That last micro cartridge adjustment

If your description of this issue is correct, it sounds like your assumed pivot-to-spindle distance is off.

Markpao,

The answer to your question is "yes".

Washers between the headshell and screw heads provide several benefits:

1. they reduce damage to the headshell from the spinning screw heads;

2. they stop the screws digging into the headshell and moving your setup, as you suggested;

3. they spread the load over a wider area, which provides a more stable connection.

Nylon washers work okay but they can muddy the sound a bit. Metal washers work better and sound cleaner/tighter.

You spent $100 on a protractor to optimize results. It'd be silly to take shortcuts on the installation - sorry.

Nrenter, I had a few other cartridges that I aligned prior to this one and don't recall having this problem (to this extent anyway) with the others. I will recheck that distance though and thanks for the heads up. Thats is one area I never did recheck.

Doug, You make excellent reasons for using washers. Thank you. Now I know that I "have to" back off the screws I will. I would never think to take short cuts, I just didn't want to take that route if some of you more experienced fellows thought it was a waste of time.

Anyone know where I can get the appropriate washers that I need? Looks like I need something with a very small hole but overall diameter large enough to go over the full width of the elongated headshell slots.