SME 3009/S2 Series II Improved Refurbishment

[ajgriff]

Some years ago I bought a Thorens TD160 Mk II turntable fitted with an SME 3009 arm from a market stall holder. Both deck and arm had missing parts but the asking price was too tempting to turn down. More recently I decided it was time to refurbish the SME which more or less involved a complete strip down as that’s really the only way to clean and inspect all the parts.

Moving forward yet another couple of years I thought it was about time to complete the job but of course was confronted with a box of bits resembling a 3D jigsaw puzzle. When first acquired the arm was missing its headshell, bias weight and armrest retaining clip. The first photo shows the contents of the box and was taken at the time the arm was dismantled. Armed with PDF copies of the service manual and parts list reassembly wasn’t too difficult. However the following points are probably worth a mention:

1. I imagine that the arm together with the turntable spent a good few years in less than ideal storage conditions before they came my way. Although not too serious, there were signs of corrosion on some parts of the 3009 as indicated by the second photo.

2. The matt plated parts were all cleaned with meths and gently polished with cerium oxide paste. I was very wary of using anything too abrasive in order to avoid scratching the plating. Although I’m pleased with the outcome there is still some minor pitting here and there but it’s only visible on close inspection.

3. The stub of the cueing lever was originally blued steel but surface rust had started to appear. After rubbing down I sprayed the stub gloss black.

4. The armrest cradle is a simple push fit but I took some time deciding on the appropriate orientation of the cradle. The majority of internet photos show the open side facing outwards with only a few facing inwards so I decided to go with the majority.

5. Despite my care when dismantling the arm I somehow managed to lose the cueing lever’s detent pin which is illustrated in the third image below as shown in the parts manual. I made a replacement using a short length (about 3/16”) of 1/16” brass rod and the lever now operates perfectly.

6. Genuine SME parts can be ridiculously expensive so the armrest clip, finger lift and bias weight are all pattern parts but the headshell is a genuine SME item albeit second hand. The bias weight is stainless steel rather than the plated brass of the original. However it is the correct weight (3g) as verified by SME.

7. I didn’t attempt to access the lateral bearings as the yoke spun beautifully freely with no hint of play. Equally the nylon knife edge bearings are still in good condition.

I’ve added a couple of shots of the refurbished arm to the images below. The plastic bag in the last photo contains the original mounting screws and grommets which are all in good condition. I’ve also included the correct size (1/16”) hex adjustment key and four washers for hard mounting without grommets. More to follow in a subsequent post.

Alan

[Craig Sawyers]

Awesome project! The reason for the different orientation of the arm rest was to do with the optional damping trough.

The trough kit came with a new rest facing inward.

It is entirely possible that those who buy old arms with the inward arm rest, that the seller took off the highly prized damper and sold it separately.

Craig

[Nickthedentist]

What a lovely result, Well done.

Looking forward to seeing a photo of it back home on the Thorens.

[ajgriff]

Originally Posted by Craig Sawyers

The trough kit came with a new rest facing inward.

Yes I'd noticed that, although interestingly my copy of the spares list also shows an inward facing rest (see extract attached). Also I think I’m right in saying that the 3009-R was the same and as it was in production alongside the Series II Improved for a while SME may have implemented some kind of spares rationalisation policy at some point.

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Looking forward to seeing a photo of it back home on the Thorens.

I’ve been working on the TD160 in the background and it’ll surprise no one to learn that it’s currently in bits. In truth I’ve never been entirely convinced by the suspended chassis concept but will press on regardless although I have a few modifications in mind.

Thank you both for your kind comments.

Alan

[Beobloke]

That's a fantastic job you've done there - very impressed!

As an aside, I love the old SME 3009 arms, especially the later Series II Improved variants. They aren't the last word in sonic performance any more, but but they are just so beautifully styled and lovely to use.

I have owned a fixed headshell version for 30-odd years, which is mounted on a plinth with a Garrard 401 currently. It doesn't get a great deal of use, but don't ever plan to part with it.

[ajgriff]

Originally Posted by Beobloke

As an aside, I love the old SME 3009 arms, especially the later Series II Improved variants. They aren't the last word in sonic performance any more, but they are just so beautifully styled and lovely to use.

Yes, I think that sums it up perfectly.

Anyway I promised a few more photos of the completed refurbishment and these are duly attached. There is a small wear mark on the arm tube caused by rubbing against the clip but it's too deep to polish out. The original cable had been fitted with poor quality plastic phono plugs (possibly replacing a DIN plug). They were disintegrating so they’ve been replaced with some better specimens which are a reasonable match for the SME plugs at the other end. Apart from the new plugs all the wiring is original (external and internal) except for new cartridge tags in the headshell.

I’m really not sure what to do with the arm now as I favour low compliance moving coil cartridges these days and the 3009 Improved was not designed for such things. I could modify it but I think that would spoil what is now a nice example of its type.

Alan

[Kentode]

I've got a Linn Sondek that I'd love to put it on if you would consider selling it! Please PM me if you need lots of cash for Christmas...

[majex45]

Thanks for the nudge.
I need to refurbish my example. Is there a trick to getting the balsa damping out of the arm tube? The wires are broken off at both ends.
How heavy are the earlier (larger) weights and side weight? All missing on mine.
I had one many years ago but sold it for a pittance in the early 1980s because a friend convinced me CDs were so much better than vinyl.

