Advice For Using A Mint Tractor

[jcmusic]

I ordered a mint yesterday any tips for using it???

 

[XV-1]

Follow the instructions - They are simple and well written

If you find you are not quite getting the stylus in the absolutely correct position, take a break, have a cup of tea and the go back with a clear head.

After you have done it a few times it gets easier

 

[Sunnyboy1956]

I ordered a mint yesterday any tips for using it???

Patience, patience and more patience. Its painful, boring, laborious but once you hear your cart "properly" aligned it will be more than worth it. Once you get used to the Mint all you need to do is ensure that the cantilever is parallel to the fine black lines at the 2 null points after checking that the stylus is accurately tracing the arc etc
Best

 

[DonH50]

Whoops, wrong thread, I was prepared to discuss previous experience with John Deere, MF, Ford, etc. tractors... Using them to align your phono cartridge would probably provide very low output noise but low signal as well so I do not recommend them.

I agree it is a bit of a shock to hear what a difference a good alignment can make (either type tractor).

 

[Peter Breuninger]

My advise is not to use unleaded gas.

 

[mep]

According to the other thread I started, it really doesn't matter anyway.

 

[rockitman]

My advise is not to use unleaded gas.

View attachment 16035

My tractor of choice...

 

[DonH50]

"Junior", really? Hmph.

 

[jcmusic]

My advise is not to use unleaded gas.

View attachment 16035

how long did it take you to dig up this pic? Maybe you could have just not replied!!!

 

[PeterA]

Here is a photo showing the relative curves traced by my 9" SME V and 12" SME V-12 arms on the Mint protractors. Note how much flatter the 12" curve is and the overhang distance from the spindle hole.

 

[number95]

Here is a photo showing the relative curves traced by my 9" SME V and 12" SME V-12 arms on the Mint protractors. Note how much flatter the 12" curve is and the overhang distance from the spindle hole.

View attachment 16048

Very informative pictures, thanks Peter.

I also ordered mine just recently which has not yet been delivered. I will compare Mint to Dr Feickert Universal protractor that I already have. Tonearm is Graham Elite.

 

[PeterA]

Very informative pictures, thanks Peter.

I also ordered mine just recently which has not yet been delivered. I will compare Mint to Dr Feickert Universal protractor that I already have. Tonearm is Graham Elite.

Here are a couple more interesting ones showing a new cartridge which I just aligned using the MINT. Note the zenith/cantilever alignment. This is one of the real advantages of the MINT in my opinion. It just requires patience, steady fingers, good lighting, and a bit of time. The precision is remarkable. Please post your finding about the comparison to the Feickert.

 

[number95]

Zenith is also painful with Dr Feickert. The base is all black which requires even more light, also parallel lines are two far apart unlike Mint, making paralel cantilever adjustment harder. I will report my findings after comparing those two.

 

[dmnc02]

Zenith is also painful with Dr Feickert. The base is all black which requires even more light, also parallel lines are two far apart unlike Mint, making paralel cantilever adjustment harder. I will report my findings after comparing those two.

The key problem when setting zenith with the Feickert is that it is difficult to compensate for the parallax effect. With the Mint, you know when you are looking to the alignment lines directly from the front and above because the lines overlap their reflections in the mirror below (as shown in PeterA's picture above). I now use the Feickert to set the pivot-spindle distance and the Mint for overhang and zenith.

 

[puroagave]

Very informative pictures, thanks Peter.

I also ordered mine just recently which has not yet been delivered. I will compare Mint to Dr Feickert Universal protractor that I already have. Tonearm is Graham Elite.

why don't you use Bob's jig? the mint LP is an exercise in frustration I had better success with the graham jig.

 

[number95]

why don't you use Bob's jig? the mint LP is an exercise in frustration I had better success with the graham jig.

Somehow I used to get better results with Dr Feickert. Do not know why.

 

[number95]

The key problem when setting zenith with the Feickert is that it is difficult to compensate for the parallax effect. With the Mint, you know when you are looking to the alignment lines directly from the front and above because the lines overlap their reflections in the mirror below (as shown in PeterA's picture above). I now use the Feickert to set the pivot-spindle distance and the Mint for overhang and zenith.

That is also my intention, plan to use Dr Feickert for PTS, Mint for overhang/zenith. I have a second tonearm Ikeda 407 so still need Dr Feickert as mint that I got is for Elite tonearm. If mint shows better improvement, may order a second mint for Ikeda.

 

[dmnc02]

That is also my intention, plan to use Dr Feickert for PTS, Mint for overhang/zenith. I have a second tonearm Ikeda 407 so still need Dr Feickert as mint that I got is for Elite tonearm. If mint shows better improvement, may order a second mint for Ikeda.

In that case, be aware of the following. The manual for the Graham Phantom that still comes with Elite (until Bob updates it) states that the pivot-spindle distance for the 10" arm is 230.3mm (247mm effective length and 16.7mm overhang). However, Yip draws the Mint protractor for the 10" arm based on a pivot-spindle distance of exactly 231mm, as this is easier to measure without error.

 

[rockitman]

why don't you use Bob's jig? the mint LP is an exercise in frustration I had better success with the graham jig.

I used the mint for the first 6 mos with my Graham Supreme a couple years back. The alignment was superior sounding with the Graham jig. It is hit and miss getting the correct pivot to spindle distance using a fiekert and then aligning with the Mint. bob's alignment is different than yip's method.

 

[dmnc02]

bob's alignment is different than yip's method.

They are actually both Löfgren A (Baerwald).