Garrard AT-6 autochanger, fault condition on auto

[Al (astral highway)]

The cognoscenti here, excuse my relative inexperience of autochanger subtleties

I’ve now largely reconditioned the deck (stripped old gunk, selectively re-greased with lithium grease, installed re-conditioned jockey-wheel.) Headshell contains a new red-top Chinese cartridge plus some ballast that I added.

Fault : When I select ‘auto’ the tone arm swings out, the headshell is temporarily poised over the correct position at the start of ten first track, then the tone-arm moves away, outwards by about 1 cm of travel.

There is also some skittering when I select the first track manually, disappears for the second track.

Thanks for any relevant insights.

[Edward Huggins]

This might be because the tone arm is set too light given the very lightweight cartridge you've now fitted. It should track at 4.5 to 5 grams. Also be aware that the tone arm set down position can be adjusted on the AT6.

[Kentode]

Al, you might need to redress the cartridge wires at the back of the tone arm.

Hope this helps.

[Herald1360]

Setting the tracking weight on an AT-6 should be straightforward- set adjustment to zero, balance the arm by moving the rear counterweight then wind up adjustment to weight required. About 5g I would suit I reckon.

[Al (astral highway)]

Thanks everyone!

Edward: is that the calibrated scale to the right of the tonearm, around the pivot point (not the counterweight, the other scale?)

Ken: good tip, I’ve already replaced all the wires in the headshell

Chris/ Herald: ok , I hadn’t thought the positional error I mention in the OP would be related : Bit for skittering , that makes sense I’ll experiment with this .

I'll report back on Monday when I’ve had another good look

[Edward Huggins]

Yes, that is graduated in grams and once the tone arm is balanced (i.e.horizontal over the platter) then set the pointer to it and screw up.

[Michael Maurice]

You need to look at the wires at the back of the tone arm where they disappear under the deck.

I agree, tone arm might be too light.

[Al (astral highway)]

Hi Maurice , what’s the relevance of these wires in the position you describe?

[Herald1360]

If they're badly dressed, they may restrict free arm movement.....

[Kentode]

If the wires are binding they will want to push the arm away from the record.

A good way to test for this is to set the tonearm so that it floats, then gently push it towards the beginning of the record. If it resists, look at the back with bright light and you should be able to see what's causing the issue.

Hope this helps.

[Michael Maurice]

Originally Posted by astral highway

Hi Maurice , what’s the relevance of these wires in the position you describe?

Sorry just seen your post. I agree with what's been said regarding the wiring,, but also the arm relies on friction between the 'lifter' and the arm, if the tracking weight is too light, there will be very little friction.

[Al (astral highway)]

Thanks again Ken: will investigate the wires as you describe

Maurice : thanks for your advice - good to see you !- the fault persists

The tonearm swings in to close to the correct position but not close enough. It is a mil or so short of the groove at start of a 33 when the tonearm drops the headshell and needle down.

It’s not clear what else I can adjust . Tracking weight is now minimal (ie position of lowest canti-leverage)

Thank you

[ms660]

No mention of the drop point adjustment so far, unless I've missed it.

Lawrence.

[Edward Huggins]

See Post #2!

[ms660]

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

See Post #2!

Yes but the OP hasn't mentioned it...

Always check the instructions/manual first.

Lawrence.

[Al (astral highway)]

Originally Posted by ms660

No mention of the drop point adjustment so far, unless I've missed it.

Hi Lawrence, I don’t know what the ‘drop point adjustment’ is.

I don’t have a manual. I’m facing issues with this deck that are unexpected and am turning to those who e seen it all before for guidance.

Cheers

[Edward Huggins]

This is the adjustment under the tone arm to precisely set the position of the pick up so that it lands correctly into the run in grooves on all sizes of records. Most autochangers will have this form of adjustment. I thought you already knew about this and had tried it?

[ms660]

It's an adjustment that determins the position of the pickup relative to the start of the record when the arm drops, it's a screw just below the arm on the pivot assembly, more specifics in here if you need them:

https://www.service-data.com/product...53/2967/m12253

Lawrence.

[Al (astral highway)]

Hi Lawrence ! Ahah: there is a small scale and a knurled bolt just behind the pivot from the distal side or just in front from ten operator side. I didn’t know what it was called but I intuited that it was relevant. It appears to function only cosmetically at the moment - scale moves but perhaps nothing else is happening.

I did have to reattach a rogue spring that was part of this assembly and already detached when I started to work on it.

I’ll take a deeper look at your link.

Thanks

[ms660]

It's a slot head screw in the manual I'm looking at (the instruction manual)

Download the service manual it should be in there, cheap enough.

Lawrence.