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Grace 707 azimuth adjustment?

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Posted on October 16, 2016 at 01:26:00
alaskahiatt
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Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 When testing my Grace 707 bearings by slightly rocking the headshell, I noticed that the headshell rotated on the chrome arm tube.. I have always wondered about the function of the small set screw on the underside of the headshell(see arrow), as the owners manual makes no mention of this.

So, my question is: Can the set screw be used to adjust azimuth for this tonearm. Actually, I will have to do something now that the headshell rotated slightly. There is some type of material at the junction of the chrome arm tube and the black headshell, and I am assuming that might have been old glue.

Any help appreciated. Thanks.


 

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RE: Grace 707 azimuth adjustment?, posted on October 16, 2016 at 08:53:27
SoundMann
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Posts: 588
Joined: October 21, 2015
 Mine only rocks back and forth once the screw is loosened.

 

I just pulled this tonearm off a freebie, water damaged, old Luxman PD 270 table, so , posted on October 16, 2016 at 11:47:19
alaskahiatt
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Posts: 7508
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 I don't know this table's history. I hope the screw was slightly loose causing the movement, or else I have scored the chrome arm tube slightly.

I guess my real question is still: Is the purpose of this screw to set azimuth, or was it just necessary as part of the original construction? Certainly, the set screw is not mentioned in the manual.

After all my searching on the internet, searching the AA archives, and reading the MK I and MK II manuals, I only found one mention of the screw. That person couldn't move the headshell even after loosening the screw and suspected the headshell was fixed with glue.

Other persons even shimmed one side of the cartridge to obtain correct azimuth, and a few others stated that the headshell is totally fixed.

 

RE: I just pulled this tonearm off a freebie, water damaged, old Luxman PD 270 table, so , posted on October 16, 2016 at 13:55:42
SoundMann
Audiophile

Posts: 588
Joined: October 21, 2015
 The headshell should not move once the screw is snug. Do not over-tighten it!

 

I understand, and I haven't touched the screw since I received the turntable., posted on October 16, 2016 at 15:09:25
alaskahiatt
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Posts: 7508
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 Obviously, the set screw must have already been slightly loose when I first tried to rock the headshell. When I finally install the arm, I will check the azimuth and carefully re-tighten the set screw.

I still want to know if this set screw was intended as a method to adjust the azimuth, or was it tightened at the factory and not for use by the owner.

 

RE: I understand, and I haven't touched the screw since I received the turntable., posted on October 16, 2016 at 21:48:52
SoundMann
Audiophile

Posts: 588
Joined: October 21, 2015
 The screw appears to be an anchor to rigidly couple the headshell to the armtube, nothing more.

 

RE: Grace 707 azimuth adjustment?, posted on October 19, 2016 at 16:36:21
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016



On a side note, have you had the opportunity to try a Grace cartridge on your arm? I'm finding real synergy with a Grace F8-L10' on my Grace G707 / Kenwood KD500.

 

No I haven't, so thanks for the good recommendation. I wish I could, posted on October 19, 2016 at 20:23:22
alaskahiatt
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Posts: 7508
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 afford the Grace F-9E, but the prices are through the ceiling for my income.

 

RE: No I haven't, so thanks for the good recommendation. I wish I could, posted on October 20, 2016 at 02:17:58
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
 After some lengthy research I concluded the f8 was a better match for the G707 arm than the f9. The f9 is basically an improved f8, but those improvements were made to accommodate higher mass arms. The compliance of the f8, especially the f8-c is more suited to our ultralight arms. The f8-c was on my radar but a NOS f8-L'10 became available so I jumped on it, boy am I glad I did.

The good news is the f8's are much cheaper than the f9's, the bad news is, they're much cheaper than the f9's. Why, because of their lower value not as many come up for sale. That said, I recently saw an f8-c on eBay with a buy it now price of $160, well worth the asking price. I was very tempted to snag it but I'm completely satisfied with the L'10 so I saw no point.

Martin

 

Wow, thanks for this recommendation and your actual experience., posted on October 20, 2016 at 11:39:30
alaskahiatt
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Posts: 7508
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 I feel though that you showed me your favorite fishing hole. :^)

I sure wish Jico produced Grace stylii.

I am currently removing the Ortofon cartridge from the Grace 707 headshell, so that I can clean out the putty that you can see in one of my pictures. Right now I am searching for a convenient tool to hold the round and slotted nuts that were used with the cartridge bolts. I know that I could just use small needle nose pliers or a hemostat, but I figured that a special tool must exist somewhere.

I also noticed that after I carefully tightened the headshell screw, the cartridge still has a tendency to move. I wonder if that is why I can detect some sort of glue where the headshell meets the chrome 707 arm tube.

I have also had a big setback. I put on my jeweler's glass and noticed a crack radiating out from the set screw, and that could explain why the headshell was moving from the start. There is also a repaired crack(glued) further around the headshell neck. I noticed that when I loosened the set screw way out, the un-repaired crack closes up. So, I am thinking of carefully tightening the set screw again to slightly open the crack and applying liquid Krazy Glue. I will then loosen the set screw and allow the crack to close tightly. My only fear is that the Crazy glue could descend down to the chrome arm tube and prevent any adjustment of the azimuth after the glue dries.

 

RE: Wow, thanks for this recommendation and your actual experience., posted on October 20, 2016 at 18:26:02
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
 The crack most likely happened from someone over tightening it in the past. I feel your pain and wish you the best of luck with the repair.

Martin

 

The repair worked! I did just what I said, and it looks like the glue, posted on October 21, 2016 at 16:18:56
alaskahiatt
Audiophile

Posts: 7508
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 easily penetrated the crack. After letting it sit for a few hours, I tightened the set screw, and the crack did not open up. Now back to cleaning out the headshell.

 

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