Vinyl Asylum: Addendum for Incognito Wire Installed in Origin Live Modified Rega RB250 by NewbieBaby

As an addendum to the original post concerning the installation of the Incognito modification onto an O-L Structural modified Rega RB250 arm, I suggest the following alternative procedure items:

These relate to the treatment of the signal wires after they are drawn through the pillar hole and the arm tube and after the replacement arm tube ground wire is fully prepared. Though I did not perform the revised procedure items with my installation, conceptually, the detailed procedure changes provide a more reliable means for insuring that no binding occurs at the pivot due to the final disposition of the signal wires in the arm and pillar.

So, before the gold plug is fixed into the pillar base, and before the signal wires are glued using the "crazy glue" type glue, the following is suggested:

With the replacement ground wire fully prepared (the ground clip is affixed in the arm tube, the wire is cut to length at the pillar base, and the wire end is tinned to the appropriate length),as a temporary step, stuff the ground wire in to the pillar cavity so that the gold termination plug may be inserted without resistance. Lightly pulling the signal wires at the head shell end, draw the plug into place at the pillar base and lightly affix with the set screw. This is not intended to be a permanent affixing.

At the head shell end, pull the signal wires lightly taut and position the rubber plug to 0.625-0.750 inches from its final position in the arm end (this rather than the 0.375 inches suggested before). Glue the wires to the rubber plug with daubs of the "crazy glue" type glue.

When the glue is fully cured (such that it will take strain), release the set screw holding the gold termination plug at the pillar base, and pull the signal wires back through the arm such that the rubber plug at the head shell end can be fitted. Notice that by this procedure the majority of the signal wire slack can be concentrated in the pillar cavity rather than in the arm (as would be the case when following the original procedure). Having the signal wire slack in the pillar cavity is consistent with the original Rega configuration, and conceptually makes sense for minimizing pivot binding due to any potential signal wire tension, torque or friction (torque in particular).

For final placement of the gold termination plug, place the replacement ground wire such that it is friction fit between the pillar internal bore and the gold plug outer surface and press the gold plug to its final position taking care that the signal wires "lay" properly during the process and are not pinched. Finaly, affix the gold plug with the set screw.

I hope this makes sense.