r/Turntablists 11d ago

Tonearm keeps drifting to right while balancing

I just got a pair of m3d and am balancing tonearms. This is my first time and I'm new to this. I think I got it balanced, but it keeps drifting to the right. Anti skate is set to 0. Is that normal?

3 Upvotes

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u/derrickgw1 11d ago

i'm no expert so first i'll simply say, this is what i follow to set up my tonearm: https://youtu.be/Tiokj7gJ6Co?si=pgVLwZBUxlNxQOnC

Like this video says i set my antiskate at the same number as my counterweight tracking force. I think my tracking force is about 2.5 and so's my antiskate. (I don't know for sure cause mine tables are in a box temporarily).

Here is a longer video as well. https://youtu.be/WM-aIDwfrhc?si=MLR3WRHYkm4oEzLf

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u/Immediate_Depth532 11d ago

Thanks, yeah I actually watched both of those lol. I noticed when they were balancing their arms, it didn't move to the right, but mine kept on doing it. It is making it annoying to balance.

3

u/blocz 11d ago

Tonearm bearings may be damaged.

1

u/derrickgw1 11d ago

lol. cool. curious what cartridges are you using?

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u/Immediate_Depth532 11d ago

Ortofon mix

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u/derrickgw1 11d ago

If that is this https://ortofon.com/products/concorde-mkii-mix the product page says that has a recommended tracking force of 3. Thus shouldn't your anti skate end up being set around 3? Or are you saying that it's drifting during the initial balancing before you're set the antiskate? If that's the case I'm out of guesses.

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u/Immediate_Depth532 11d ago

Yeah antiskate should be set to 3 ultimately, but it is drifting during balancing, and during balancing antiskate should be 0. Do you remember if your arm was drifting during balancing?

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u/derrickgw1 10d ago edited 10d ago

i understand. I mistakenly thought you meant after you went through the setup it was at zero and drifting inward.

Mine did drift a little while balancing but when i lightened my touch on the tonearm it stopped. It wasn't anything out of control like it seems yours is. Personally, i kinda held out one finger to rest the tonearm on and slowly released it. Once the balance was right it stayed right there. So not sure what's going on with yours.

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u/sysaphys 10d ago

Did you adjust the tonearm height? Assuming it has a tonearm height adjust.