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Magnepan Unitrac question

74.79.48.113
Posted on November 8, 2009 at 04:51:16
mcp
Audiophile

Posts: 576
Location: New York
Joined: October 14, 2001
 When I bought my Thorens TD-125 Mk II, it already had a Unitrac mounted. One thing I notice is that the post that holds the weights (washers) and balances the arm, has 4 or 5 little rubber washers in addition to the metal washers. Are they original parts? They fit very tight to the post and cannot be removed over the end of the post. Does this post come off so I can remove them? I don't want to force it and risk damaging the arm. There appears to be a little too much weight on this post. I am using a Grado Z1+ cart that came with the table...
...which leads to my next question. Any recommendations for a cartridge replacement for this arm? I'm open to MM or MC...price max probably around $500..

OK, the vertical alignment post ..., posted on November 8, 2009 at 11:13:30
mcp
Audiophile

Posts: 576
Location: New York
Joined: October 14, 2001
 ... can be removed by gently turning counterclockwise while gently pulling it out. It isn't threaded, but it does come out slowly. That's the only way these extra washers could have been installed and the only way they could have been removed.

Glad you got it straightened out., posted on November 9, 2009 at 15:55:41
kff
Audiophile

Posts: 148
Location: SE PA
Joined: October 19, 2006
 as stated the o-rings push on and off the open end of the vertical alignment rod. It is not mentioned in the manual posted on VE, but most that have had the arm a while know about the use of the two o-rings. set them to keep the alignment weights in place one on the inside one on the outside up tight against the weights. They are tight enough on the rod to require a bit of fiddling to get them to move.

Even when the rings are new, there are force fit onto the rod. I understand you hesitation in trying to remove them that way, but they will stretch. I don't have any idea why 5 would be necessary.

RE: Magnepan Unitrac question, posted on November 8, 2009 at 06:45:38
robertkeir
Audiophile

Posts: 99
Joined: November 28, 2005
 If you have the manual then you know that their purpose is to hold the weights in place once you have the azimuth adjusted. They do in fact stretch enough to go over the nub at the end of the post. I have never tried to remove the post so I'm not sure that is possible. I believe, however, that it is not intended to be removed or the manual would mention it.

RE: Magnepan Unitrac question, posted on November 8, 2009 at 07:28:58
mcp
Audiophile

Posts: 576
Location: New York
Joined: October 14, 2001
 Well, I read the manual before I posted and did not see any mention of the rubber O-rings and they are also not pictured in any of the set-up illustrations. Maybe I missed it...I did assume, however, that they hold the metal washers in place. There are just too many of them and they are too tight to slide over the end cap.

RE: Magnepan Unitrac question, posted on November 8, 2009 at 06:45:26
FrankHertz
Audiophile

Posts: 129
Joined: January 28, 2004
 I believe those rubber washers were meant to hold the metal ones in place. I bought my arm used so I never got them. I just have to careful when moving the arm so I don't shift the metal washers. I am guessing they just roll off.

I use a Denon DL103 with the arm and find the combination to be great. I tried a lighter cartridge but found that I had to keep adjusting the metal washers to keep the azimuth correct (of course this could just be a problem with my used arm). With a heavier cartridge, I have to use the extra tonearm weight that screws into the bottom of the large semi-spherical tonearm weight and I believe this, because of its postion below the pivot point, helps keep the arm stablized in the horizontal plane.

Good luck,

Harry
RE: Magnepan Unitrac question, posted on November 8, 2009 at 07:18:00
mcp
Audiophile

Posts: 576
Location: New York
Joined: October 14, 2001
 Yes, I have the rubber O-rings...problem is that there are 5 of them on there and two of them are samller than the others and extremely tight fitting...
Thanks for the info about the Denon... I used to own a HO MC DL-160 and really liked it.

RE: Magnepan Unitrac question, posted on November 8, 2009 at 05:56:54
mosin
Manufacturer

Posts: 9481
Joined: July 24, 2003
 Get the manual.

RE: Magnepan Unitrac question, posted on November 8, 2009 at 06:24:11
mcp
Audiophile

Posts: 576
Location: New York
Joined: October 14, 2001
 I have the manual. I don't see any mention of installing or removing this post...only sliding the washers over the end of it...

RE: Magnepan Unitrac question, posted on November 8, 2009 at 06:41:07
mosin
Manufacturer

Posts: 9481
Joined: July 24, 2003
 Right. The post is plastic, and it is easy to break. It isn't supposed to be removed under any condition because it is a press fit. The o-rings are tight, but removable. There should be only two of them. With the Grado, you need only two azimuth disks placed about 45% of the way out from the counterweight.

RE: Magnepan Unitrac question, posted on November 8, 2009 at 07:14:37
mcp
Audiophile

Posts: 576
Location: New York
Joined: October 14, 2001
 Thanks. There are 5 rubber O-rings on the post right now. Two of them are very small and I can't imagine how I could possible get them over the end cap...maybe have to cut them off...

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