Stylus missing start of 45rpm song

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Hi,
My name is Tom. I have been collecting soda machines for some years now and have close to 30 of them. I have other collections too as I am sure most of you do also.
I own a company called Coin Drop Shoppe and restore mechanical coin mechanisms for most any coin operated machine. I've worked on Kiddie Ride mechs, jukebox mechs, candy and soda machine mechs.
I am new to this site and forum because I recently got my first jukebox - a Wurlitzer 3600.
It is in very nice shape and plays selections, but there is one issue I need help with. I have a Service Manual, which has helped me greatly so far.
I have completely broken down and refurbished the Turntable and Tone Arm assemblies. I am working my nerve up to tackle the other assemblies, but they look more involved.

My currnet issue is the Tone Arm. I've been through all of the adjustments and everything is spot on with the possible exception of the stylus pressure adjustment, but I've adjusted it to both extremes and it acts up the same. I've got the "lift" at 1" and the "feed in" at 3&11/32". When it releases onto the record, it skips a 1/4" into the record missing the first of the song. The only thing I can think of is I need a new stylus. This one sounds good and looks good under a magnifying glass. I noticed that you can flip it over for a second needle. BTW - can someone explain the difference (if any) in the two? Would a new stylus cure my skipping issue? I hate to spend the money for no reason. I thought maybe tightening the pivot stud on the balance bracket might slow the arm's descent, but I don't want to break anything and I got it pretty tight.
I have other issues with it, but I'll ask about those when I've exhausted my brain trying to find the answer. I like to tinker and fix things myself.
Thanks for your time!
 

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Did you adjust the weight of the tone arm ? If it's too light then it will skip...

Hi Burt,
I need to get a gram scale to get it adjusted right, but I've adjusted the weights in and out and everywhere in-between with no luck.
Waiting on a new needle and see if that changes anything.
Thanks for the reply.
 
How flexible is your tone arm wire? I've had jukes where the wire hardens with age and when the tonearm is fully released, it moves to the wrong position because the hardened wire is acting like a spring.

Almost all jukes align the tonearm mechanically for the initial position, but it is fully released at the record start to follow the grooves freely; that is when any errant springiness in the tonearm wire can send things off track.
 
As has been suggested the wire from the cartridge could be a problem, sometimes they actually get moved and just where the join the cartridge, they or even just one, initially drags on the record because they are sticking out further than the tip of the stylus.
 
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