HELP! Rewiring a DECCA FFSS mk2 tonearm

[Wakefield Turntables]

I've had one of these lurking in the loft for a couple of years and decided to restore it. It needs a rewire but I need some help. Does anyone have a diagram describing the wire layout from the tonearm head to the RCA's. I'm a little stuck with where to solder the grounding wires for the left and right channels.

Thanks

A

[Barry]

How many contact 'pips' does it have at the cartridge end?

I have one but I haven't used it in years, so it's lurking in the back of a cupboard and I'm not at home at the moment to look.

[walpurgis]

I suspect Barry may be your man for info here Andy.

[walpurgis]

I suspect Barry may be your man for info here Andy.

Ha. He beat me to it! :D

[Wakefield Turntables]

Barry I will post some pictures tomorrow when I have some time. I'm wanting to get this project finished. :)

[Wakefield Turntables]

A few pics of this project!

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see next post.

[Wakefield Turntables]

2257422575

So I have completely stripped down and repolished the arm tube. We now have no nasty scratches. Time for a re-wire. More pics to follow.

[Barry]

I have now had a chance to dig out my Decca ffss Mk. II arm (upgraded to 'Super' status), and have traced the wiring using a multimeter.

With the cartridge end of the arm facing you, the four contacts, going from left to right are as follows:

1 Left-hand signal, connected to the pin of the Red phono plug

2 No connection

3 Left-hand and right-hand channel returns, connected to the outer (shield) part of both the Red and Green plugs

4 Right-hand signal, connected to the pin of the Green phono plug.

[Wakefield Turntables]

That's excellent thanks, now to find time to rewire it!

[Wakefield Turntables]

Barry and forum friends,

I intend to rewire this with some silver litz that I've found in my spares box. My only concern is the ground returns from pin 3. I think I'd like to do one continuous run straight to a couple of new RCA's, I'll store the old wire. So, is it simply a case of soldering left and right channel return from pin 3 straight to the ground pins in the left and right RCA plugs?

[Barry]

Will you be using a tag-strip to join the wires exiting the arm tube to a pair of screened coaxial cables terminating in phono plugs? If so, then I can't see anything wrong with your proposal.

Will you be using a separate wire to earth the arm tube?

[Wakefield Turntables]

Will you be using a tag-strip to join the wires exiting the arm tube to a pair of screened coaxial cables terminating in phono plugs? If so, then I can't see anything wrong with your proposal.

Will you be using a separate wire to earth the arm tube?

No, the idea was to simply run 4 runs of unscreened silver litz from down the shaft of the arm tube and simply terminate onto the RCA's. I've seen screened cable on the bay for about £8 per meter. I supposed I could solder the litz onto screened cable but I wanted a single continuous run I didnt really want a load of solder connections. I must admit I did forgot about the earth wire, what would you suggest, soldering something from 2nd (from the left) connection and then terminating in an earthing spade, I take it that the earth wire would also go down the shaft of the arm tube.