The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have a Victor 2 reproducer that needs a new rubber flange like most of them do. The old one is like cement, the worse I have ever seen. Tricks & tips what you guys do to remove the old rock hard flange without damaging ones fingers like I did

I use a Dremel model-makers drill with a fine drill bit. Drill holes into rubber all round, then join all the holes by drilling at an angle. This breaks up the flange, and the bits just fall out. Stuff a bit of tissue into the throat to stop bits falling inside.

Barry

I was faced with the same problem recently, and disassembled the reproducer, and placed the back flange (set-screws removed... ) in a warm oven ( 100-150+ F ), heat turned-off, and let it sit there for about an hour.

I removed the piece with kitchen tongs, and holding it with a pot-holder, put it on the gooseneck, and twisted the flange against the stop-pin. The now-softened rubber sheared, and left the brass insert and most of the rubber on the gooseneck.

I was able to carefully scrape the remaining rubber out of the flange.

Thanks guys And De Soto Frank, I'm not allowed to touch my better half's new oven

I've found that a hair dryer works very well. Wear gloves, it gets HOT. I put the reproducer on an old parts tonearm and blast the back and periodically start twisting. If you're lucky, the whole thing will pop loose, if not, just scrape the old rubber bits out with a small screwdriver.

Sean

briankeith wrote:Thanks guys And De Soto Frank, I'm not allowed to touch my better half's new oven

I am familiar with THAT family dynamic...