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Formula 4 Model PL S4/D
Professional Laboratory Silicone- damped Pick-up Arm
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS - USE EXTREME CARE
1. Using template provided select point 209 mm from turntable spindle at which arm base (item
11) will be located. The rear overhang of the arm must have a minimum of 65 mm (2.56")
clearance from obstructions behind the mounting board (lid, etc.).
2. At the mounting point drill a hole 25 mm (1") diameter to accept arm base (item 11).
3. Position base on mounting hole with one rubber grommet above and the other below
mounting board with washer and then tighten hexagonal nut with fingers only. Base must be
reasonably firm but do not overtighten with spanner. From underneath deck push up audio lead
moulded plug through base hole, insert into bottom of central pillar and then lower pillar back
into the base hole and secure with knurled screw.
4. Fit arm rest in suitable position in 6 mm (1/4") hole. Always remove arm tube from rest very
gently with fingers around arm rest support and under tube. Never use headshell finger lift when
tube is pushed home into the rest.
5. Audio lead must not be constricted below plinth and it must not exert any pressure on the arm
base. Connect the earth wire to ground terminal on amplifier together with an earth wire from
turntable chassis. Note: there must be no other ground connection and the system must be
connected to main ground by one path only, usually from amplifier to the earth pin of the mains
(U.K.). Additional paths to ground will increase hum.
6. Place eccentric counterweight on rear of arm tube.
7. Install cartridge in headshell (item 1). It is essential to protect stylus at all times during
installation and adjustment. Be extremely careful when pushing connectors on to the cartridge
pins with tweezers. Select screws of appropriate length. Fit the nuts. The colour code of leads is:
R channel signal: red
R channel ground: green
L channel signal: white
L channel ground: blue
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SETTING UP PROCEDURES
1. Unscrew Perspex dome from alloy hub (item 5) (may already be removed in some packs).
Attached to this component is (item 8) bias weight holder connected by a thread and adjustable
unipivot (item 6).
2. It can now be observed that the top of the central pillar or column consists of a reservoir with
a jeweled bearing at the bottom. It can also be seen that there is a cut out in the central column
into which the arm tube projects slightly. This cut out must be positioned so that the arm tube
(item 2) will move freely from outer edge of record inwards to turntable spindle.
3. Partially fill the reservoir with silicone fluid supplied which should come to 1/4" below the top
with the pivot pin in place. It is preferable that the silicone fluid oil does not come into contact
with the outside of the hub as it is sticky and migratory and may effect the bias thread.
4. Prior to screwing the Perspex dome back into place, check to ensure that the pivot (item 6) is
properly adjusted. The ground point of the pivot should be sighted in line with the centre of the
groove on the bottom of the transparent Perspex dome. The pivot is threaded and has a lock-nut
for this purpose. This adjustment not only ensures freedom of lateral and vertical movement but
also calibrates the point at which the bias force is applied so that it is in the same horizontal
plane as that on which the pivot point occurs.
5. Having fitted the Perspex dome into place, the thread of the bias weight holder (item 8)
should be positioned along the groove at the bottom of the dome and then put into the groove of
the bias bearing. The bias bearing component (item 9) can be adjusted vertically and laterally in
order that the thread is arranged at an angle of approx. 90 degrees to the hub in both planes.
6. VERTICAL & HORIZONTAL BALANCE. These adjustments are made with the arm in a state of
even balance and the cursor (item 3) should be back against the rear pimple nearest the hub. It
is advisable at this time to ensure that the turntable and mounting board are perfectly level.
Bringing the arm to vertical and horizontal balance is merely a matter of moving the eccentric
decoupled counterweight (item 7) backwards or forwards for vertical balance and rotating it for
horizontal balance until the bottom edge of the alloy hub is lined up parallel to the edge of the
metal stopper ring (item 12).
7. TRACKING FORCE is achieved by sliding the cursor (item 3) along the calibrated tube, each
small indentation represents 0.1 gram, each red dot 0.5 gram. Using knur led screw in arm base
adjust height until the arm tube is parallel to the record surface. Correct height will leave
sufficient room for cursor to traverse whilst tracking a warped record. (See note under tracking
error re tracking forces). Ensure audio lead is not exerting pressure on arm base.
8. HYDRAULIC LIFT & LOWER DEVICE -- the entire platform (item 10) can be moved towards
record centre (approx 20 degrees) for accurate cueing. The height can be adjusted up or
downwards by means of a grub screw located in front of the platform. Care must be taken not to
strip the thread.
9. TRACKING ERROR -- use alignment protractor supplied for zero tracking error at 2.375"
(60.325 mm) from record centre. See that cartridge is set correctly in headshell and ensure that
the stylus is perpendicular to record as seen from the front. Adjustment in accordance with these
instructions does not imply that the stylus tip is perpendicular to the groove when viewed from
the side. Normally it will be at a small angle of rake nominally 15 degrees from the vertical when
under its correct tracking pressure in accordance with the cartridge manufacturer's recommended
tracking force requirement. Check stylus pressure with a good gauge in case the arm has not
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been exactly balanced correctly or it may be slightly out of perfect balance due to subsequent
adjustments.
10. BIAS COMPENSATION -- a set of weights is supplied which correspond to tracking force.
Quantities as follows: 0.1 gram (1), 0.2 gram (2), 0.5 gram (1), 1 gram (2), 3 gr am (1). Further
bias adjustments will require the use of a test record and minute adjustment can be effected as
required.
N.B. Slim-line plinths require larger feet than are normally supplied to allow sufficient clearance
for audio lead. Small 1" rubber door- stops are good substitute feet. Unless already provided for
in the underneath bottom cover of the plinth directly below the pick-up arm mounting, cut a hole
approx. 2" in diameter through which the audio lead may pass completely unrestricted.
SPECIFICATIONS
Effective length (stylus pivot): 224 mm
Rear overhang required: 65 mm
Height adjustment: 45 mm
Effective mass (as seen by stylus): 4.50 gram nominal+variable
Audio output lead length: 4'6" (137 cm)
Audio output lead capacitance: 112 pF (with phono plugs)
Tracking force: 0 - 3.5 grams
Pivot: inverted hardened steel pin pivoting on jeweled bearing damped by silicone fluid
Pivot friction: Less than 5 Mgm. in any plane measured at the headshell
Mayware Ltd. 15 Heather Walk, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 9TS England
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