mctae
New Member
Posts: 3 
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Post by mctae on Oct 23, 2017 8:35:57 GMT -5
Hi
I have an Edison Home Model A which winds and turns mandrel and cylinder but as soon as I lower the reproducer with or without the horn it plays for a very short while, slows and then stops. If I lift up the reproducer the mandrel starts to spin again and will turn for sometime. I have checked the machine over and adjusted tension but the problem remains. Any suggestions?
Cheers
McTae
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Post by lucius1958 on Oct 23, 2017 23:29:22 GMT -5
OK. In "checking over", have you cleaned and lubricated the mainspring, motor, and top works? Any hardened grease or gummed up oil, and any other residue on a number of parts, can rob the machine of power.
If you take the belt off, and spin the mandrel by hand, does it spin freely for several seconds? Adjusting the end bearings will sometimes improve performance. Are the belt and pulleys clean and free of oil, and is the belt tension set up right? If the belt is too loose, or if there's any oil on it, it may slip when a load is put on the motor. A thin layer of rubber cement on the inside of the belt sometimes helps.
The straight edge, carriage shaft, and feed screw should be clean, free of any rust, and lightly lubricated (powdered graphite is good for feed screws). Is the half nut adjusted properly? Too much pressure on the feed screw will cause it to bog down in play: you can carefully bend the half nut bar back slightly to relieve that.
If, after all this, the motor still slows and stops, you may have a weakened mainspring, which should be replaced.
The devil, as they say, is in the details: check everything carefully, and you'll eventually find the source of the trouble.
BillS
BTW: do you have a copy of Eric Reiss's The Compleat Talking Machine? If not, it's an excellent resource for any collector and restorer.
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mctae
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by mctae on Oct 30, 2017 21:32:07 GMT -5
Hi Bill
Thanks for your helpful response, and particularly for the suggestion about The Compleat Talking Machine. I'm am working my way through an extensive collection of machines and sundry items, but essentially have limited knowledge about Edisons. I'm learning quickly.
I have cleaned and lubricated with powdered graphite the straight edge, carriage shaft and feed screw, and adjusted the half nut tension to prevent poor tracking, but reduce drag as much as possible. The belt tensioner seems to be functioning as it should and the mandrel spins easily without load. The machine still tends to bog down about 2/3 way through a cylinder.
I haven't yet cleaned and lubricated the mainspring and motor. My concern is that the mainspring may need replacing and I'm not sure how difficult that job is. As you say, I may need to get a textbook to help me through. I suspect amongst all the spares in the collection there will be a spring to fit.
Thanks again for your advice.
Cheers,
McTae
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Post by lucius1958 on Oct 31, 2017 0:40:52 GMT -5
If you're leery about replacing the mainspring, there are several suppliers who can do that for you for a reasonable charge. Reiss covers the procedure, though; and it is not too difficult if you have a little patience.
BillS
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Post by phonoboy on Nov 1, 2017 12:31:10 GMT -5
May I suggest leather gloves and a long-sleeve shirt, if you tackle it yourself. Spring removal can also be very messy.
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alang
New Member
Posts: 45
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Post by alang on Nov 2, 2017 8:01:48 GMT -5
May I suggest leather gloves and a long-sleeve shirt, if you tackle it yourself. Spring removal can also be very messy. ...and don't plan to use anything you're wearing for this to be usable for anything else but dirty work afterwards. Graphite-grease stains don't come out of cloths. Andreas |
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mctae
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by mctae on Nov 23, 2017 3:34:07 GMT -5
Well, having taken the excellent advice offered, wearing sturdy leather gloves and a shed shirt, I disassembled the mainspring and discovered that the spring was not original and had had some interesting modifications done previously. I had a good replacement barrel in my spare parts, but a good friend gave me an excellent reconditioned barrel which I installed. I took the opportunity to fully service the motor and it now runs like a dream.
My friend was very surprised that as a novice I was not only prepared to remove a spring and reinstall it, but to then actually do it! It wasn't an easy task, but I took my time and it all went ok. I had also watched a couple of videos which was very helpful. I have learned a lot more about these machines in the process, and have gained a few more skills I'll be able to put to good use. I still have a few machines to get through yet.
Cheers
McTae
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Post by phonoboy on Nov 24, 2017 16:08:09 GMT -5
Congratulations.
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Post by billcahill on Nov 25, 2017 13:46:35 GMT -5
Congradulations, my friend............
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