Okay this is a new one for me - I recently acquired a Pioneer PL-05 front
loading automatic turntable. It's a really neat device, perhaps not high end
audio, but it is solid, and seems to be fairly well made. Anyhow, I replaced
the cartridge with a Grado black, which is significantly lighter than the
previous Audio Technica cartridge. I cannot figure out how to adjust the
tracking weight. The tonearm has a movable counterweight, which has two
allen set screws holding it in place, but for the life of me I cannot figure
out how to access these screws, without totally taking the unit apart.
Anyone ever had to do this before? This really has me confused!

thanks

Max

Not to reply to my own message, but I was able to adjust it with an allen key,
through a small slot... not too fun, and to top it off, the grado is lighter
than the table is designed for (i.e. weight pushed all the way to the pivot),
and tracking really light (I made a makeshift balance, using a dime as a
reference weight... the tonearm flies up... ) I'd guess it to be tracking around
or slightly under a gram. I'm going to drill out some of the counterweight when
I have more time.

I have another idea too... has anyone tried this? In the bad part of downtown,
all of the pawn shops have signs in the window advertising "mini scales $10".
Obviously, most people buying these scales are not looking to measure tracking
force, but I think it might be a lot cheaper and possibly more accurate than
some of the units offered for the purpose.

Max Holubitsky wrote:

Okay this is a new one for me - I recently acquired a Pioneer PL-05 front
loading automatic turntable. It's a really neat device, perhaps not high end
audio, but it is solid, and seems to be fairly well made. Anyhow, I replaced
the cartridge with a Grado black, which is significantly lighter than the
previous Audio Technica cartridge. I cannot figure out how to adjust the
tracking weight. The tonearm has a movable counterweight, which has two
allen set screws holding it in place, but for the life of me I cannot figure
out how to access these screws, without totally taking the unit apart.
Anyone ever had to do this before? This really has me confused!

thanks

Max

Max Holubitsky wrote in :

Not to reply to my own message, but I was able to adjust it with an
allen key, through a small slot... not too fun, and to top it off, the
grado is lighter than the table is designed for (i.e. weight pushed
all the way to the pivot), and tracking really light (I made a
makeshift balance, using a dime as a reference weight... the tonearm
flies up... ) I'd guess it to be tracking around or slightly under a
gram. I'm going to drill out some of the counterweight when I have
more time.

You could attatch some weight to the headshell. Maybe a dime or two to
bring it into range?


I have another idea too... has anyone tried this? In the bad part of
downtown, all of the pawn shops have signs in the window advertising
"mini scales $10".

These same scales used to be sold for setting tonearms. They just had a
little hook instead of the baggie clip. You can improvise a way to
attatch it to the headshell with a paper clip. Of course you'll shift the
zero point of the scale.


Tim

--

"The strongest human instinct is to impart information,
and the second strongest is to resist it."

Kenneth Graham

Browntimdc wrote:

Max Holubitsky wrote in :

Not to reply to my own message, but I was able to adjust it with an
allen key, through a small slot... not too fun, and to top it off, the
grado is lighter than the table is designed for (i.e. weight pushed
all the way to the pivot), and tracking really light (I made a
makeshift balance, using a dime as a reference weight... the tonearm
flies up... ) I'd guess it to be tracking around or slightly under a
gram. I'm going to drill out some of the counterweight when I have
more time.

You could attatch some weight to the headshell. Maybe a dime or two to
bring it into range?

I thought of that too... it might be a lot easier, actually. A dime would be
more than enough to bring it into range, all it really needs is half a gram
to a gram. This will be much easier to play with once I get a scale of some
sort. I had this idea that adding mass would be a bad thing, performance
wise, but I guess if it's only a gram, why not.

I have another idea too... has anyone tried this? In the bad part of
downtown, all of the pawn shops have signs in the window advertising
"mini scales $10".

These same scales used to be sold for setting tonearms. They just had a
little hook instead of the baggie clip. You can improvise a way to
attatch it to the headshell with a paper clip. Of course you'll shift the
zero point of the scale.


Thanks for the confirmation.

Now, continuing on the topic of turntables, this unit has a servo motor with
4 wires coming out of it. Now, I know it's a fairly cheap turntable, but
after using it for a while I realized the wow is noticible. Much like an old
16mm movie projector, but to a lesser extent. I took it apart, oiled the
bearings in the motor, and the centre bearing (with 3 in 1).. I also cleaned
the pully, and the surface of the platter where the belt sits. and still...
it persists. Would a new belt help, or is this a designed in problem? My belt
does look to be in decent shape. I really like the concept of a drawer
loading table, and I'd rather make some modifications than give up on this
unit just yet. Pioneer seem to have spared no expense on making the unit
weigh 20 lbs, and stuffing the box with electronics, so the wow is troubling
me.



Timflirting

--

"The strongest human instinct is to impart information,
and the second strongest is to resist it."

Kenneth Graham

Max Holubitsky wrote in :



Browntimdc wrote:


You could attatch some weight to the headshell. Maybe a dime or two
to bring it into range?

I thought of that too... it might be a lot easier, actually. A dime
would be more than enough to bring it into range, all it really needs
is half a gram to a gram. This will be much easier to play with once I
get a scale of some sort. I had this idea that adding mass would be a
bad thing, performance wise, but I guess if it's only a gram, why not.

I will subtly change the shell resonant characteristics, but that
shouldn't much matter.

Now, continuing on the topic of turntables, this unit has a servo
motor with 4 wires coming out of it. Now, I know it's a fairly cheap
turntable, but after using it for a while I realized the wow is
noticible. Much like an old 16mm movie projector, but to a lesser
extent.

I'm not familiar with 16mm projector wow. Is the wow at platter speed or
faster? You sure the belt doesn't have a slick spot that's slipping? I
would try looking at the motor pulley with a strobe or neon light for
evidence of speed variation.

Tim

--

"The strongest human instinct is to impart information,
and the second strongest is to resist it."

Kenneth Graham

I'm not familiar with 16mm projector wow. Is the wow at platter speed or
faster? You sure the belt doesn't have a slick spot that's slipping? I
would try looking at the motor pulley with a strobe or neon light for
evidence of speed variation.


I don't own a neon lamp, or a strobe... but your suggestion about the belt
slipping got me thinking. I took it (the belt) out, washed it in soap and
water, and then re-installed it, but put it inside out. I also cleaned the
platter again, just to get it as close to perfect as possible. I think it
made an improvement, although it's not 100% perfect. Certainly not as good
as one of my older Thorens record players, or even my little radio shack
unit. The cartridge is sure better than the radio shack unit, though.

When I say wow, perhaps I am using the wrong term. What I mean, is a small,
recurring change in the speed of the platter, such that sustained notes vary
noticibly in frequency. I compared it to a 16mm projector, because I
remember sitting in school watching educational films with wavering music
and dialogue. It's kind of a cool effect, and I could almost see it being
used to artistic effect, by someone in some place... it's not something you
want in a hi-fi system though.