Audio Technica AT ML-180 Cartridge Advice

ateal, ''I was only passing on this information from an agent of Vdh

it is not my assertion or opinion''.

''Also I am pretty certain that if Vdh can build 'he Colibri' THEY can

perform a rebuild of an ML 180 stylus.''

The first and the second statement are contradictory. Your believe

in what Van den Hul or ''they'' can do is not relevant for the ''details''

involved by this repair. Chackster and I have had similar dispute

about Technics 205 series ''suspension problem''. Both the AT and

205 use ''tension wire'' in their styli which is usual my MC kinds but

rare by MM kinds. My conviction based on my information and

experience (disassemling the whole construction) is that ''tension

wire'' in the MM carts can't be changed or fixed. By AT carts this

tension wire is connected with the back side of the cantilever while

by 205 kinds  the part with tension wire need to be removed in order

to change the ''ruber ring'' (aka suspension) because this ring is

fastened behind the round magnet on which front side the cantilever

and tension wire on its back side are fastened.

By MC kinds the tension wire need to be (first) removed because

the suspension is behind the coils and does not belong to ''moving

parts''. After the installation of the new suspension the same

wire need to be fastened, centered and tighten a new. One

can usual  see those 2 or 3 screws for this purpose on the generator

bodies.

dear chakster, ''the if-then'' assertions are not facts. Facts are

true statements or propositions. My suggestion was to remove

the whole cantilever/stylus from one AT and install in the other.

No need for philosophical disputes by my proposal which nearly

everyone can do by himself. I am surprised that you never try

at list to investigate the stylus construction by AT carts. There

are cheap samples while no academic education is needed to

perform this task. Your curiosity should be more worth than ,say,

$50 for an ''cheap'' AT sample. Those offered ''for parts'' can also

be used for this purpose. So the price is not an argument against.

So my argument is: see or look for yourself. After that you can

propose your own finding about ''fixing'' the suspension by

AT or 205 kinds. Even with tubed boron cantilevers which Vdh

as a capable business man had stored in his stock the question

how to connect this ''impressive'' cantilever to the tension wire

behind the cantilever is not clear, at least not to me.

By 205 one can see those small screws on the pipe behind which

function is the same as by MC carts. To center, tighten and

connect the tension wire with the cantilever. As you could see

at the end of the tube the tension wire is glued. There are no such

screws by AT kinds. So I have no idea how tension wire by AT

are fastened. As a big admirer of the new and old Grace carts

you should be even more motivated for this investigation because

those also use tension wire. J. Carr  explained elsewhere in this

thread their function and advantage.

I had a long conversation with the VdH representative here in the US a few weeks ago and he explained that Mr VdH performs all the rebuilds himself and that he bought the last remaining supply of Boron tube.

Whilst he did not go into details on the specific step by step approach of how he performs the rebuild, he did explain that a new boron tube cantilever, VdH natural diamond and new suspension would cost me $750 and assured me that Mr VdH does this work himself in his retirement.

I was only passing on this information from a reputable agent of VdH it is not my assumption or opinion.