[stevehertz]

Nice job. I have the same Series II arm with S2 removable head shell. I recently fitted the FD200 damper and, as Craig pointed out, it's that that uses the inward facing arm rest. Otherwise when you attempt to lift the arm the damper paddle fouls its tank, it doesn't work.

[deliverance]

Lovely job well done.

[barrymagrec]

I think the original connector on the arm was a Belling Lee Unitor, the RCA connectors you have are a later modification.

More convenient though.

[Ted Kendall]

The connectors changed quite early in production of the II/Improved, I think.

[Craig Sawyers]

Mine came with the Belling Lee when I bought it in 1973. I changed later using the SME phono conversion kit.

But then I did some low resistance tests, and found that the silver plated Belling Lee had a significantly lower contact resistance than the phono sockets. So I swapped back to the Belling Lee.

Craig

[ajgriff]

Originally Posted by majex45

I need to refurbish my example. Is there a trick to getting the balsa damping out of the arm tube? The wires are broken off at both ends. How heavy are the earlier (larger) weights and side weight? All missing on mine.

What follows applies to the Improved 3009 rather than the earlier unimproved Series II.

I didn’t attempt to remove the damping (referred to by SME as the anti-ring lining) from my arm. Although it certainly looks like balsa wood in the images I’ve seen mine actually looked more like white foam/sponge when peering down the tube. Either way I think it could only be removed from the balance weight end of the tube. This would involve removing the wayrod housing assembly (spider) and this in turn would mean disturbing the saddle plus the earthing tag which is something to be avoided if at all possible. From what I’ve read if you really need to replace the wiring I think this can be done without disturbing the anti-ring lining.

I emailed SME about counter balance weights for the Improved arm and they very helpfully supplied the following information by part number:

1901/LWR - 69.8 grams (optional)

1901 - 98 grams (standard on the non-detachable shell version)

1902 - 117 grams (standard on the S2 detachable shell version)

1902/MWR - 132 grams (optional)

1902/HWR - 163 grams (optional)

Subsequently I’ve discovered that these weights are nominal and actual weights can vary by quite a bit either way. Also there may have been adjustments to these figures during the quite long production run. For example the standard 1902 weight on my arm weighs 109g. As for the tracking force/azimuth weight mine weighs in at near enough 23g.

I’m slightly confused by your reference to earlier (larger) weights. If you’re referring to the weights fitted to the unimproved 3009 Series II they cannot be fitted to an Improved arm. This site may be helpful:

http://www.analogue-classics.com/html/sme_3009___3012.html

Finally I’m attaching copies of the service manual and parts list which might prove useful as well as being of general interest to others.

Alan

[Kentode]

Alan, you have a pm.

[stevehertz]

Originally Posted by ajgriff

Yes, I think that sums it up perfectly.

Anyway I promised a few more photos of the completed refurbishment and these are duly attached. There is a small wear mark on the arm tube caused by rubbing against the clip but it's too deep to polish out. The original cable had been fitted with poor quality plastic phono plugs (possibly replacing a DIN plug). They were disintegrating so they’ve been replaced with some better specimens which are a reasonable match for the SME plugs at the other end. Apart from the new plugs all the wiring is original (external and internal) except for new cartridge tags in the headshell.

I’m really not sure what to do with the arm now as I favour low compliance moving coil cartridges these days and the 3009 Improved was not designed for such things. I could modify it but I think that would spoil what is now a nice example of its type.

Alan

I use the Ortofon Quintet Black that is a moving coil cartridge with a compliance of 15um/mN. Using the SME compatibility chart it all adds up to being perfectly compatible, and having used numerous (three) different test records it tracks fine. I do use the ADC headshell that I am led to believe is an improvement over the SME one that is a bit flimsy. Nonetheless I have kept the SME one. That's just a thought, as you can use high quality MC cartridges with the SME if you do the maths as it were.

[ajgriff]

Originally Posted by Kentode

Alan, you have a pm.

Sorry for the delay Ken. I'll respond by PM this evening.

Alan

[Kentode]

Thanks, Alan.

[majex45]

I’m slightly confused by your reference to earlier (larger) weights. If you’re referring to the weights fitted to the unimproved 3009 Series II they cannot be fitted to an Improved arm. This site may be helpful:

I'm sorry I didn't make myself clear, thank you for your help which is much appreciated.
I have several bits of a broken Series II 3009 arm (not improved) plus some bits of a broken Series I 3012 with which I hope to make a FrankenSME. Both the arms were already disassembled by the previous owners. I have no weights at all nor the angled part the weight adjuster rides on. I presume they are made from brass, hard chrome plated.
I get the bits out occasionally but the work looks daunting; other projects look easier and they get put away again. With the weather so bad I'll try to get the project going again.
I will try to get the bits out this week and photograph what I have. Perhaps I should start a new thread?

[ajgriff]

Originally Posted by majex45

I will try to get the bits out this week and photograph what I have. Perhaps I should start a new thread?

Probably best to start a new thread. Could be a very interesting project and there are a good few SME owners here who will be only too pleased to advise I'm sure. For my part I've owned an unimproved 3009 Series II in the past as well as the Improved arm featured here.

Alan