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


So ... I'm working on a Garrard 301 project and just installed a new-to-me SME 3009 II (improved) tonearm on which I attached a Shure V15 cartridge. I know that this cart and arm are essentially made for each other, but when I begin the setup process, I can't get past the first, most basic step. Even with the balance weight screwed in as close as possible (applying no extra upward weight), the cartridge end tips way UP when I release it from the arm rest. No adjustment I make will get the arm to come down into a balanced position.

I've never encountered this with a tonearm before, and I'm new to owning an SME. 

I'm pretty sure I've check all the "D'oh! How could I be so stupid?" things I could be doing wrong. I'm baffled.  Anyone have any ideas? 

Thanks in advance!

 

dcindc

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.

Does anyone here know a lot about these SME arms? Even though the guy at SME tells me this is not the original weight, I'm not seeing any mention anywhere online of this arm coming with a lighter weight. I only see mentions of people buying heavier weights because the original was too light. 

FWIW: My weight is 90g. I'm not seeing any mentions online of a weight lighter than that.