Could I damage a new cart with too much tracking force during setup?

[nickbaba]

Hi all. Quick question to hopefully help my paranoia!
Setting up a new cartridge today I was using a bubble level on the headshell to check VTA.
I had already set the tracking force at 2g (range is 1.8 - 2.2g)
The bubble level has a weight of 1g, but I forgot to roll 1g off the tracking force before lowering the stylus onto a record. So the cart was resting on the record with a force of 3g.
It was only there for a couple of seconds before I lifted it, and the record was not spinning. I probably did that a couple of times before I realised my mistake.
So my question is, could I have accidentally damaged the stylus
/cantilever suspension by adding that extra 1g to the recommended tracking force, even for such a short time? Or is that not enough extra weight to cause any problem?

[Rare Bird]

I doubt it. I recon a styli tracking a badly warped record may apply more force to the cantilever IMHO.

[walpurgis]

No, it'll be fine!

[Slawts]

Hi all. Quick question to hopefully help my paranoia!
Setting up a new cartridge today I was using a bubble level on the headshell to check VTA.
I had already set the tracking force at 2g (range is 1.8 - 2.2g)
The bubble level has a weight of 1g, but I forgot to roll 1g off the tracking force before lowering the stylus onto a record. So the cart was resting on the record with a force of 3g.
It was only there for a couple of seconds before I lifted it, and the record was not spinning. I probably did that a couple of times before I realised my mistake.
So my question is, could I have accidentally damaged the stylus
/cantilever suspension by adding that extra 1g to the recommended tracking force, even for such a short time? Or is that not enough extra weight to cause any problem?

If you were playing a Peters and Lee album your stylus is irretrievably damaged and you need to use only a cassette player from now on.;)

[Johnnie7]

short term over weight should not be a problem esp if it a new cart with new cantilever rubber
so i would say u will be fine

if your still worried post a pic of the cartridge playing a record and get as close to the cart as u can for close up pic

[nickbaba]

Thanks guys.
OK well here's a pic, looking horizontally across the record surface.
The DV20X's always look like there's not much clearance anyway, due to the cantilever housing extending a bit beneath the cart body.
Hope this pic will be helpful - please let me know if you think this looks OK.
Cheers.

[Barry]

Don't worry - you won't have done any damage whatsoever. You are much more likely to cause groove damage through tracking under-weight than tracking over-weight.

And in your case the record wasn't spinning.

[nickbaba]

Thanks Barry - but I'm not worried about groove damage (to the record)
I'm worried about damage to the cantilever suspension of the cartridge, by accidentally overloading it.
I'm really just asking if thats even something I should be worried about, at that kind of tracking weight (3g)?
The reason I was suddenly paranoid is that looking at the cart being lowered on to the record, when it makes contact I noticed some 'give' in the stylus e.g. it didn't remain at the same angle, but seemed to sag slightly down as it took the weight of the tonearm.
Then I wasn't sure if it was doing that before, or if it's supposed to do that?
Suddenly got worried as its a brand new £££ cart!
Anyway here's a slightly better pic, if that helps.

[Barry]

Thanks Barry - but I'm not worried about groove damage (to the record)
I'm worried about damage to the cantilever suspension of the cartridge, by accidentally overloading it.
I'm really just asking if thats even something I should be worried about, at that kind of tracking weight (3g)?
The reason I was suddenly paranoid is that looking at the cart being lowered on to the record, when it makes contact I noticed some 'give' in the stylus e.g. it didn't remain at the same angle, but seemed to sag slightly down as it took the weight of the tonearm.
Then I wasn't sure if it was doing that before, or if it's supposed to do that?
Suddenly got worried as its a brand new £££ cart!
Anyway here's a slightly better pic, if that helps.

Again don't worry too much. If your cartridge has a high compliance value (> 30 cu) then it is quite possible that the cantilever angle will 'reduce' on playing (that is, when subject to the recommended playing weight).

Rest assured - even if you caused the suspension to 'bottom out', because the record wasn't spinning, you will have done absolutely no damage to either the record, or to the cartridge.

Sleep easy! :)

[Dominic Harper]

Those particular Dynavector carts have particular design flaw in that the bobbin internally that the tension screw affixes to is rather short. I have had to re set quite a few suspensions on these. If the cantilever deflects by any noticeable amount when the cartridge is lowered onto the record then it may need correcting. However, from your description of the event, I doubt there is any concern, this is just a message to users of the carts that may have dropped the cart heavily onto the record surface.

[nickbaba]

Thanks Dominic - I am a bit confused now as I would say the cantilever IS deflecting by a 'noticeable' amount eg I can notice a definite change of angle when the cartridge is lowered onto the record. But this is a brand new cart and certainly has never been dropped heavily onto a record, I always use the lever to lower the cart.
Really not sure now if I have caused some damage with the extra 1g weight?
I seem to remember that on the DV20X carts the cantilever should be quite stiff eg when lowered onto the record it should not change angle at all.
Can anyone else (DV20X owners) confirm this?

[Audioman]

Thanks Dominic - I am a bit confused now as I would say the cantilever IS deflecting by a 'noticeable' amount eg I can notice a definite change of angle when the cartridge is lowered onto the record. But this is a brand new cart and certainly has never been dropped heavily onto a record, I always use the lever to lower the cart.
Really not sure now if I have caused some damage with the extra 1g weight?
I seem to remember that on the DV20X carts the cantilever should be quite stiff eg when lowered onto the record it should not change angle at all.
Can anyone else (DV20X owners) confirm this?

I can't see you have done damage unless you dropped the cartridge heavily onto the record. The cantilever does deflect up quite a bit on this cartridge if I remember correctly but not so much that the body is very close to the record when playing. The optimum playing weight is about 1.9 grm from memory. The photo looks all right assuming the low camera angle makes the gap appear a little less. It's certainly not in danger of the bottom touching the record.

Just one point comparing your new cartridge to mine (in the box) the 'bulge' behind the stylus appears to protrude more so they may have changed the design slightly. This will make the protruding bottom appear closer to the record. Otherwise it's possible the arm is sloping down slightly at the back and not dead parallel with the record surface.

[nickbaba]

Thanks Paul - Its good to hear that there should be a little 'give' when the stylus makes contact with the record surface. I couldn't recall if this was the case with these carts.The housing does protrude quite a bit below the cart body which does significantly reduce overall clearance - contributing to my paranoia e.g. is it sitting too low?
But the main thing is that it does still sound fine, no distortion or weirdness - always a good sign!

[hifi_dave]

An extra gram or three won't damage a cartridge in the manner you describe and the pic looks perfectly OK to me. If it also sounds good, then stop worrying and enjoy it.

[DSJR]

Looks fine in the pic. Dynavector's (10's and 20's) have ridden lower in my esperience :)

If the big and bold presentation suits you, then just enjoy the music :)

[nickbaba]

Hi guys - thanks for all your input.
As it goes, the problem got worse through the day, until the cantilever housing was almost skimming the record. Can't be right. I will return it to dealer as faulty.

[Rare Bird]

I would have anyway Nick. Worry is too much, i suffer from it all the time :eyebrows:

[Audioman]

Hi guys - thanks for all your input.
As it goes, the problem got worse through the day, until the cantilever housing was almost skimming the record. Can't be right. I will return it to dealer as faulty.

Right thing to do. Sounds like you couldn't have caused this.