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 wrote:

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?