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Help me fix my cartridge

This was my first cartridge installation experience and it went very bad. I was installing my new Dynavector 20x on to the tonearm of my Pro-Ject 9.1 by screwing the screws into the threaded holes when I noticed that they were getting tight. I tried the other hole and the same thing occurred, oh oh I thought, better unscrew these screws, they're slightly too big. Then things started to really go bad. The screws inexplicably became very tight as I unscrewed them. I had no choice but to apply more force since the screws were only halfway in and the cart was dangling from the tonearm. Unfortunately the aluminum screw wasn't designed to take that much torque so it broke off in the hole! Darn! I tried to gingerly remove the other one but snap, the other screw broke off also. Man, now I'm screwed I thought. (no pun intended) I have two broken screws stuck in my cart with no way to remove them. I thought I didn't have anything to lose at this point so I tried to drill through them with a tiny drill bit. The first one worked, great, now to do the second one. With great precision I drilled clean through the center of the screw, but now the outer edge of the screw was attached to the threads. So now I can't screw in any screws. Do you have any solutions to removing the remnant of the screw? Can I tap the hole somehow? Right now the cart is attached to the tonearm with one screw but I'm sure two are ideal for the best sound.
mikeyc8
mikeyc8 OP
174 posts
 
Mark, yes I agree why use slightly different screws for carts so close in price, its not like I was installing a XV 1S or something? Unfortunately I bought it from a fellow Agoner so I didn't have the original bill of sale so I thought I was SOL. Someone else also advised me to try contacting Dynavector to see if they can help. I'll let you guys know how things work out.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.
pkubica
134 posts
 
The automotive store might not have anything that small, but I would think a good hobby shop that sells RC cars and planes would have everything. They are also used to working on small parts and might be a great help.
Paul
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Finding taps that size is not a problem, but finding extractors that size may be tough. It is going to be really tough to fix the cartridge correctly while it is still attached to the tonearm. It may be worth trying to contact Peter at SoundSmith and see if he has any ideas. Or, perhaps you could send the whole mess to him. Just lift the tonearm and send it all to him. He could check out your cartridge at the same time. Proceed carefully and you may just be able to recover from this screw up. ;-) (I couldn't resist.)
mikeyc8 OP
174 posts
 
I checked my local Home Depot but they didn't have any taps or extractors that small. I also called up my local Dynavector distributor and they basically said that I was SOL since I bought it used. So it looks like my only alternative now is to drill a larger hole and use a nut to hold it in place.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
You'll have to go online to get taps that small. Here is one place, for example.

precision taps

Then again, many cartridges are attached with a screw and nut. Just be careful not to over-tighten.
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