2nd pivot for VPI 3D

It is easy to back the second pivot screw out just enough to lift it off of the glide plate.  Doing so is identical to removing the kit.  This makes it very easy to compare the effect with and without the second pivot.  The instructions suggest starting with the minimum amount of pressure necessary to keep the point of the second pivot in contact with the glide plate throughout the entire arc of the arm.  Then increase pressure in small increments to compare the sound.  Increasing the pressure results in sound improvement up to a point, then it falls off.  With the 3D arm making this pressure adjustment is very easy to do by adjusting the azimuth weight out on the side with the second pivot.  A Counterintuitive is also an easy way to adjust the pressure of the set screw on the plate for arms that lack the adjustable azimuth weights.  You are doing nothing that can't be undone, practically instantly, and the mod will undoubtedly improve the sound of your Windfeld.  

Thanks Bill.....an important adjustment on the 3D (really any arm) is the azimuth adjustment.  If more pressure is provided with that second pivot, am I wrong in suspecting that the azimuth would be disturbed?.  When I use my Foz in the setting up of the arm, this adjustment was critical...from very good sound to WOW.  I want to keep the wow....or do you compensate with the counter intuitive....

It is easier to visualize what is happening when you have the kit in your hands and no matter how articulate our words are, they fall short.  I will try.  Visualize a tripod, that is a platform with three feet.  The first foot is the unipivot of the VPI arm which you are familiar with.  The second foot is the second pivot, think of it as an outrigger like might exist on a canoe, which supports the tonearm and prevents it from tipping on the unipivot. The third pivot is the stylus resting in the groove of the record.  We have just defined a plane in space.  The azimuth is very precisely defined by the outrigger or second pivot.  So adding pressure or weight to the second pivot will not change the azimuth as it did before, because the second pivot will prevent movement.  The three points of contact fix the arm in the plane defined by those three points. So with the kit installed, the side to side rotation about the axis of the unipivot is eliminated. The arm is stable like a gimbal bearing tonearm.  The trick is to optimize the amount of pressure exerted on the second piovt as azimuth is fixed and stable.  When you see it the simplicity will become apparent.  What is amazing is how such a simple idea can have such an extraordinary effect.

Thanks Bill....I'll give it a try.

I ordered the kit recently. Still waiting on delivery but I'll chime in here when I know something.  

The interesting thing to me is, this seems to increase the effective mass of the tonearm by adding friction in the horizontal plane. Which should make the tonearm more amenable to a range of carts with different compliances. and in addition the 'extra' mass is adjustable depending how much you tighten the pivot, meaning the arm's mass can be fine tuned to the cartridge. And even more, you get a more precise AND stable way to adjust the azimuth to boot. That all seems kind of brilliant.