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Re: RCA Victrola Console RP-217B-22

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 4:13 pm
by rludym
wish i knew - probably got drunk and tried playing my vinyl. couldnt find pin so going to have to go with silicone adhesive - sucks but will do the trick. thx again.

Re: RCA Victrola Console RP-217B-22

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 1:24 am
by MattTech
rludym wrote:wish i knew - probably got drunk and tried playing my vinyl. couldnt find pin so going to have to go with silicone adhesive - sucks but will do the trick. thx again.


You must be young.
You use the term "vinyl" instead of the proper term "records".
And no, again, you will ruin your records by gluing and jury-rigging that cartridge.
But don't listen to me, I'm only an experienced service technician highly educated on those RCA Victors.
What do I know, right? :roll:

Re: RCA Victrola Console RP-217B-22

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 11:53 am
by Thom
[i]"wish i knew - probably got drunk and tried playing my vinyl. couldnt find pin so going to have to go with silicone adhesive - sucks but will do the trick. thx again."[/i]

You will destroy both the records and the cartridge in short order. 10 grams VTF on a stylus cradle designed to function under 3 grams of VTF will collapse the cradle. But hey, it's your records and record player,,, do what you want. And please, your lack of proper use of capitols and punctuation is insulting.

Re: RCA Victrola Console RP-217B-22

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 11:56 am
by Thom
Oh, NO!! I'm beginning to sound like Matt!! :lol:

Re: RCA Victrola Console RP-217B-22

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 3:59 pm
by Ron Rich
Thom,
OMG--Two "Matties"--?? That maybe one too many !! :wink:
Ron Rich

Re: RCA Victrola Console RP-217B-22

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 4:31 pm
by MattTech
Thom wrote:Oh, NO!! I'm beginning to sound like Matt!! :lol:


Utter rubbish. :shock:

Seriously, that specific tonearm design is as follows...
The total weight of the arm's downward force is around 10 grams - a non-adjustable design.
most of this force is what the gliding pad at the tip of the arm is, while resting on the record.
The pad was for arm stability and I assume dusting the grooves as well.
The pivoted cartridge assembly exhibits around 4-5 grams force downward at the stylus.
To stupidly "fix" the cartridge firmly in place eliminates the independent function of the floating stylus, allowing the full weight of the arm assembly to bear down on the records via the stylus.
Dumb move to mess with this system.

In some cases since those specific cartridges are no longer available, I custom-fit a Varco TN-4, fixed in place, into the headshell, but have to tediously re-spring the counterbalance for a 4-5 gram force.
In the case of the RP-220 series changers, a spring has to be added.

The RP217's with the screw-mount fixed cartridges are counterbalanced around 4-6 grams with a different spring.

I don't want my customers complaining about worn records or crappy servicing practices. :)

Re: RCA Victrola Console RP-217B-22

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 7:08 pm
by rludym
MattTech wrote:
rludym wrote:wish i knew - probably got drunk and tried playing my vinyl. couldnt find pin so going to have to go with silicone adhesive - sucks but will do the trick. thx again.


You must be young.
You use the term "vinyl" instead of the proper term "records".
And no, again, you will ruin your records by gluing and jury-rigging that cartridge.
But don't listen to me, I'm only an experienced service technician highly educated on those RCA Victors.
What do I know, right? :roll:


I am out of ideas - I looked for the pin in the pan and no luck and can't find on the web.

Re: RCA Victrola Console RP-217B-22

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 7:46 pm
by rludym
Thom wrote:[i]"wish i knew - probably got drunk and tried playing my vinyl. couldnt find pin so going to have to go with silicone adhesive - sucks but will do the trick. thx again."[/i]

You will destroy both the records and the cartridge in short order. 10 grams VTF on a stylus cradle designed to function under 3 grams of VTF will collapse the cradle. But hey, it's your records and record player,,, do what you want. And please, your lack of proper use of capitols and punctuation is insulting.


'capitols' is spelled 'capitals' - talk about insulting.

Re: RCA Victrola Console RP-217B-22

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 8:44 pm
by Thom
'capitols' is spelled 'capitals' - talk about insulting.

Ah ha. Thanks for proving my point. Anyway, if someone can post a picture of the pin I'm sure you can fashion one. I often have to make parts that are no longer obtainable. It goes with the territory. You know the cartridge must have the ability to float on that pin. Imagine how that pin should look to give you that ability. You might also take a magnet and run it over the entire inside of that cabinet. If the pin is in there, and I'm pretty sure it's ferrous, that magnet will find it.