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
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?
Ditto on the saveonscales.com recommendation. Also ebay. You can get a .01g digital scale for well under $100. This has been recommended many times here.

The only hitch is that you have to DIY some kind of platform to drop the stylus on, in order to weigh at record height and keep the cartridge away from the often magnetic scale. Your platform can be made with a cut up credit card, a bent strip of (non-ferrous) sheet metal or even a folded piece of paper, depending on your rig.