Daunting Mainspring Cleaning

[Victrolaboy]

All I can say is you are a hell of a man if you put greasy springs in. It took all I had to put them in dry. It sounds like you need new governor weights to me.

Not trying to be a show off but when I was 12 I put mainsprings in my Edison C-19 greasy. I put them in dry now.

[winsleydale]

I agree, Nick. It was frustrating but not incredibly difficult. I think he was being facetious. At any rate, I will say that since I was wearing a cheap trench coat and absolutely covered with red grease, I must have looked an awful lot like a murderer...

[Victrolaboy]

I agree, Nick. It was frustrating but not incredibly difficult. I think he was being facetious. At any rate, I will say that since I was wearing a cheap trench coat and absolutely covered with red grease, I must have looked an awful lot like a murderer...

Lol

[zepafa]

Zepafa,

Not enough or too much grease on your mainspring shouldn't effect the speed regulation of the motor that much.
Unless you've put grease on the rest of the motor? I usually only grease the mainspring and maybe the ratcheting
gear (I made up that term I think, it's the gear connected to the crank), and I oil the rest.

Your problem sounds like the symptom of a governor that is out of adjustment or a motor that requires cleaning and oiling
because of gunk build up. Did you remove the governor? clean and oil?

Thanks for the help.

I only put grease on the mainspring and a little on the spindle that runs through the mandrel (is that a mistake?). I've cleaned and oiled the motor, so I don't think it's that. I haven't removed the governor. In fact I've tried to avoid fiddling with it other than to check the screws were tight. I'll take a closer look at it. And double-check that no grease has accidentally gone into the gears, although I'd be surprised if it had.

[zepafa]

Yes, it was the governor. All adjusted now and it's working much better. I was a bit nervous at tackling the governor for some reason but it turned out to be a really simple job. So thanks all...not just on this post but throughout this entire forum. I've so much useful advice from you all by browsing and have managed to get a broken phonograph back working with your help. This was my first attempt but I think I might be hooked.

[Mr Grumpy]

Congratz! It's always a great feeling when you get a motor purring again.