GE 500 trimline soild state tone arm adjustment.

I know that the sideways screw located under the arm will adjust the set down on the records in and out.. Since I am having issues with some records wanting to slip or drag on the turn table and one of the possible issues was the weight of the arm on the record, I wondered if the screw that is vertical with a spring under it might be an adjustment for how heavy the arm is on the record? Anyone familar with this machine that knows what that screw adjustment does?

A picture would help. I am thinking that the screw you mentioned won't adjust the tracking force. I also doubt that it is the cause of records dragging. The tracking force would have to be rather high. What type of record are you playing ? Did you just get this unit? If not when did you first notice the problem? The tracking force doesn't just fall out of adjustment unless something happened to it. Try uploading a picture or two. Best.

GE, RCA, and Philips made some changers in the 1970s that controlled the stylus force at the cartridge. The arm itself was supported by a cleaning pad at the end of the arm, and a small spring applied the actual tracking force. But this pad stopped the rotation of some 45 rpm records.

Is this one of those?