IV. Tracking force adjustment

10 mN (milliNewton) .= 1 p (pond) = 1 g (gram weight)

Before the tracking force can be set, the tone arm with the cartridge must be balanced as follows.

Turn on the turntable (see Section VI or VII). Turn the lift knob to the play position thus lowering the tone arm lift platform. Position the arm between the arm rest and the turntable platter.

Hold the arm with the left hand to avoid damaging the stylus.

Move the counterweight AB, Figure 10, by turning it along the tubular arm extension until the arm balanced in a horizontal position. For the following adjustment, clamp the arm in its arm rest.

Turn the black dial ring B at the counterweight until its zero graduation corresponds to the marker line on the ton arm tube. Hold counterweight A to prevent turning. The counterweight scale is now calibrated for the pickup to be used. The counterweight scale is graduated in grams.

To apply the desired tracking force, turn the entire counterweight AB towards the tone arm bearing until the appropriate point on the scale corresponds to the marker line on the ton arm tube. In Figure 10, a tracking force of 1 gram is shown.

The tracking force may be initially chosen according to the recommendation of the cartridge manufacturer. This settings will often be correct; however, it should be noted that such prescribed tracking forces are frequently based on ideal playing conditions, i.e., using records containing only moderate signal modulations and exhibiting no surface warps.

In practice, the conditions for accurately tracking a record groove are often more demanding. The presence of audible distortion in both reproduction channels during loud passages may indicate the presence of tracking distortion, which can be eliminated by increasing the tracking force by 0.25 or 0.5 grams. This measure will actually extend the lift expectancy of the record played, since tracking distortion is invariably accompanied by groove deformation and hence premature wear.

Distortion in only one channel may be caused by an incorrectly adjusted antiskating force, treated in Section V.

It is necessary that the stylus tip be kept free of residues to insure optimum tracking performance; use only a stylus brush made for cleaning purposes.