[Christof]

I have a Project Perspective TT with a standard Project arm and a Grado Cart, nothing too fancy but I have  problem.  One of the hair-thin tonearm wires broke right at the connector which plugs into my cart.  I am familiar with soldering XO's but I'm not sure how to go about soldering the small connector back onto this tiny wire?  Any suggestions?  Is this a job for a professional only?

Thanks
Chris

[woodsyi]

I had a similar problem with a glider (naked).  Benz people told me they couldn't do it without sacrificing fidelity.  They ended up giving me a good "trade in" discount for a new one.   Even if Robert has special way with "soldering" it may cost too much for the cart.... 

[Wardsweb]

It is a bit delicate to do. You need very good magnification and a good quality soldering iron or hot air station. You won't need a lot of heat but the ability to get on and off the connection quickly to avoid overheating the post. Remember a dry iron won't transfer heat, so tin both the iron and the wire. Your solder is your heat bridge.

Here is what I used to repair a Benz Micro Wood body cart.



and a picture of the break

[Wayner]

I don't think Christof is talking about the wires inside the cartridge body. He's talking about the wire that goes onto the clip that slides onto the pin of the cartridge.

Just take the clip with a needle nose and remove the solder where the wire broke off. you will find a small hole. Make sure it's free of solder. Strip about an 1/8" of insulation off of the wire where the clip was broken off and thread the wire thru the hole and try to make a kink in it so that half on the wire is on either side of the hole. Solder away. You should use a 25 watt soldering pencil and like others have suggested, tin the tip. Do not do this with the clip attached to the pin or you will destroy your Grado.

Good luck!

Wayner.

[Christof]

I don't think Christof is talking about the wires inside the cartridge body. He's talking about the wire that goes onto the clip that slides onto the pin of the cartridge.

Just take the clip with a needle nose and remove the solder where the wire broke off. you will find a small hole. Make sure it's free of solder. Strip about an 1/8" of insulation off of the wire where the clip was broken off and thread the wire thru the hole and try to make a kink in it so that half on the wire is on either side of the hole. Solder away. You should use a 25 watt soldering pencil and like others have suggested, tin the tip. Do not do this with the clip attached to the pin or you will destroy your Grado.

Good luck!

Wayner.

Wayner

You are correct, I am talking about wire going to the clip which slides onto the pins of the cart, not the wires inside the cart itself.

Thanks
Chris

[TheChairGuy]

Christof,

I had that happen (on a tonearm without removable cartridge leads).

I lived with it for a good long time without the clip attached/soldered to the end of the wire. How, you may be asking 

Put the bare wire end to your cartridge pin and carefully place the (unattached) clip over both the wire and cartridge clip.  If there's friction to hold it on - your fine.

You just eliminated a solder joint.....no bad thing for meager cartridge voltages to leap over...you might even want to do that for all your leads 

You just need to find away to have the wire in innate contact with the cartridge pin...the (now detached clip) is perfect to do that.  No need to re-solder it...it costs nothing to do  (just a lot harder to get it to work than attaching clips at the end of your headshell lead)

Does this all make sense or did I lose you along the way?

John

[Christof]

I follow ya.  I'll give it a try tonight....I start to see cross-eyed when I look at that little wire so this could be tricky

[TheChairGuy]

I follow ya.  I'll give it a try tonight....I start to see cross-eyed when I look at that little wire so this could be tricky

Better during the day (Saturday morning, perhaps?) as light is better.

I'm 44 now...I'm starting to find additional light is needed to enhance contrasts.  Dratz to $#%XX^% aging 

John

[KCI-JohnP]

Chrisof,
If you can't get it done let me know and I'd be glad to do it for you. No cost, just ship it to me and I'll fix it and ship it back.

Sincerely
John

[Christof]

I'm 44 now...I'm starting to find additional light is needed to enhance contrasts.  Dratz to $#%XX^% aging  Evil or Very Mad

I'm 32, it get's worse  ???

Chrisof,
If you can't get it done let me know and I'd be glad to do it for you. No cost, just ship it to me and I'll fix it and ship it back.

Sincerely
John

A very kind person you are.  I may have to take you up on your offer

Thanks
Chris

[Wayner]

Christof,

Does your wires from the cartridge clip go directly into your turntable arm or is there another set of pins (4) built into the head where the arm tube meets? The reason I ask is if the arm has pins, you can buy replacement wires with clips on both ends of each of the four color coded wires as a set. The wire set would be about 1.25" long. I think they can be bought for under $20.

Wayner

[TheChairGuy]

I'm 32, it get's worse  ???

Yes - worse...but as long as you have a pulse and your pecker works, don't worry about it 

John

[KCI-JohnP]

I'm 32, it get's worse  ???

Yes - worse...but as long as you have a pulse and your pecker works, don't worry about it 

John

Ha ha!! So true, hell I think my pecker works better now....but, seems I'm getting so damn blind I can't see where to put it!!

[Christof]

Christof,

Does your wires from the cartridge clip go directly into your turntable arm or is there another set of pins (4) built into the head where the arm tube meets? The reason I ask is if the arm has pins, you can buy replacement wires with clips on both ends of each of the four color coded wires as a set. The wire set would be about 1.25" long. I think they can be bought for under $20.

Wayner

The wires run the length of the arm and then down into a little box below the platform where they are terminated

[Wayner]

Yep, thru the arm. Bummer.

Wayner