How to test your tone arm bearings

 How to test your tone arm bearings

1)    Install stylus guard!
2)    Adjust counterweight for ZERO force (arm floats horizontally – does not rise or fall
3)    Turn anti-skating to ZERO

NOW – set arm in middle or stationary record or platter. It should NOT swing laterally. CERTAINLY not fast. If is DOES, your anti-skating is BROKEN.

Now BLOW ever so lightly on the right side of the arm. It should swing all the way in. If it moves a bit and stops suddenly, your lateral bearings are broken (or the tone arm wires are hung up near the bearings – rare, but it CAN happen). The headshell should also bob up and down easily. If it FREEZES in motion, the vertical bearings are damaged.