Need help with an Opera mechanism

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Jerry B.
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Need help with an Opera mechanism

Post by Jerry B. »

The mechanism in my Amberola 1-B is noisy. The growl emanates from the governor area. It's not a click, click, click like a cracked gear but a steady high speed growl. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated. I've tried a bit of good quality oil in the offending area but no help.

Thanks, Jerry Blais
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gramophone-georg
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Re: Need help with an Opera mechanism

Post by gramophone-georg »

Jerry, I've had those issues on Edisons and I found that offsetting the contact areas between two meshing straight cut gears diminished the growl substantially, e.g, instead of the gears contacting dead on where they mesh, offset them so that they make 50% or less contact with each other.

That noise is why modern automotive gears are angle cut, incidentally.
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barnettrp21122
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Re: Need help with an Opera mechanism

Post by barnettrp21122 »

You might also try carefully adjusting the governor shaft and meshing gear position while it's running under low mainspring power. Make sure the larger-head adjusting screws are up against the bearings, then loosen the top set screws and slowly turn the adjusting screws front-to-back or vice-versa while listening for any change in sound. I've found that there's quite a bit of play in the governor shaft position compared to some other models.
You'll need to adjust the speed control pointer after making any changes with the governor shaft position.
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Chuck
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Re: Need help with an Opera mechanism

Post by Chuck »

Go to the auto parts store and pick up a can
of STP oil treatment.

Put a few drops on the noisy gears and listen
to what happens.

You will be amazed! :)

Chuck
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for, and gaining, fundamental understanding"

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Chuck
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Re: Need help with an Opera mechanism

Post by Chuck »

So did you try it?
"Sustained success depends on searching
for, and gaining, fundamental understanding"

-Bell System Credo

Jerry B.
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Re: Need help with an Opera mechanism

Post by Jerry B. »

I apologize... I've been away from home a bit but have the best intentions of trying the suggestions. I've owned the machine a couple of years and other big Amberolas have made this one a lower priority.

You are so correct. This is no different than my mild criticism about the Spring Motor except I'm the guilty one! Jerry

Jerry B.
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Re: Need help with an Opera mechanism

Post by Jerry B. »

I tried lubricating with a little STP with no major but maybe some minor success. Thanks, Jerry

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