Since it is a unipivot,I think it is important to make sure
the table is level before any arm adjustments.
Dealing with the weights will seem odd at first ,but once you get used to the design,it all makes simple sense.
Remember: Azmith is everything! If azmith is not right,the arm will not be properly balanced.It takes a while to get this right,but,take your time and observe the cartridge while on a record,and,also as the cuing lowers it to the record.Their is a sonic benefit to using as much weight as possible,and locating it as close as possible to the arm body.Weight your cartridge and use the chart to determine which weight to use.I got the best sound by not using the small counterweight at all because it enabled me to use the 2 heaviest weights closer to the pivot.This is tricky though because when you move the weights to adjust tracking force,they may have screwed up the azmith because of the eccentric holes.For your initial setup,you probably will prefer to use the small counterweight to adjust tracking force.It is much easier:Twist the eccentric holed weight to adjust azmith,then slide the small counterweight to adjust tracking force.Morch talks about figuring the tracking the tracking force by counting how many dots the weight has passed,but that is so confusing and imprecise that I can't imagine setting it up without a stylus force guage.Also they never say a word about the fragility of the arm,but I think it is a good idea to grip the body gently and lift up slightly to disengage the bearing point while moving the weights or removing the arm tube."
I hope this hepls for you and others who may have a Morch Arm for setting up.
I will be getting a new used cartridge after the 1st of July
the Grado Reference Cartridge,with my VPI MK3 so I will be
starting the whole process all over again.Take care and Happy Listening
Don
I bought a Micro-Tech scale through Musicdirect for $160. It measures to 1/10th of a gram and it's platform for the stylus to rest on is low at platter height. Too expensive though, somebody somewhere is buying these things for ten bucks i bet. Anyway, you have to remember that I was setting up for the first time so all my azimuth guessing with the weights was first time, but I was amazed at the weight change by simply trying to rotate the smallest weight to correct azimuth, maybe .1-.2g change. I am still not comfortable with the azimuth or the vta. I ordered yesterday a bubble level tht is small enough to rest on the head shell, I hope this gets me comfortable with both values.

One thing that concerns me on azimuth is how the arm reacts "sometimes" when the lift is used. Often times the cart sways when you lift it off the album, sometimes not. This could be a function of the lift and it's pad on the lift arm being less than perfectly level.

I checked speed last night with the KAB strobo and it was running a little fast, but Amazon said to run at least 10 hours before adjusting. I am going to put the cart alignment piece I have on the platter tonight and check alignment at the two null points and also maybe put the test lp album I bought through it's test. I don't think I am anywhere close yet. Oddly enough the system did not sound as good last night. ugh!
Thanks for your info I realigned my cartridge a couple a days ago with my wally tracker mirror,using very powerful magnification,a jewelers hat.I swear I put on a jewlers hat
that has 3 sets of magnification.The last set is a cicular mirror about 3 inches round that lets me see the stereo needle up close and personal.The little hat only cost me $5.00 at an electronic shop,But has paid for itself dearly.
I can now get my overhang set right on the money by using the hat and observing the tip of the needle landing right in my cross hairs on the wally tracker mirror.I never had my Grado Silver sounding so good.Now I can't wait to start all over again with the Grado Ref. Ref. when I get that on the first of the month I will definately be getting me a digital vtf scale as well .
Happy Listening
Don
I bought a Micro-Tech scale through Musicdirect for $160. It measures to 1/10th of a gram and it's platform for the stylus to rest on is low at platter height. Too expensive though, somebody somewhere is buying these things for ten bucks i bet.

Maybe not ten bucks, but you might want to check out Save on Scales. I have no affiliation with them, and haven't even bought a scale from them yet, but their prices seem to be good.

Joshua
Thanks a bunch AM_ dial.What scale did u get?.I checked out the web site and they are very resonable indeed in price.
I suppose any of the real small 200 gram ones would work,
do u think so?