Cylinder "Stuck" in one place

[benjaminh]

Hi guys,
I just received my first cylinder machine today. It seems to work well except for two things. Firstly, it only plays about 4 sec of a cylinder before becoming “stuck” in one place and just repeating. Secondly, it bogs down on 4 min mode and tries (often successfully) to return to two minute mode. This is a Home B.

[Victrolacollector]

I have dealt with this on the Edison Home B, you will need to make sure of all of the following:

1. Make sure the feedscrew is clean and no dirt, oil or grease is on the
feedscrew.

2. Make sure you checked the half nut, it must be clean and no grease or dirt.

3. Make sure there is not too much tension on the feedscrew, you will need to
tighten and back off the feedscrew adjustment screw. It should not be too
tight and should not be too loose, just enough to keep the reproducer and
horn traveling across the record.

4. Make sure all of the 2/4 minute gearing is installed correctly and that you
have the selector switch seated and screwed down firm.

Hope this helps....

[PeterF]

before changing any adjustments or settings, please be sure everything is clean and lubricated and moving freely. Chances are your problem is dirt and/or dryness, and that's always where you should start.

[benjaminh]

I've got the mandrel/feed screw completely loose, but the collar right next to the central casting just will not come loose. Both set screws are loose but the collar won't release it's hold on the mandrel shaft. Any ideas? I don't want to break the central casting.

[benjaminh]

Here's a picture of the collar that won't come off.

Untitled.png (153.33 KiB) Viewed 2239 times

[Jerry B.]

You might try a hair dryer or heat gun to help free up stuck parts.

Your machine plays for a few seconds and repeats because the half nut is not engaging the feed screw. When the half nut engages the feed screw, the carriage is moved across the record and the record is played. The half nut adjustment is very sensitive. A quarter turn is generally a gross adjustment.

Jerry Blais

[ambrola]

Here's a picture of the collar that won't come off.

Untitled.png

That is a collar and holds your feed screw on. Take the very tiny(2)screws off, one of them holds a L shaped thingy that holds the feed screw. The other one is holding the collar on the shaft. They will come off and you need them off. Don't lose any parts. If the mandrel is not turning free it is the brass bearing.

[JerryVan]

Benjamin,

Why are you trying to take the feedscrew assembly apart?

As long as the feed screw turns while you're trying to play a record, there should be nothing wrong with it. Your problem is that the ½ nut, that is attached to the carriage, is not engaging with the feedscrew.

Try this. With no record on the mandrel, and with the phonograph not running, lower the carriage into the playing position. Now, try pushing the mandrel to the left, being careful to not let it lift from the lowered position. If you can easily make it move, or with some very small amount of force, then your feed nut is not engaging.

You could also try running the machine and lowering the carriage as if you were about to play a cylinder, but with no cylinder on the mandrel. Look closely at the feed nut as it sits on the feedscrew. Does the carriage move at all to the right, or does the feed nut just idle in one spot on the feedscrew while moving very slightly up & down? If so, the nut is not engaging the feedscrew.

The answer is to adjust the feed nut tension. Above the spring steel bar that the feed nut is attached to, is a nickle plated arm with a curvy surface. In that arm is a small screw that pushes on the spring steel bar. Turn that screw clockwise, maybe just ⅛ of a turn. That should push the feed nut closer to the feedscrew to get engagement you need. If you go too far in adjusting this screw, it can put too much pressure on the feedscrew, which will cause excessive drag and bring the machine to a stop. It's a delicate process to get it "just right".

All of this assumes that everything is well lubricated. Your problem with jumping out of gear is a separate issue. Get this part done first.

[benjaminh]

I ended up getting the feed/mandrel assembly a part, and lubricated the planetary gears inside the pulley. The machine still has trouble on four minute mode though even when the carriage is in the up position. In two minute it runs much easier.
I took a second look at the half nut, and it is completely worn through, it is literally in two pieces. Obviously needs to be replaced.

[benjaminh]

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