New Maplenoll Ariadne owner needing advice

Oilmanmojo: You have highlighted a key question that must be answered in more detail. The alternate is to fill the sleeve with balsa. The tone-arm is different from the perspective that once sealed it should not swell. I have some ideas gleamed from conversations with Bruce Tigpan for completeing the tone-arm. At this point I am not convinced that either my initial or later ideas are better relative to each other. Thinking and a tad of time will help. The key here is what EJ termed "reverse engineering" ... I get it.

Oilmanmojo: As I awoke the medical motto "First Do No Harm", came to mind along with the following;

An alternate route is to apply feather-weight damping compounds developed by GE as mentioned in earlier postings , uncaping the bearing tube, filling the inner space and then recaping.

Or, a complete revision using carbon fiber tubes for the bearing and tone arm (Tks for the idea & materal). As for the tone arm ,the method for internal damping slightly differs: Prior to filling the arm tube a teflon tubeing is centered for the passage of the phono wires(w/exits front & back ) ,light-weight dampner leveled into 70-80% of the arm tube space, back to front. The challenge is of course end cap hardware and the VTA screw shaft, should the design be manitained.

The effective mass of the arm will change ,the "geometry" should be the same. Head-shell weights in different grams will likely be required (ss,lead & brass are options).

Joe Grado mailed his tri-point headshell weights to me years ago. Modified fan weights can be used inconjuction with the Grado Tri-Points, if extra weight is a must. For that, I'll go back to the books for a final answer.

WoodCrafter EJ suggested because the high pressured bearing manifold expells air mixed w/ oil & water vapors , wood is not a first choice for the bearing tube ; all wood swells in time. Filling the factory tube or a carbon redo are options . For the arm tube anything goes, metal, wood or carbon ... Of course, the "math" is important, enought brain goo for now. All the best.

FYI: The air bearing and tone arm have been disassembled. A carbon fiber (now) & wood (later) arm tube w/slight modifications to the arm lift on back of the manifold , bass & lead counter weights for the arm , the bearing tube opened & filled w/ GE dampner, maple plugs countersunk w/ brass threaded incerts for the tube,VTA unit modded and walnut supports for the manifold . AQ phono plugs w/cardas phono wire for the carbon fiber , 46 ga. 9x9 solid copper for the wood arm. The manifold is to be cleaned , inner sleeve brushed & manifold lightly dampened. More later.

FYI : Scott Leventhal contacted me with a listing of replacements for the quite pumps. I shall post soon. Scott is one of those unsung 'Nollers always willing to assist. Thanks Scott.

PS. He wrote the more informed manual for the Maplenoll Line. He knows the platform.

Crem,

sorry to be out o touch. I'm on the road and not near internet.

The suggestion was to fill the existing air bearing tube with snug fitting balsa. Using wood for the bearing is not an option due to tolerance issues.