SME 3009 II (improved) won't balance with Shure V15 III

Thanks. I know I can add weight to the headshell. I’ve done that with other arms, but what I’m baffled by is that this arm and cart are a common/popular combination. From what I’ve read, the arm was pretty much designed to be a match for the V15 cart (the SME manual even shows the arm set up with this cart). So I’m trying to figure out why I’m having this problem and other people don’t.

The balance weight is the standard one that comes with the arm. I’m not aware of other people having to find a lighter balance weight to make this arm work with the V15.

If worse comes to worst, I’ll add a weight to the headshell. I’m just hoping to figure out why this is happening, because it seems like something must be wrong if this common arm/cart combo works for others but not for me.

Thanks again!

You shure it's the standard weight? (pun intended) Is the outrigger adjusted correctly? Is it the stock headshell? Any sign of the arm being modified? 

I'm not sure what the standard balance weight is. The one on my arm weighs 89 grams. I'm seeing heavier ones available on eBay, but I don't see any lighter ones. I'm pretty sure this is what came with the arm originally.

No signs the arm has been modified. 

So ... if I need to add weight to the headshell, am I defeating the purpose of matching this arm with this cart? I bought the arm because its very low mass was meant to pair with the V15 III, which I want to use. If I add mass to the headshell, am I not defeating the supposedly ideal match between the arm and cart?

Well ... turns out it's pretty easy to reach someone at SME. I called and they told me that -- as you suspected -- this is not the balance weight that came with the arm. They sell five/six weights and this is one of the heavier ones. It's authentic -- just not the one that would have come with the fixed-head shell version of the arm. 

I can order a lighter one -- for $200 and a four- to six-week wait. So that's lovely. 

He said not to just add weight to the headshell and use it that way. 

Maybe you can find a competent machinist (out in Rockville if you actually live in DC) who can shave some weight off that CW. Could be done while you wait in the shop.