Edison A-250 Diamond Disk - how to remove motor?

[52089]

I may have a line on a A-250. To transport it I would have to turn the cabinet sideways. I am well aware that the motor in the A-250 is not bolted down to the cabinet. How do I safely remove the motor from the cabinet? I don't imagine it just simply lifts out...

Thanks!

[audiophile102]

REMOVING THE MECHANISM:
- Once crank, turntable and reproducer are all removed, do the following.

- Lay some towels over the edges of the machine. Pull them down between the frame and the bedplate a bit. When you lift the mechanism out, it's very heavy and this can save paint or dent in the wood as you are trying to lift it out. The spring barrels, some of the gears and the winding shaft and corners of the bedplate are particularly prone to banging into sides of the case.


- Swing horn to the extreme right and raise up the mechanism so that you can put that operating handle horizontal and laying parallel to the front side of the case.

- Swing automatic break (on operating handle) around to extreme left so that it's parallel with the front of the case. On some models you need to remove lift handle and automatic brake mechanism by unscrewing a square headed nut and round threaded nut on the swiveling post, just above and in front of the horn. After losening those nuts, pull it up, wiggle it out. Do this if the brake mechanism does not clear the bedplate when you try to lift it up.


- Standing on the crank side of the machine, firmly grasp the bedplate with both hands, left hand fingers between frame and bedplate, right hand between frame and curved rail on back side of case, preferrably with someone holding lid up to maximum extent, (Don't grab onto curved rail)

- The bedplate pivots on the crank side, so start to pivot the bedplate up, far side should raise up when you lift


- The right back corner slides into a slot so you need to swing the bedplate up and twist it slightly to the left to move the peg out of the slot

- The left front corner peg on bedplate slides into a hole so as you slide out the right rear corner from the slot, you should be able to move the peg on left front side from the hole that it slides into. At that point the mechanism is free and becomes quite heavy.


- As you lift the bedplate up and out now, you need so move the whole thing out, away from your body so that the female end of the winding shaft on the motor will clear the frame. As you move the whole mechanism away from your body a bit, you need to be careful that the right rear corner of the bedplate does not hit the back corner of the lid, (this is where having a helper to hold the lid up comes in handy)

- Have something ready to lay the motor on ready, being careful not to let the sides of bedplate scratch on a hard surface.

PACKING THE MECHANISM:

The tricky part is over now but a few more suggestions.
- The mechanism needs to be put in some sort of box. Corners and sides of bedplate are particularly vulnerable to chafing so I like to first wrap with some cloth and then wrap bubble wrap around the whole thing. Reason is I have seen bubble wrap react with the paint on at least one occaision and leave marks.
- A few roles of paper towels underneath the corners of the wrapped bedplate can help stabilize it, keep it from rolling around.
- Packing peanuts etcetera around the whole works then so it’s “tight packed” cannot move around within the box.

PACKING THE THE HORN & HORN COMPARTMENT:
The horn compartment also needs to be “tight packed” so nothing can move around.
- An old towel works well to wrap around the neck of the horn with some packing tape around to keep it secure.
- I’ve also covered the horn neck with a soft cloth, t-shirt or something and then slid a toilet paper or paper towel roll over the neck
- If you have any old pillows you don’t mind parting with, stuffing this area with them and laying a pillor over the top of the horn neck can work great
- Stuffing plastic shopping bags full of packing peanuts and then shoving them into that area also works well. Key is that it’s tight tight tight inside there and can’t rub against anything.

PACKING THE DRAWERS:
You already noted you that you would wrap something around the handles. You are right. They cannot be removed.
- Also, putting somehing, a thin piece of packing foam between drawers and where they rub against the frame of the cabinet helps keep them from chafing.
- Another thin piece between drawers and the door is also a good idea, especially if Brice hauls it upright.

OTHER:
- Thin piece of packing foam between lid and top of case is also good.
- Best not to lock the case. Locks can break apart from all the vibration
- Once you’ve wrapped the whole machine in something, wrap packing tape around from top to bottom front to back to keep the lid and doors closed
- Knurled feet are particularly vulnerable to damage. I would appreciate if you could well protect that bottom area
- Take casters out or secure them in the case, (so not rolling casters on cement, gravel etcetera) Not necessary of you are careful and just transporting short distances but don't roll it on cement, thru gravel etcetera.

[52089]

Thanks for that. A long time ago someone posted a copy of the A-250 setup instructions, but unfortunately, that copy is missing 80% of the instructions on how to reverse the process.

When/if anything happens, I'll post pics.