Need Help With Setting Stylus Force

[FreddieFerric]

A while back I purchased the rather inexpensive Shure Stylus Force Gauge which is basically of the balance beam type. I have no reason to doubt its accuracy, but now I'm confused on how to use it.

In short, I took the gauge out today to re-measure to force on my Shure cartridge, just to check to make certain that nothing has changed since I first set it up back in January.

Here's the problem: The instructions say to place the gauge on the TT platter. It then goes on to say that, if extra stability is needed, then place an LP on the platter and then place the gauge on top of the LP. The photo that came with the gauge actually shows it sitting on top of a Shure test record. Problem is that when I set the force to 1.25 grams while the gauge is sitting on an LP, then the gauge doesn't even register any weight when measured without the LP on the platter.

Obviously the instructions suck big time as setting the force one way results in a far different weight when measured the other way.

Anyone have a good handle on which is actually the correct way to do this?