Has anyone SUCCESSFULLY dismantled and repaired a B&O MMC 20 series cartridge?  I just got a MMC20EN that is out in the left channel.  There is no continuity between the left channel contacts.  The cartridge itself is in stunning condition.  It looks almost new, and I can only assume that it failed very early in its life.  Has anyone successfully performed surgery on this series of cartridges? 

Kevin

Very difficult because of the way the whole thing is cast into its housing.
Axel in Germany, Soundsmith in the US and a few others can repair and replace
the cantilever suspension but they seem to open the front end only.
I never saw a (succesful) opening of the socket end. Certainly, both of the above
mentioned reject repairs to cartridges with broken electrics.

Martin

I know Tim has pulled apart a number of cartridges in an attempt to fix them. I think he has managed but the attrition rate was too high to make this anything but an exercise in seeing it it was possible. I would suggest a new cartridge is the best way forward. Remember any working cartridge can be uprated to the highest spec. I have a MMC20S which has been fitted with a shibata diamond and tapered cantilever.

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Probably not the same problem, but I thought I'd share a recent experience anyway.

I purchased a new Soundsmith cartridge that arrived and did not work in my BG3404 (I purchased it for a BG4002, but that's another story).  There was no output in the right channel.  Figuring the chances of a brand new cartridge arriving DOA small, I suspected the new cartridge just wasn't making contact in the tonearm.  I have a working MC3000 and working MMC20EN, so I new the table, cables, receiver input, etc., were all fine.

I contacted Soundsmith and ended up talking to the owner by telephone.  After sending the cartridge back, I received this email after only 48 hours:

Dear Mr. Haffner; I have received and tested the SMMC20EN; the cartridge itself is fine, however, the connector might have been too loose for your particular tone arm contacts. I have made it tighter, and feel that this should connect more securely to your tone arm contacts.  The original B&O cartridges had more tolerance for variations in contact pressure than my design, and I have seen this problem once before. I feel certain that the modifications I have done will now work well - It will ship out on Monday - best regards - Peter Ledermann

Perhaps your cartridge isn't making contact in the tonearm?  Have you another table to test it in?

Rich:

Perhaps your cartridge isn't making contact in the tonearm?  Have you another table to test it in?

I tried it in two different decks, without success.  I cannot get continuity across the left channel contacts, so I'm pretty sure the cartridge is at fault.  Thanks, evryone, for the feedback and advice.

Kevin

I remember the cartridge on my mums old 4000 fell out of its housing!! I seem to remember a green plastic frame with the coils inside it. I should imagine it hadn't had sufficient glue in the fatory for it to do that though!!! I think the metal back comes off quite easily but the rest is quite fast!

I wander if the cantalever could be rescued by the likes of Axel?