Stubborn Stylus Bar Pin in a Diamond Disc Reproducer

[outune]

Hang in there-- The stylus is still fine-- it's just the darn pin that's giving you trouble. Try Earl's needle idea-- or buy a new pin from Ron Sitko and use that to help drive it out. They can be frustrating, but in the end, you'll get it out and all will be well.

Brad Abell

[Victrolaboy]

Oh... That makes sense. Seems I tend to flip out when I run in to trouble and my brain quits working. Are these pins tapered? I thought they were but this one wouldn't move in either direction.

[VintageTechnologies]

I have been able to push them out like that with a sewing needle that I've ground the sharp end down on. You can find one that's almost the same size, but smaller than the pin in the Edison.

That is exactly what I have done. I grip the blunted needle in pliers with only the shortest possible length sticking out beyond the pliers so it won't bend. I wear jeweller's glasses to magnify greatly what I see in order to match up the pin and sewing needle.

I have also used sewing needles to fabricate a replacement pin. Find a needle slightly oversized and draw it through fine sandpaper until the diameter has been reduced to a perfect fit.

[VintageTechnologies]

Oh... That makes sense. Seems I tend to flip out when I run in to trouble and my brain quits working. Are these pins tapered? I thought they were but this one wouldn't move in either direction.

The pins are not tapered.

[Victrolaboy]

Oh... That makes sense. Seems I tend to flip out when I run in to trouble and my brain quits working. Are these pins tapered? I thought they were but this one wouldn't move in either direction.

The pins are not tapered.

That's what I thought. Thanks guys!

[Dave D]

Even after hosing it down with liquid wrench I still can't get the pin that holds the stylus bar in to move. It will move a little bit but it's very hard to get it to move at all. Now a little piece has snapped off which leaves me with less surface area to work with. I've rebuilt several diamond disc reproducers and never had this problem. Any suggestions of something strong enough I can use to drive it out? I was able to measure the diameter of the pin and it is about .025". Maybe a drill bit that small?

Nick,
The problem is that you tried to hold that little bit of the bar and PULL it out with pliers, didn't you? The best way, and you can still do it, is use a small punch to drive it out. It might be worth it to send it to Steve Medved. He has the right size tools to do the job and not damage anything. The sewing needle may work, but they are often tapered and are quite brittle.

If you can find some music wire you might be able to make a short punch to use for this.
DAve
Dave

[Victrolaboy]

Just wanted to let everyone know that I was able to punch the pin out with some .020" music wire. That was actually a couple of weeks ago but I forgot to post an update. Thanks so much!

[MicaMonster]

I am surprised that nobody bothered to ask me about this repair technique!

OK. Here is what you do. Mount your reproducer weight in a bench vise. You might want to use some sheet metal shims so that the vise teeth don't put marks in your reproducer weight. Take a #71 drill bit and cut the twist off of it with wire cutters. Use a file to make sure the end of the drill bit is flat, like a punch.

Holding your new punch in position with needle nose pliers, use a small ...SMALL iron hammer to gently drive out the old pivot pin.

DO NOT USE EXCESSIVE FORCE. You do not want to deform the mounting bosses on the reproducer weight.

Good Luck!

-Wyatt

[Victrolacollector]

Another thing that I have done is to line up a steel phonograph needle and tap the end with a hammer (but be careful). It always worked for me.

[winsleydale]

Ugh, just had the same problem with the hinge pin on my cylinder recorder... That's all gouged up now from pliers. If only I had waited and seen this thread! Oh well.