Help with Vanrock E-101 issues: heavy head, warped platter, single wire sapphire

[doc35]

Hello,

I've just receive my ATOM101 from Japan.

I have several problems that I try to describe bellow:

The sapphire is not powered because one wire is missing. I tested it with one wire connected, and the ampmeter does not increase in intensity on the VU meter.

I try with the diamond and the ampmeter is working, but the cutting is not proceed correctly (see after this)

The LOCK/FREE slider does not work; it does not raise or lower the head.

The knob that controls the stylus weight does not work, the weight always stays the same, so it is impossible to set a weight of 13–14 g.

The platter seems warped, which makes proper cutting impossible; one area is always more treble‑heavy than the other and, after testing on several discs, the result is always the same:
-> I cannot achieve a proper cut, because the stylus whistles on one part of the groove and not on another.
-> The sound is not even listenable.

Here is what I observe in more detail:

The cutting weight is always too high. Even with the adjustment screw completely loosened, my Neoteck scale shows “FULL” (weight > 20 g). I tested without the stylus: the head shell alone already causes “FULL”. Is this normal? Do you use a lighter head shell in your tests?

When I try to cut, I hear a constant high‑pitched whistle. The groove does not follow the spiral; it stays concentrated in a small area, as if the stylus was digging in too much and getting stuck.

When the machine is stopped, the disc looks flat, but when it is rotating, it seems the platter is not perfectly level, which could explain the variations in pressure.

I have tried:

Loosening and tightening the weight adjustment screw,

Adding a counterweight at the back of the arm,

Checking that the arm moves freely,

Cleaning around the mechanism.

But nothing allows me to go below 20 g, nor to cut a continuous groove correctly.


I am not familar with such of device, and if someone may help me it will be great.

Thank you
Marc

[mrd]

Hi Marc

Re. weight etc. Sounds like the spring (or plastic part which attaches to the spring) has broken, you'll need to take the cover off and investigate/replace/repair. how did you attach a counterweight? when I did mine I ran a metal bar so that I could get some distance from the pivot point so it was effective). Are you looking at the platter without the mat?

[doc35]

Hi MRD,

Thank you for your answer.

I didn't take off anything, because I do not know anything on this old machine, and did not find any documentation to do something without danger.

So, I did not attach the counterweight.

I've just see from external that the spring seems OK.

Concerning the platter, I can see the aluminum platter have a slight ripple when it rotates.

I sincerely hope that as soon as I have the procedure to correct the arm problems, these undulations won't have too much of an impact on the diamond engraving! What do you think?

The fact is the vendor made me a video to check all was ok. I think the transportation manipulations did something. So i hope this is just something to set.

Sincerly
Marc

[mrd]

Hi Marc

No problem. Just saw your reply. You can see the spring externally?! attach a photo if you can.. the spring can still be in place but on mine the mech for tightening is based on a rotating square, a strip of metal which is attached to some plastic which goes brittle and cracks so it'll turn, and the spring is in place, but won't adust the weight. And yeah shipping is a nightmare, had a few things suffer really badly.

Re counterweight, unless this extends out the back of the arm it wouldn't do much to counter balance I'd have thought as the pivot point is so close to the edge of the arm