SL-5 auto return too early - any help?

[Hepokatti]

I just got a new cartridge for my SL-5, but my listening enjoyment is plagued by this weird malfunction; in longer albums, the playback stops too early - sometimes way before the lead out groove - and the tonearm returns to the beginning of the record.

SL-5 doesn't have similar auto return adjust screw as SL-7. I've read few threads people having similar problems, but didn't manage to find a solution.

I have the SL-5 (and SL-7) service manual(s), and it doesn't say anything about adjusting auto return. Looks like you can only adjust the start position! I opened the tonearm motor cover, but didn't manage to do much;

[Hepokatti]

I may have solved the issue. So far I've played 2 LP sides to the very end. Both of them auto returned too early before my adjustments.

viewtopic.php?t=23171

This topic may be of help for people having similar issues, as I believe SL-5 and SL-Q5 are rather similar in this regard.

I think that SL-5 tonearm auto return is triggered by the tonearm tilting towards the center of the disk. This effect seems to be easily caused by the blank lead out groove, but the same effect is caused if the TONEARM OFFSET ANGLE screw is not perfectly adjusted. The service/user manual doesn't recognize this problem, but I solved my issue by adjusting that.

Other tonearm behavior pecularities can be probably solved by adjusting the servo gain/voltage and de- and re-greasing the tonearm rails.

[fscl]

Good find. I knew it had come up before but forgot what topic subject it was addressed. Member Shoji's solution provided the cure.

Fred

[Hepokatti]

Also, when toying with SL-5s, I want to recommend checking out service manuals for both "SL-5" and "SL-Q5", as they supplement each other. (Both of them are lacking in some way ;D)