Stylus Cantilever Issues

[Bookman]

The use of incorrect nomenclature notwithstanding I am hoping that someone may be able to suggest a possible solution to a stylus issue; in particular the Empire 999TE/X.
For reference purposes the cart is somewhat similar in weight and balancing characteristics to the V15 Type IV; ergo, easy to swap on a SME series III. It also sounds particularly good.

Last week however I noticed that the stylus plastic housing was nearly in contact with the record surface. Upon removal it appeared that there was nothing untoward until closer inspection of the end of the cantilever support tube revealed foreign matter within.
I thought it was dirt and used a cocktail stick to remove it only to observe it was in fact a semi-perished rubber washer grommet.

My initial thought was that the use of the grommet could be for use as a pivot. In this, the pivot would not be at the end of the tube but probably where the stylus exited the tube. With difficulty and the use of two magnifying glasses I was able to fit the grommet to the point of entry into the tube.
Yes it did work but only marginally. In this there is a lot of clearance between the grommet ID and the stylus OD.
I have taken a few pics to hopefully show the situation which incidentally would give the appearance that the stylus is quite large in diameter; it isn’t.

The question I have is one of whether there ought to be a grommet and possibly more importantly does anyone know who has the facility to rectify the situation. I would hate to damage it by trying ways of correcting it.

[peter_sol]

I would imagine that the so called grommet is actually the cantilever suspension and has crumbled with age.

[TIMTAPE]

I'm no expert on this but yes the grommet is an essential part of the design and holds the stylus in the correct position in the outside tube. When playing records, it's the grommet which "complies", allowing the cantilever to vibrate. With time the grommet may have perished. Obviously also, too high a stylus pressure will bottom it out regardless of the grommet's condition.

Maybe a still serviceable grommet could be salvaged from a worn or broken cantilever and fitted to yours but I imagine this is skilled, delicate work.

[Bookman]

Many thanks I did in fact make ultra sure that the stylus pressure is as it should be; in fact I run it it at 1 ¼ grams.

[Craig Sawyers]

You can buy remanufactured stylii for this cartridge from JICO. https://www.jico-stylus.com/product_...fbgefh86r7ma67

Yes - they are £45.

I bought a V15IV stylus from them about a year ago, and it is completely indistinguishable from the original, with the damper and carbon fibre brush. And tracks all the trackabilty tests on the HiFi News test disc.

Craig

[Bookman]

Thanks Craig.
I had seen this item but was not sure about quality given that they used black plastic instead of white. It sort of made me think what other points of originality did they by-pass?
At the price however it is clearly worthy of consideration irrespective of colour. Come to think of it though the black would probably look better than white!
If you look at the item and review the problem but from an up-scaled point of view in that were it much larger I reckon the repair would be simple. In this I am referring to melting the solder and pulling out the stylus then sliding over a new grommet and re-soldering.

Joe

[Craig Sawyers]

Hi Joe

I have bought only one stylus from them - as I mentioned. Their standard V15IV stylus is correct down to the last detail. I know lots of people have bought from them and found them great.

They also do their own stylus profile and provide stylii with that in a choice of boron, sapphire and zirconia cantilevers. https://www.jico-stylus.com/neosas.php

They have been in business in replacement stylii since 1959, and ship 120,000 a year, although they go back 140 years making sewing needles. All from their site.

Craig

[Craig Sawyers]

There is only one person I know who repairs broken cantilevers, but that is really for moving coil cartridges. https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threa...moscow.686418/ . If you browse his work it is exceptional.

Craig

[DonaldStott]

Interesting indeed - you've got to wonder at the reasons why such a service isn't more widely available, but I can guess.

Just one small point, in one of his Posts rgu2002 states "And Audio Technica just stoped to produce boron cantilevers about year ago ..." - this isn't the case as far as I know?

[Craig Sawyers]

Boron cantilevers are indeed still available. I was part of a group buy and bought two last year with line contact nude stylii. They are so ridiculously tiny (0.2mm shank) you can hardly see them with the naked eye. Insurance against disaster with one of my cartridges.

Craig

[Bookman]

It would seem that posts 9&10 have the potential to open up a an extremely interesting can of worms from a global academic point of view. Here I am referring to a quote from a person voted the leading academic business brain in the world et al; they state:-

"Invention is a new technology or product that may or may not deliver benefits to the customer

Innovation is an idea, service, product or technology that has been developed and marketed to customers who perceive it as novel or new. It is a process of identifying, creating and delivering new-product or service value that did not exist before in the market place

New-product development is the development of original products. Product improvements, product modifications and new brands through the firm’s own R&D efforts

(Kotler et al 2002)"


I would argue that the knowledge associated with this particular post and its corresponding technology would suggest another variable, namely "Re-Invention".

I have yet to think of a definition but in the main it would allude to the development of a product where current knowledge and/or processes may never allow the same levels of performance obtained within original products to be achieved.

Unless otherwise instructed it would be my intention to write to the appropriate institutes to notify them accordingly. Note that reference to "can of worms" is due to proven knowledge that there is still no formally globally accepted definition of "Technology"

[Edward Huggins]

This is not something I would consider for a home-brew type solution especially on fine cartridges such as these. I would go to a specialist as suggested above or enquire of Ortofon who do rebuilds of their own older carts.

[DonaldStott]

Originally Posted by Craig Sawyers

Boron cantilevers are indeed still available. I was part of a group buy and bought two last year with line contact nude stylii. They are so ridiculously tiny (0.2mm shank) you can hardly see them with the naked eye. Insurance against disaster with one of my cartridges.

Thanks Craig, as I thought.

I'm currently considering an AT ART9 rather than a Linn Krystal - PM me with your thoughts.

Don't want to take this Thread off course.

[Bookman]

For reference purposes and primarily because as a Yorkshireman I wont spend a penny if an halfpenny will do, I purchased an after market stylus. Regrettably, there were dimensional issues with the item mainly attributable to the manner in which the stylus buts up against the cartridge. Fortunately, the seller refunded the item.
I then noticed that LP Gear has new old stock albeit not cheap but I through caution and my primary reasoning to the wind.
Thankfully, there was no need for concern as the item is indeed in original condition and sounds superb and is a highly recommendable piece of technology. Am a bit peed off though as it cost £12.00 to get it through customs and UK postal costs.

[wd40addict]

Was the aftermarket stylus a Jico?

[Bookman]

Originally Posted by wd40addict

Was the aftermarket stylus a Jico?

Yes.
The shape was as it should be but the angles were slightly wrong. The round shank was also a couple of millimetres short.