Had to replace stylus on SL-B2. Arm was "skating" across disc but seem to have that fixed. Sound definitely not correct. What can I adjust?

The short answer is that you need a new stylus as the one you have is either broken or worn away so that it won't stay in the groove. It could also be out of place. Rubbing your finger on the stylus you should be able to feel it digging in. If you can't it's gone!

If it does this when playing a 12 inch record then it could be that the device has been set to play a 7 inch record. The skating across is either a worn stylus, wrong skate setting (if it has one) or not enough stylus pressure. To correct the pressure one. Make tiny adjustments to the weight on the end of the arm. Each time you need to test by playing a record. If it sits in the groove and doesn't skate, plus doesn't make a rumble sound, you have the pressure right. Too much pressure causes it to rumble, too little and it will leave the groove. If the weight is numbered try it at 3, then take it up to 4 + in small steps, testing it each time you move up. It's a case of trial and error to get it right.

Too causes of this problem. One the stylus is worn out. Two not enough pressure to the stylus. At the end of the arm is a weight this should move up or down. If you can see numbers on it increase it slowly to the higher numbers, trying it as you go. The trick is to apply the correct weight to keep the stylus in the grooves and not here a rumbling sound from too much pressure.

Generally the cause is one of 3 things. 1 Damage to the stylus or dirt. 2 Lack of pressure to the stylus. 3 Anti-skate control set to low.
First check the stylus you should feel it sticking in you finger a bit. 2 Has the weight on the end of the arm become lose? Adjust for the correct tracking weight of the cartridge. 3 Check the manual for what the anti-skate control should be set to.

The link for this model's manual is a dead-end at the Panasonic website. I lodged an email complaint.

If the tonearms balance and anti-skate are set properly it should track correctly.

When you lower the tonearm does it actuallu drop onto the platter or does it seem to hover? Look at the stylus to make sure a dustball hasn't clogged the tip.

The stylus should either just clip out or slide out depending on the type of cartridge fitted. On the weight thing look at the other end of the arm. It should have either somekind of screw or a weight with numbers on it. Slacken the weight and move it so the head where the cartridge is gets heavy. If it has numbers turn it to around 2 or 3 or higher and test/adjust using a record till it plays and doesn't make too much rumble sound when playing (in the gaps with no music) with both types of weight.

I have no experience of Crosley turntables, however, stylus arm skating across the record surface on any turntable is normally due to the counter balance weight being incorrectly adjusted. In order to track across a record properly, the stylus must press down on to the record very lightly. If there is too little pressure, skating is what tends to happen. Too much pressure can cause distortion of the sound and excessive wear of the record.

At the pivoting end of the stylus arm, there should be a counter balence weight. This is normally adjustable (but not always - depends on quality and features of the particular turntable), and is used to set the pressure the stylus applies to the record surface, measured in grammes. The manual that came with it should tell you how to adjust it, but for most turntables stylus pressure is between 1 to 3 grammes.

If you dont have the manual, have a good look at the pivoting end of the stylus arm to see if soemthing is obviously wrong, or if not whether there is something with numbers on it that can be turned or slid. This is likley to be the counter weight. Try adjusting it.
Within reason, the stylus weight isnt critical so a "trial and error" approach wont do any harm.

Sounds like the stylus has been damaged. Perhaps when you were adjusting or installing the stylus, it might have gotten damaged. The stylus will only slide across a record like that when the actual tip is either damaged or no longer present.

Check your stylus first and foremost. If you still see the tip, then try adjusting the balance weight - the big weight towards the rear of the tonearm.

- OPTiC
DJ Pro Audio
The 1200s Experts
www.1200s.com
www.repairnyc.com

'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).

There are two main things that will influence the anti skate settings.

1) The Headshell Weight and Balance
Firstly, check the data sheet for the cartridge and stylus you are using. It should tell you the correct weight setting which will vary from one cartridge and stylus to another. If the stylus is set too light, it can skate across the disc. This can damage the disc and the stylus. The sound will also be thin and it is likely to distort on high frequencies. If the weight is too heavy, it will not jump but will definitely damage the disc.

If you are a serious vinyl user, get yourself a tone arm balance. This is a device that you place on the turntable and you rest the stylus on a plate which is marked in micrograms. You place the stylus exactly at the correct weight marking and then make adjustments to the turntable settings until the tone arm is balanced. It's easier than it sounds!

If you don't have the data sheet for your cartridge and stylus and cannot find it online, use an old disc that you don't mind damaging, set the weight on the light side and gradually increase the weight until it stops skating.

2) Platter Levelling
Secondly, you need to make sure your turntable us on a level surface. If you are a purist, use a spirit level. to do this.

There are other things that can cause skating and jumping, especially if you use the turntable as a DJ. For example, vibration (caused hopefully by dozens rocking to your music). DJs will often increase the headshell weight very slightly to overcome this and I have sometimes placed the turntables on a thick rubber sheet such as carpet underlay to improve shock absorption.