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Karl Heiserman Posted on Sep 22, 2018
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I have a VSC 550BT. The tone arm slides across the record. Is there a weight/ counterweight that can be adjusted? Where and how?

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Kenneth Simmons

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  • The Master 1,239 Answers
  • Posted on Sep 29, 2018
Kenneth Simmons
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Joined: Oct 31, 2010
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I have not had a record player for 20 years. When I had one and I put the arm on the record and it slid across the record to the middle of the record the problem was it needed a new needle. It is the pointed part which contacts the record.
I found this manual info below hope it will help
Victrola VSC-550BT Operating Manual
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1341772/Victrola-Vsc-550bt.html#manual
Victrola VSC-550BT Operating Manual: Troubleshooting Guide
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1341772/Victrola-Vsc-550bt.html?page=15

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 8546 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 16, 2010

SOURCE: counterweight on my technics 1200 wont catch

It doesn't screw on, it pushes on....

"With the tonearm locked in place, put the anti‐skate
dial on "0" and push the counterweight onto the rear of
the tonearm. Make sure that the numbers face to the
front of the turntable. Turn the weight until you feel it
"click" into place.

Unlock the tonearm from the rest, and move it
toward the middle, about one inch from the edge of the
platter. Hold the arm off the surface with your right
hand on the finger lift. Begin turning the counterweight
one way or the other, until the arm seems to just
"float".

As seen in the picture, the arm, when properly
floating, will not face up nor down.. it will stay
with the platter. It may take a few tries to get
correct. Lock the tonearm back on it's rest.

Holding the rear, silver, section of the counterweight
with one hand, use your other hand to turn JUST the
number ring. It doesn't matter which direction you turn
it, but you will want "0" to face up when you are done.

Using just one hand, turn the entire counterweight
(the silver part) COUNTERCLOCKWISE until the
recommended tracking force is achieved. New
cartridges will tell what the ideal number is. As a rule of
thumb, however, most "hi‐fi" cartridges track between
1 and 2 grams, while most DJ cartridges track between
3 and 5 grams.

Set the anti‐skate dial to coincide with the tracking
force... in other words, if the tracking force is 2 grams,
set the anti‐skate dial to "2". The exception is for DJ's
who scratch and back‐cue. Your anti‐skate must be left
on "0". "

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Anonymous

  • 3153 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 18, 2010

SOURCE: Turntalble stylus sliding.

The head-shell weight is clearly different and you would need to re-set the arm balance.

this is usually done from the back of the arm where the counter balance sits.

Cartridges have a STATED tracking force usually in grams.

Most arms are roughly calibrated to weight but not always.

http://turntablebasics.com/align.html

See that page for more information

Hope this gives you the information you need

Bob
Moderator

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Thank you

Testimonial: "very helpful, but upon doing it, the audio quality is appealing and still skips. the stylus has broken and will be returning it thanks alot a++"

jeffbanko

Jeff Banko

  • 85 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 28, 2010

SOURCE: Tone arm skipping records.

The anti skate adjustment. And if you scratch @ all....move the weight all the way in and take off the little extra one that screws in on the back. Also a great tracking needle is a M44G.

guru68

  • 347 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 12, 2011

SOURCE: my arm slides across.dont no

hello george!
first of all remove any needle protectors provided, there is some "weight" on the arm (at the opposite end from the needle). Release the tonearm, you have to turn the weights untill the arm is in balance, then turn 2 and a half so that the needle will go down (2.5 grams), this is the optimum pressure for the needle (pick-up), some people will tell to do more pressure on the pick-up but this will result in higher wear down. On the other hand necessarily this is needed for environments with higher vibrations like discothekes. Be careful not to allow the needle to drop onto the mat or the turntable platter during this adjustment.
The next step is to adjust (if available) the anti-skate adjustment. Set the antiskate adjustment to the same number as the needle pressure setting (i.e. 2.5 grams would be an anti-skate setting of 2.5). If you are back cueing or scratching, then set the anti-skate setting to 0.
regards

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Grubhead

Grubhead

  • 5755 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 20, 2012

SOURCE: I have a magnavox micromatic record player that

Is this an old 60's model?
If it is you can find some videos on servicing them on YouTube.

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THE TONE ARM ON MY ROCKOLA 459 SLIDES OVER THE RECORD WITHOUT PLAYING.

Hi
It sounds as if the tone arm has become unbalanced. Make sure the turntable is on a firm flat horizontal surface and at the opposite end of the arm from the needle there will be a weight and a means of altering the position of weight on the tone arm. This weight keeps the needle on the record but only lightly when positioned correctly. If positioned too far from the pivot post the needle will as you have experience skip virtually straight across the record. You need to adjust the weight so that the needle just sits in the groove and plays without being too heavy. It is best to use a record you are not too worried about for this testing as the test record can sometimes get scratched.
Hope this is helpful, if so would you please register that with Fixya
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Needle slides across record

It could be 3 different things. The first is check the needle make sure its not dirty. the second is make sure the weight is set correctly. And the third is did you take the tone arm off the protective part that holds the tone arm in place when moving or travelling .
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My brand new audio-technica AT-LP60 turntable has skipped on every single record I've played in it (even brand new ones). Always happens at the same spot - towards the end of the record, halfway...

hi,
Do one thing adjust counterweight on the back of the arm to 1.5gm or 2gm by rotating the counterweight. It will give some more pressuer on the styles and will avoid the jerking
ok
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My turntable keeps skiping for no reason, no matter the record. i also made sure the turntable was level. the turntable is a vestax 2000mkII

What is the weight on the stylus? Flip the protective shield down to protect the stylus if available. Tare the tone arm (adjust the counterweight on the back of the arm until the arm floats perfectly level), then hold the counterweight and turn the dial markings to read zero. If you cannot find the recommended mass for the stylus you can use the average weight of 3g. Verify your tone arm is still floating in the center and the arm is perfectly level. Turn the counterweight until the dial indicates the specified weight of the cartridge manufacture specification sheet or you can set it for 3g if you do not have the specification sheet.
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When i backspin the arm is forcing itself off the vinyl

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Difficulty balancing the tone arm on kd-1033 turntable.

A new stylus should not change the tone arm balance setting if it is the correct stylus.

Does your arm have a sliding balance weight at the rear of the arm? If so you can slide this slightly towards the cartridge to regain the correct playing weight.

I would suggest you get a repair shop to do this for you, or you could finish up damaging your records.
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Skatinig

You need to adjust the downward force by adjusting the counter weight which is on the back of the tone arm. Rotate it so it's closer to the tone arm fulcrum to increase the weight on the arm, like tightening a nut on a bolt.

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Stylus will not catch

'Skating' is usually due to very low stylus pressure, which can be adjusted using a counterweight.

Is this the picture of the turntable ?
http://www.vintagetechnics.stereomanuals.com/turntables/sldd33.htm
Isn't that a counterweight at the back-end of the arm ? Can't it be rotated ?

If the counter weight is fixed, check the pickup mounting. May be it needs to be adjusted a bit forward (to increasing the stylus pressure).
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