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How else do you describe them?
My mate has an SME 3009 mk2 improved tonearm fitted to a Technics deck. It is a family piece and he is extremely happy that it is up and running. I helped him get the arm rewired, sorted him a cartridge and fitted the arm to his deck. Unfortunately, the four screws that fix the base plate to the armboard do not have nuts so the arm is not a secure fit; the armboard is fully secure in the deck and the tonearm is properly aligned but it can simply be lifted and shifted in position.
Does anyone know the diameter of the screws that fix the baseplate and what nuts I need to help him out?
kirstysdad
29-12-2020, 11:34
Are you using the rubber grommets? Being SME they'll be imperial sized, but a M3 screw and nut ought to fit if no grommets...
Yes, the rubber grommets are in place.
Shovel_Knight
29-12-2020, 11:35
IIRC original SME screws were self-tapping - I guess you can replace them with a set of M3 machine screws and nuts.
Thank you. I'll get some M3 nuts and bolts.
They are acorn nuts.
Looking at the ones on mine I would say you could possible modify some m4 bolts to suit or maybe the Chicago thingies.
If it's the fixings in the 4 corners then to go through the rubber grommets you need 2.5mm max, 3mm is a tad large and will damage grommets.
(photo 2)https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201229/7391b5bb30786af3641de61a919090b8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201229/541447874f859c07fb76f9973e5d2193.jpg
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Shovel_Knight
29-12-2020, 11:43
The two acorn nuts are used to fix the base to the bedplate, but to fix the bedplate to the armboard you need a set of regular screws.
They are acorn nuts.
Looking at the ones on mine I would say you could possible modify some m4 bolts to suit or maybe the Chicago thingies.
If it's the fixings in the 4 corners then to go through the rubber grommets you need 2.5mm max, 3mm is a tad large and will damage grommets.
(photo 2)https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201229/7391b5bb30786af3641de61a919090b8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201229/541447874f859c07fb76f9973e5d2193.jpg
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It isn't those ones but thanks. It is the screws that fix the base plate to the arm board.
It isn't those ones but thanks. It is the screws that fix the base plate to the arm board.Okay, then as per my edit, m2.5 max needed, 3mm will damage grommet, m2 will match original woodscrew size.
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Just to confirm what John has said, I have used M2.5 bolts with the rubber grommets to secure one of my SME 3009 arms to a Thorens TD124 arm board. And M3 nut and bolts (without the grommets) on another SME arm.
walpurgis
29-12-2020, 18:26
Just to confirm what John has said, I have used M2.5 bolts with the rubber grommets to secure one of my SME 3009 arms to a Thorens TD124 arm board. And M3 nut and bolts (without the grommets) on another SME arm.
I have done the same. Aluminium cartridge mounting screws from Japan and China are usually M2.5 and well made.
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