LOL.
I'll try to respond to the ET-I vs II in more detail later this week... bottom line, I really liked the way the air bearing and arm base mounted mechanically on the ET-I and have always thought that upgrading the arm-spindle, arm-headshell, and cartridge interfaces while retaining the ability to adjust VTA and the secure bearing mounting might have made a more rigid arm.
Back on the pump, I looked at it again and see that the pump has just come loose from the springs. The intermediate shelf looks solid and the springs are still attached there. What I can see of the spring mounts on the pump look ok too.
I suspect it was banged around or dropped and that pulled the pump loose from the springs... and then it was banged around a lot afterwards to nearly pulverize the plastic housing.
I really have to pull on some rubber gloves and scrape-out all the remaining sound-deadening foam, then use lacquer thinner to remove the residue in the pump compartment as it is very gooey and sticky (and hard to clean off). It may be a few weeks before I can get to that... need to be able to do it outside and during the day in the light. But only after I do that will I be able to see the full condition.
Again, I appreciate your help and suggestions, especially on the checkout and the info for getting another regulator (I have confirmed the one I already have IS a Schrader Bellows, but again, I need a 2nd one).
One other area where you could assist... you linked to a composite picture above. One section showed the opened pump compartment. I've downloaded it, but it is pretty low-res and I can't enlarge it to see more details. Can you send me the hi-res version of that picture via email? I'll contact you by the A-Gon system to provide my email.
Again, many, many thanks!
Greg in Mississippi