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TriPlanar tonearm outward skating issue

Hi all,

I have been trying to research a solution to a recent issue with my TriPlanar VII UII tonearm that I bought  a couple years back.

The tonearm seems to want to skate outwards, even with zero anti skate applied and the weight removed from the little anti skate arm. It is evident at various settings of VTF, VTA, etc. The platter is very level and everything seems to be aligned OK. This outward skating force is very light in the outer grooves and becomes stronger as the cartridge gets closer to the end of a side. In fact, as it traces the lead-out grooves at the end of a side, the tonearm sometimes thrusts outwards across those grooves back into the last track. Very scary!

A visual check of the cantilever azimuth seems to confirm an outward pressure from the tonearm since the cantilever is leaning with the stylus end closer to the spindle.

I can’t seem to find any information online about this phenomenon.

Any insights and recommendations would appreciated.
shayes002
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cleeds
5,957 posts
 
Have you checked the wiring of your pickup arm? It needs to be dressed so as not to apply any force to the arm itself.

The Triplanar arm allows for azimuth adjustment. Have you adjusted it for proper azimuth?
wrm57
1,048 posts
 
@shayes002: I, too, have noticed a high amount of native anti-skate in my Triplanar VII uii. Nothing like yours but still quite a bit. The armboard and table are perfectly level, and all parameters are set with reliable tools. Tri sent me a lighter counterweight but it’s still too heavy. So I fabricated a lighter one still, comprised of two layers of blutak between three small titanium washers. Slides on, stays put, and allows for adequate fine-tuning of bias.

@cleeds: Good thought but the Triplanar has a captive cable fixed to the base, relieving stress on the arm from the cable.

Ag insider logo xs@2x
cleeds
5,957 posts
 
wrm57
@cleeds: Good thought but the Triplanar has a captive cable fixed to the base, relieving stress on the arm from the cable.
Given the skating issue you described, this captive cable warrants close examination.
wrm57
1,048 posts
 
Yes, the wiring was my first thought, too. I've played around with the cable to no effect. Perhaps there is some torquing of the internal wiring within the arm tube/pivot, I don't know, but that's beyond my skill to check. And as I've been able to dial-in bias with the lighter weight, I see no need to send it back to Tri.
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