Hi there, could really do with some help!

Records are playing on my system but the arm is trying to pull the stylus back to it's starting place so the record sounds distorted and keeps skipping backwards. Is this something to do with the counterweight or something? Turning it around to 0 seems to reduce the problem somewhat but it still gets stuck in the groove and sounds very crackly. When i push down on the stylus end of the arm a little the crackling goes away - too much weight at the back of the arm?

I just got the system through ebay and the previous owner assures me it worked fine. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Dom.

Firstly, congratulations on having a lovely Beocenter - they really are a nice piece of kit.

Assuming the transit screws are not still in the shipping position,  (if it plays ok with the lid open that's a fair clue) and the stylus is not knackered (fingers  crossed) it's most likely to be that the counterweight is incorrectly set.  Here's how to set it correctly.

1. adjust the counterweight until the arm is balance, like an equally weighted see-saw 
2. hold the counterweight still and adjust the silver weight indicator ring at the front until it reads 0. Tweak as necessary.
3. turn the whole counterweight from the rear until the (now correct) weight indicator reads the correct weight for your cartridge (1.5g is a safe bet)
4. Enjoy your records!

Hope this helps

Follow Ray's advice as above and adjust the weight in accordance to the cartridge/stylus you have . Recommended tracking weights are as follows:-

MMC5 - 1.5g

MMC3 & MMC4 - 1.2g

MMC1 & MMC2 - 1.0g

He's right in saying that 1.5g is a safe bet though as a lot of original B&O MMC cartridges are probably worn beyond the recommended tracking weights as I have listed.

Chris.