Dover, I sure understand and appreciate what you've done on your 501 arm. That is some precision work you've done, and for it to be sucessful, you had to have done a very good job.
Doing that kind of work on your system is very satisfying and rewarding, something to be very proud of. Heck, I'm even proud of you!
I once sent my arm to a guy that was going to rewire it with silver, but when I got it back, it was still disassembled, and the wiring was so screwed up I decided to take it apart and rewire it myself. I just ordered some Cardas tonearm wire, tore it apart, took apart the crap he'd done, and rewired it. I had the arm almost completely apart,but when it was done, it was done right, and it has been working perfectly for over a dozen years, other than the arm lift.
By the way, I was a lifelong heavy equipment operater, not a machinist. I've always enjoyed taking things apart and making them work better, so it's kind of fun, at least when all goes well, but it doesn't always go the way you want it though, 'eh?
Needless to say, that guy didn't get a reccomendation from me!
They are a very nicely engineered and built tonearm, though.
Thanks and regards,
Dan