Columbia Q skipping

[Victrolacollector]

I have just purchased a Columbia Q. I have problem with skipping on all records. I have cleaned and lubricated the feedscrew, all carriage bars and roller. I am still getting skipped grooves. Any advise?

[fmblizz]

Check out this thread previously posted. I had some issues earlier and with the help of the forum members was able to resolve it.

fmblizz


http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=15836

[Curt A]

I have read all of the posts on this previous thread and I am not sure that they address the issue. I, personally don't believe that the issue is feedscrew related. I have two Q's - one restored and one basket case. The issue that I have had is that the reproducer seems to "skate" across cylinders, similar to playing a Pathé record with a steel needle. The reproducers that I have noticed this issue with are the flat, round Q and B reproducers with the stylus mounted directly to the diaphragm. Since I don't have another reproducer to test this with (like an early Q with a needle bar), I wonder if the tracking issue is due to weight. These "floating" reproducers seem to do just that - "float". Somewhere I saw a listing for a Columbia weight to go on a Q reproducer, so someone back in that time frame must have thought the same thing. I haven't tried comparing an Edison or Columbia black wax 2 min cylinder with an Indestructible 2 min cylinder, but there may be an issue there, as well. I have had this issue with completely rebuilt reproducers with new stylii, as well as ones which I didn't know the history of and not sure if they were rebuilt or not. My conclusion has always been that the Q machines were a low cost entry machine and not really reliable for playing cylinders on, however I have other make 2 min machines with similar designed reproducers that play well. My Pathé does the same thing on certain cylinders, so I really am puzzled by this... Any thoughts?

[Bob]

Try adjusting the lift. Adjust it down so when it is in the up position it just clears the cylinder.
Bob

[startgroove]

As you know, it is difficult to diagnose problems without the machine at hand to examine and perform some tests and examinations on. So a few questions come up: Is it skipping forward or back ward? Does it skip one groove or several, or even stick in one spot for a while? With a record playing, examine the half nut and see if it is moving up and down as the skipping occurs. If it is not moving up and down, the problem is not with the half nut/feedscrew. Have you looked at the needle to see if it worn flat? Is the reproducer able to swing back and forth a bit in its mount? Is the spring tension on the half nut enough to force the half nut to fully engage the feed screw, and engaging with sufficient pressure (check to be sure the spring is attached at both ends)? When the reproducer is lifted from the record with the lever, does it center itself in the free play (the swing back and forth as mentioned above)? With the reproducer raised, does the carriage slide freely across in both directions? Is the roller at the back side of the carriage rolling freely, and is the bottom side of the rod that it rolls on clean of debris? Is the reproducer lowering fully on to the surface of the record (without the record in place, the needle should touch the mandrel). There may be other things to examine, but these are what quickly comes to mind. Cheers, Russie

[Curt A]

Try adjusting the lift. Adjust it down so when it is in the up position it just clears the cylinder.
Bob

Great idea... thanks, I'll try that...

[Victrolacollector]

I cleaned every gear, and lubricated till smooth, cleaned and lubricated the carriage rods, all smooth. I also cleaned and lubricated the roller. I also cleaned the feedscrew. I still had skipping.

Then I decided to add a drop of oil to the neck of the reproducer and move side to side and then the tube where it comes in. With the reproducer I moved it gently side to side.

I played 4 records so far and NO skipping.

Thanks so much to all for their help, I am sure a fellow collector will also find all this information useful.

All the best,

Jerry

[Curt A]

Then I decided to add a drop of oil to the neck of the reproducer and move side to side and then the tube where it comes in. With the reproducer I moved it gently side to side.

I played 4 records so far and NO skipping.

Glad it worked... Now to try it on my Q...

[Victrolacollector]

Curt....Hope it works for you as well.

I did notice in the instruction leaflet for the Columbia Q, there seems to have been a more angled reproducer. Not sure if it helps. I have not seen one of them in my time collecting. The only reproducer that I have seen on Columbia Q's is the one that I have.