Turntable tracking concern

Easy Runnin

So I've been spinning some vinyl and lately when I manually lower the tone arm to the record I notice what seems to be a magnetic force field pulling the needle into the record. I have a Technics SL-D3 turntable and I have an anti static mat on top of the rubber mat on my platter. I usually clean the record with either an original discwasher and/or an audioquest anti static record cleaner. I figure this must be significantly increasing the tracking force. What's going on? Does anybody else ever notice this? What can be done about? What do you say? Thanks

[Deleted User]

Hello,
When you say "pulling the needle into the record" do you mean inward towards the center of the record or downward towards the surface of the record?
Regards, Ken

Easy Runnin

downward toward the surface.

mhardy6647

Given the time of year, and assuming that you're in the Northern hemisphere :- ) the problem sure sounds like static electricity to me.
-

[Deleted User]

Time for an anti-static gun and a wrist grounding mat or wrist thingy
http://www.newark.com/3m/fgc151m/ground-cord/dp/39M5829?mckv=smKJ9vS8U|pcrid|57087225141|plid|&CMP=KNC-GUSA-GEN-SHOPPING-3M

[Deleted User]

What tracking force is recommended by the cartridge company?

[Deleted User]

I've always started at the recommended and backed off from there FWTW.

Kenneth Swauger wrote: »

What tracking force is recommended by the cartridge company?

Easy Runnin

The cart is an AT120e. tracking force 1.0 - 1.8. I have it set at 1.4.

I bought this table when it was new and I never noticed this before.

nooshinjohn

weak cantilever perhaps?

pongshi

Is your turntable isolated from other components and/or electrical devices? Is it sitting on top of another component or in a rack system?