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VTF issues

Hello everyone,
I am having trouble with my tonearm vtf staying stable. It will fluctuate as much as a 1/2 gram just picking it up and setting it back on the meter. It never measures the same twice. I have 3 different vtf gauges. 2 digital and one Shure and they measure the same thing.

I believe it has to do with the adjustment knob on the tonearm. it is very sensitive. It can take up to 30 minutes to get the right reading. The tonearm is the Ortofon RS 212 D.

I just recently purchased the Lyra Kleos. It has a light vtf and the manufacture warns against over loading it. While listening last night the cart started bottoming out. When I measured the tracking force it had gained a full gram.

Is this sensitivity normal or could there be something wrong with the tonearm.

Matt
mwilliams
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
I do not believe that this is normal and would appear to indicate that there is too much vertical friction in the tonearm bearing. I would consider two different experiments. 1. If you leave the cart on the scale, does the VTF reading gradually increase over time and then stabilize? If so, I would THINK that means that the friction in the vertical plane is too high.
2. OTOH, it if is initially stable over time and then you give it a slight (very slight) nudge downward, does it re-stabilize at a different VTF? In that case, I would think that the bearing was sticking.

I don't know anything about that arm. Does it have bearings that are adjustable and/or require lubrication?
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,369 posts
 
I agree with Swampwalker...however...I would have a pro do the adjusting/lub
mwilliams OP
47 posts
 
Thanks, I will give these a try. At this moment I am on a business trip and won't be home for a few days.

Will get back with the results.

Matt
david12
1,454 posts
 
I have the 309D and have'nt noticed the problem. It is difficult to set because the minutest change in the fine tuning wheel, seems to make big changes in weight, so you tend to overshoot the desired weight. I use a good but not uber expensive digital scale. Once set, it seems stable and certainly should be. If the arm is under gaurantee still, I would try and replace it. in general I find the Ortofon an excellent, well built arm.
sbrownnw
686 posts
 
I measured out a stack of cds plus my scale as tall as the platter and mat
with a record on. I then took off the platter sand used the cd scale stack to
set the VTF. The diff was .07g and I have my ortofon mc-3 turbo tracking at
2.05g and my RP6 is sounding better and better as it breaks in and I dial it
in. :)
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