how do you set VTA onthe SME 309 tonearm?

In order to move it, you're going to have to loosen something. Did you look underneath the TT? Whatever is used to lock the arm in place may be located on the bottom.

Tketcham,

Have a look at this picture.

http://theturntableshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SME-V-Tonearm-Detail-2.jpg

I was looking at some pics of this arm, and if you look closely you'll see that they use tamper proof bolts. If I'm reading your post correctly, that's a bolt you need to loosen to adjust the arm. I've never seen anything like it on a tone arm before. Is that the right bolt? To be honest, I overlooked it as something that shouldn't be touched.

"04-10-15: Mofimadness
Zd542...SME supplies a special wrench for these screws. These are the correct screws to both move the arm forward and back and up and down.

I was a SME dealer for many years and have owned quite a few different SME arms through the years."

I can't quite make out what kind of bolt it is from the pic. (except for the center piece that makes it "tamper proof". Most bolts like this use torx. If it that's the case, he shouldn't have any problems finding a tool. I know Lowes sells them under the kobalt name.

"04-13-15: Mofimadness
To add to Tom's comments above, the OP never asked about a tool. He asked how to set the VTA of the arm. I bet he already has the wrench. He justed needed to know how to raise and lower the arm post."

Yes, but if you look at the pics carefully, you'll see that they use tamper proof bolts on the vta adjustment. If you don't loosen them there's no way to set vta. You need special sockets. They sell them in Lowes, and they're not expensive.

"04-14-15: Yogiboy
TKetcham answered the question in full detail early in this thread. Talk about beating a dead horse!"

Yes, but what good is it going to do for him if he doesn't have the tool you need to do the work?

"04-14-15: Yogiboy
Zd542,the op never said he did not have the tool. I have the 309 tonearm and it is the same tool used to adjust the tracking force. Why the presumption that he needed the tool? All he asked was how to raise and lower the arm. So yes we are beating a dead horse!"

I'm assuming the OP doesn't have the right tool for a couple of reasons. When I did a search looking for some pics of the arm to see what he was talking about, I noticed in the pictures where the arm in the original packaging, they show a tool in with the arm. If the OP bought the arm used, there's a really good chance that it wasn't included. He probably had no idea the special tool was needed to adjust the arm. Also, when you look at the tamper proof bolts, and compare it to the tool that comes with the arm, its use is self explanatory. You really can't mistake what its application. So, if the tool came with the kit, the OP would have never needed to start this thread.

That said, is it possible that you're right and I'm wrong? I would say yes. Maybe the OP is really bad with tools and just doesn't have the ability to do what's needed. I don't think that its a likely scenario, but its in the realm of possibility.