I have another issue
I have set the anti skate and tracking to "0" (as per set up instructions for the 698).
I have turned the counter weight all the way to the back of the tone arm and it still will not balance. The cartridge drops to the album no matter how much weight I adjust to the rear of the tone arm.
Any suggestions?
It is very simple to set the tone arm on a 698 Empire turntable.
1. Once the cartridge is mounted set the dials for tracking force and anti-skating to zero.
2. Adjust the counterweight until the arm is in neutral balance.
3. Set the tracking force using the dial only, do not readjust the counterweight
4. Set the anti-skating adjustment to indicate the same setting as the vertical tracking force you just adjusted. That's all there is too it.
How do you know what vertical weight to set it at? One way is to use a test record like the Shure Audo Obstacle Course. Set the VTF at the lowest weight where the most heavily modulated sections play without distortion. If you do not have such a record, adjust the weight to the lowest force recommended by the cartridge manufacturer. Because the Empire arm is dynamically balanced and built to the highest precision it will track at the lowest possible tracking force. The 98 arm may look more massive than some thinner lighter arms but its actual dynamic mass which is what matters is much lower because the force is applied with a clock mainspring, not a mass imbalance.
If you have an older 980A arm you set the anti-tracking force by sliding the nylon loop that holds the counterweight back and forth just as you would on an SME arm. If you have an older arm than that there was no anti-skating adjustment.
I've checked the calibration of both the 698 and the 980A arm's settings using weights and it is always correct. I've checked the anti-skating using the middle unmodulated grooves of the Shure test record and it is also always correct. IMO you can rely on those settings.
BTW I think the correct overhang adjustmet is 3/8" for both. Anyone have any data? It's very easy on the 980 arm, you just line up the stylus tip with the front edge of the plastic cartridge mounting block.