Cueing issue

There is not much downward force on the cueing device, to make it reach the full extent of its travel toward the surface of the LP (=VTF plus some mechanical advantage due to the location of the cueing device near to the pivot).  In this case, the cueing device may just be sticking at some point before it hits the bottom of its travel, on the occasions where you notice.  You might look into ways to lubricate it or maybe replace the damping fluid with something less viscous.  The Alphason is decades old, so maybe new damping fluid is in order.

The cueing device can be repaired....there are instructions on the VPI forum website.  ...also it can be replaced with a new one.

That's what I thought lewm but he says its working. Just to make sure the test would be to raise and lower it with the arm in the arm rest. It should drop nice and smooth even without the arm. If it sticks at all then lewm nailed it.