Mint Tractor

Thanks Mark..the LP is really singing now.. Stan

Mark,
It's both! ;-) Yip prints the overhang arc and alignment lines on a sheet of very thin, matte finish plastic, which he then applies to a glass mirror.

Yikes!
Then I imagine one should remember to excersize extreme care when installing, and removing the mintlp protractor on Spindle?

No lifting by the edges, no bending-flexing, remembering to lift the entire protractor straight up.

I informed Yip my VPI HW-19 MK-IV Spindle was exactly .282" diameter. Hope it fits correctly, otherwise, crrrrrraack, and you can then chuck it in the garbage can! Hopefully it will fit, and I won't have to resort to some sort of sandpaper to ream the Spindle Hole.

I'm glad Stanley that your Benz LP is really singing now for you. I reckon you were worried, and pulled your hair out for awhile there, trying to hit that nirvana sweet spot with it. We were all stymied there for awhile.

I'm waiting to see what improvements might be had with my relatively low hour ZYX Airy3X. It's sounding pretty darn fine already, and gets better, and better each time I play it. Mark

Doug, good write up on the effect the Mint had on your system.

Stringreen glad you started this thread, as we found out, precise cartridge set up IS absolutely critical.

I sent Yip's web info to the VPI dealer I heard the HRX and my Raven at.
Also I apologize to you and other VPI owners for my offencive drunken rant.

On a lighter note regarding the use of the Mint tractor.

I borrowed a high quality 10x loupe with a 40mm barrel from a collector of ancient coins.
I positioned the loupe on the platter with the bottom of the barrel about 3 mm or so from the stylus.

I then carefully ramped the loupe up on a angle so I could comfortably view the cantilever and stylus position on the tractor.
This worked very well and with the exceptional clarity of the optics this was a tremendous help opposed to using inexpensive plastic lenses.

I found these 10 and $20. 8,10,and 12x loupes a real source of aggravation, poor optics and too small to handle in such a fragile area.

Spending a little extra for a high quality loupe you could also use it to view your stylus for stuck on vinyl deposits on occasion.

Hi All, i placed an order with Yip as well. I figured might as well jump in both feet in like you guys. However, Yip returns an email asking for spindle diameter. No problem there as i have a micrometer to measure.

He also asks to look at the tonearm spec sheet for: effective lenght and spindle to pivot distance. OK for the effective lenght but the PTSD don't you have to physically measure this with a ruler. I do not think that PTSD would be stated in the owner's manual (spec sheet).
Tonearm is a Phantom II.
Clarification welcomed......