Columbia BI -Finished! (Almost)

[dzavracky]

Use acetone. Won’t hurt the plating. Acetone evaporates very quickly and you don’t want to breathe the vapors, so be sure to cover the container that you are using to soak the parts in. You can even use aluminum foil, but if you use more than one width, fold the edges together to make a seal. Acetone will dissolve some plastics.

I’ve got a big can of acetone. I’ll give it a shot when I pick up the machine

[mick_vt]

I would use automotive brake fluid before acetone or lighter fluid. Throw some in a plastic tub and put the parts in to soak. Zero chance it will harm the finish, zero chance it will cause a fire. Regular paint stripper would also work fine. The key to a successful strip with any of these is to let the stripper do it's job, don't force it with wire brushes etc.

[dzavracky]

All I need is the on/off/speed control knob and some polish!

Thanks for all your input. I have one question though..... I took the back bracket apart in order to strip all the paint off, and when I put it back together I can’t play a record with the horn pointed over the tone arm. The horn has to be off to the side for the tone arm to move freely.... so any thoughts on how to fix that would be great.

David

[JerryVan]

Once again, you have done an incredible job!

[Jerry B.]

There's a ring with holes 180 degrees apart in that assembly. Is it possible to reassemble with that ring upside down?

Jerry B.

[dzavracky]

There's a ring with holes 180 degrees apart in that assembly. Is it possible to reassemble with that ring upside down?

Jerry B.

I think so. I’m to tired to take it apart again today I’ll look at it tomorrow and I’ll let you know!

[dzavracky]

Once again, you have done an incredible job!

Thanks

[BillH_NJ]

It’s looking great!

[VanEpsFan1914]

I took the back bracket apart in order to strip all the paint off, and when I put it back together I can’t play a record with the horn pointed over the tone arm. The horn has to be off to the side for the tone arm to move freely.... so any thoughts on how to fix that would be great.

David

This will need polishing and grease to run, too. Columbias are bad about this. Like with any other machine--smooth it down very well inside with your preferred metal polish, clean it, add vaseline. Aligning works too. You put the horn clips on like you're changing a car tire: tighten the bolts by degrees, alternating them, so the pressure is equal.

That is why my BN never sounded that good--it would have free movement at the beginning then seize up halfway through a record. Thankfully it's mostly fixed now & sounds great; I think I'm trying Jerry B's suggestion of flipping that thing over in there.

[dzavracky]

I took the back bracket apart in order to strip all the paint off, and when I put it back together I can’t play a record with the horn pointed over the tone arm. The horn has to be off to the side for the tone arm to move freely.... so any thoughts on how to fix that would be great.

David

This will need polishing and grease to run, too. Columbias are bad about this. Like with any other machine--smooth it down very well inside with your preferred metal polish, clean it, add vaseline. Aligning works too. You put the horn clips on like you're changing a car tire: tighten the bolts by degrees, alternating them, so the pressure is equal.

That is why my BN never sounded that good--it would have free movement at the beginning then seize up halfway through a record. Thankfully it's mostly fixed now & sounds great; I think I'm trying Jerry B's suggestion of flipping that thing over in there.

I fixed it this morning, and everything that needs to be greased/oiled has been taken care of. It runs great! I’m going to order the polish today, and I ordered the speed control knob last night from Mr.Sitko.

David