Back of cartridge rubbing on record.

Rowe R-80 and my problem is the back end of the stylus cartridge is rubbing against records as they spin.

Cartridge is on correctly and I measured tone arm pressure and it seems within range.

Hello nline24,

You need to check all the tone arm adjustments, the cartridge must not touch the records, if it does it will damage the styli and the records.

Regards
Alan Hood
ami-man

One thought--is the cartridge "facing" the right way ? (if correct, it appears to be inserted into the tone arm "backwards"--wires connected at the "fat end" of the tone arm) Ron Rich

Hi Ron,

I have seen loads of engineers try to fit the cartridge the wrong way round.
The issue here will be down to the adjustments that relate to the tone arm cam and the lifting arm.

I hope you had a good holiday.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Hi Allen,
That's what prompted my thoughts--only I would not call the "persons" that did so, "engineers" ( or as we, here in the USA say, "Technicians")--You are too "kind"--
Hope you, and all, have a real Happy New Year ! Ron Rich

I dont know if it was wise but I actually bent my needle down a little but to stop this
Its helped alot but no I wouldnt recommend it lol

Correct me if wrong...but, do you mean the black body of the cart is bottoming out on the record? If so, this is usually caused by using a copy needle while having too much tracking weight.

Most of the copy styli have very weak cantilever damping and really can't be used for more than 2 grams max. By the time I saw them, most of those arms were way up in the 5-8 gram range and putting one of those styli in would cause exactly what you are seeing.

Rob/NYC

Rob-NYC wrote:Correct me if wrong...but, do you mean the black body of the cart is bottoming out on the record? If so, this is usually caused by using a copy needle while having too much tracking weight.

Most of the copy styli have very weak cantilever damping and really can't be used for more than 2 grams max. By the time I saw them, most of those arms were way up in the 5-8 gram range and putting one of those styli in would cause exactly what you are seeing.

Rob/NYC

Yeah that's exactly what is happening. The bottom of the black square cartridge is dragging on the record. The stylus I am using is a replacement I bought online.

I will try checking all the tone arm adjustments but I think the tone arm may just be putting too much weight down. From what you are saying, I am assuming the 5 grams was recommended based on the original styli they were using when manufactured. Is there any adverse affect from lightening it to say 2 grams?

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to respond.

Ron Rich wrote:One thought--is the cartridge "facing" the right way ? (if correct, it appears to be inserted into the tone arm "backwards"--wires connected at the "fat end" of the tone arm) Ron Rich

So if I am looking at the inside of the jukebox and lift the tonearm up so it is completely vertical would the wires be on the top or the bottom of the cartridge? Or if the tonearm is in a flat resting position would the wires be closest to me or in the back of the cartridge?

I should just take a picture Hopefully you get how I am explaining it.

The wires should be "on top"(as I said before--the "fat" end of the tone arm)-- Ron Rich

2 Grams is how I have the two MM-1 hideaways running. They've been that way since 1988 and 1994. A minor check is to lift the arm (in play mode no record) with the back of a fingernail and see if the arm will follow w/out bias. If the pivot is oiled, the two anti-skate fingers (under the arm that interact with the magnets) do not cause too much bias, you should be fine @2G.

The 1100 series has one of the two best arms ever built in what is generally an industry known for crude tonearm design (Seeburg SS160-up is the other) light tracking and low mass are a plus.

Too bad the later Rowe arm was such a POS.

Rob

Hold on----after Rob's comment, I am not sure I am giving you good info--is the tone arm on the left as you face the phono, or the right?
The info I gave you about the cart mounting position pertains to mechanisms with the arm on the left side only--
Sorry if I was wrong ? Just not sure when Rowe moved the arm to the left side now-- Ron Rich

Ron, the left hand arm started with JAl -a '63 model. As for wiring the cart the stylus faces the rear of the phono -cart connections face front.

I've heard of people putting them in in reverse....Can you imagine how bad the tracking angle would be?

Rob

The tone arm is on the left and I am fairly certain now that the cartridge is on backwards.

I am going to flip it around and see if that eliminates the rubbing.

Rob,
Thanks--I just had a "brain freeze", and thought maybe I was thinking wrong---guess that's what happens when I attempt to think--which I just might quit doing , as it is almost as bad as exercise-- Ron Rich
P.S.--they seem to track "almost right", but "something's off", when installed backwards--I have seen a few done that way--