Weird Clicking on Victor II motor.

[mrvic2]

Hello everyone! Recently I've noticed something going on with my Vicor II. After I'm done playing it, I like to let the motor unwind so there's no tension on the spring when I'm not using it. but after doing so one time, I noticed that it was making a very pronounced clicking sound that I had not noticed before. The included link is a video of the issue. in the second half of the video, I included it playing with the lid up, which seemed to fix the issue for some reason.

Any help is appreciated.
(https://youtube.com/shorts/cKJLgJHhX9w? ... eqVG6uIDYb)

[Inigo]

When opened the noise is still there, but much less audible. When the lid is closed, the wooden box amplifies all noises terribly...
The key is the speed of the clicking. It sounds as if the governor balls were hitting something...

[outune]

To me it sounds as if the governor weights are impacting the casting--- That could be due to weak governor springs-- or too much lateral play in the governor shaft- Also-- perhaps the governor springs are hitting the yoke that holds the leather speed control pads--
Oh-- Just read Inigo's response I think we both hear it as a governor issue-- impacting the casting or something else.
That's my "miles away" assessment
Brad Abell

[Bobm90]

Hi All,

I am trying to find out information about a phonograph I am trying to restore and know the history about it. It is a Columbia Harmony Portable 78 RPM disk player made about 1920, ( I am guessing at about that due to the image of a flapper on the inside of the cover) I have found several photos online but they aren't the same as the one I have, the tone arm is right front not right rear as mine is. I haven't located a serial number but I haven't removed the motor board and it may be under there. The machine plays with the current "standard" arm and reproducer on it, but it also came with a weird Arm which bears the casting of "harmony" on it. This arm has a small Aluminum horn attached to its reproducer ( which would send sound out both sides, one to the horn and the other thru the arm and out the exit in the deck). I have done the best I can in describing it, and will try to post a few photos, any info anyone could supply would be greatly appreciated, thanks for reading this, have a great day!
Update_ after the motor board and motor were removed there are no model numbers visible, only a "69" in pencil on the board.
Bob Meyer

[mrvic2]

When opened the noise is still there, but much less audible. When the lid is closed, the wooden box amplifies all noises terribly...
The key is the speed of the clicking. It sounds as if the governor balls were hitting something...

I just wound it up and started playing, looking at the governor, and i think I found the issue. The break pad "assembly" i dont really know the name, check the picture for the circled part) seems to be occasionally bouncing around in its holder. If you dont get what im saying, I could supply another video.

[outune]

That is the speed control "yoke" that I referenced in my earlier post-- If it is loose in the bracket that holds it, it may cause a rattle-- but I doubt it would be as loud as the noise in your video-- That round yoke needs to be able to freely swivel on each side of the bracket, but you can try GENTLY squeezing the bracket inward to take up any excess slack there may be- A video of the motor running, showing that bracket/yoke mech may help with the diagnosis.

Brad Abell

[mrvic2]

That is the speed control "yoke" that I referenced in my earlier post-- If it is loose in the bracket that holds it, it may cause a rattle-- but I doubt it would be as loud as the noise in your video-- That round yoke needs to be able to freely swivel on each side of the bracket, but you can try GENTLY squeezing the bracket inward to take up any excess slack there may be- A video of the motor running, showing that bracket/yoke mech may help with the diagnosis.

Brad Abell

Yes, that's what the issue is. I can see it moving when it clicks. I'll try what you said, thank you

[outune]

If the holes in the bracket are worn and elongated, then you might not get much improvement-- The yoke needs to swivel, but elongated holes could cause the chatter you hear. I may have another bracket in my parts piles-- I'd have to dig a little. Keep us updated on what you find.

Brad Abell

[mrvic2]

If the holes in the bracket are worn and elongated, then you might not get much improvement-- The yoke needs to swivel, but elongated holes could cause the chatter you hear. I may have another bracket in my parts piles-- I'd have to dig a little. Keep us updated on what you find.

Brad Abell

I tried the thing that you said last night, I couldn't get it to bend.

[JerryVan]

I'm a bit skeptical that the noise we're hearing is coming from the friction pad collar, but let's assume for now that that's the case. Have you tried cleaning the friction disc with solvent to remove old, dried, gummy oil? Also, the faces of the friction leathers can also become glazed and sticky with the same ancient oil. Those faces can be cleaned up by sanding them with some medium grit sandpaper. Place a strip of sandpaper between the friction disc and the leather, then push the leather against lightly against the sandpaper and pull the sandpaper strip across the leather. Do this until you can see some clean, raw leather appear. Once the disc is clean, and leathers are refaced, place some thin oil on the leathers and let it soak in. (Don't use 3-in-1 oil, it's junk.) A thin coat of oil on the disc is a good idea as well. Try that...