trouble playing record on VV-80, motor stops

[Kenny Brant]

I have a Victrola VV-80, VV-100 And a VV-XI. They are all new to me and need rebuilt. I rebuilt all three reproducer sound boxes. New Mica and gaskets and tone arm isolators. I rebuilt the VV-80 motor, took the motor apart, cleaned it all up. Took the springs out and cleaning and re-greasing the springs and adding a little gear lube. Greased the gears and replaced the leather on the speed adjuster and speed indicator.
Put it all back together and put it back in the VV-80 cabinet. Wound the motor spring up and it ran until the springs wound down. I wound it back up and put a record on and it played the entire record. It was running way too fast, but did play. So I wound it back up and using a timing disk timed it at 78 RPM with no record on it. Wound it back up, put a record on it and a new needle and played a record. It runs for a few seconds then stops. So I backed off the timing a little but it still won’t play.
So I thought I did something wrong so I bought a rebuilt motor. I got the motor and it is doing the same thing, runs a few seconds and then stops. So I put another sound box I rebuilt on and it does the same thing.
I need help with what could be wrong or I did wrong.
Any help would be appreciated.

Kenny

[JerryVan]

What kind of record were you trying to play? Later 78RPM records, (you were playing a 78? Correct?), were not made of shellac. Those records have far more drag when played with a steel needle. Can you post a photo of the record?

[Kenny Brant]

I tried 2 records on both sides. Both blue label Columbia's. A side Marion by Frank Grumis and on the B side Pretty Kitty Kelly by Charles Harrison. The other record was My Old Kentucky Home by Columbia Male Quartette on one side and Uncle Josh At A Meeting Of The School Directors by Columbia Quartette with Cal Stewart on the other side.
I'll take a picture and post the picture.

Kenny

[Kenny Brant]

Here is one of the records I used, the other is just like it, only different songs.

[Jmcmahan67]

The record you posted is period correct and should play fine, unless it is extremely worn. I also do see what looks like some graying in the grooves which indicates that it may have been played over and over again with the same needle. There have been a few times where I have played an extremely worn record before, and the machine would stop when calibrated to 78 RPM. I would suggest trying a different record just to make sure.

John

[Kenny Brant]

OK, I'll try some different records. Maybe I'm just using a coupe of worn out records.

[Kenny Brant]

That was the problem. Worn out records. I put a shiny looking record on and it played all the way through. I didn't know it was a problem to play a thoroughly played record and would cause this problem. I ripped all the 78's I have using a Dual 1019 with a Shure cartridge with a 78 stylus to hard drive. And all played fine even if some really sounded worn out.

Thank you for the help

Like they say 'live and learn'. This is all new to me even if the units are 100 yeas old.

[Jmcmahan67]

No worries, and I’m just glad that I could help. Old worn records are like sandpaper, which is why I would never play them with a fiber needle. If I did so, the point would wear down in the first 30 seconds or so.

[JerryVan]

That was the problem. Worn out records. I put a shiny looking record on and it played all the way through. I didn't know it was a problem to play a thoroughly played record and would cause this problem. I ripped all the 78's I have using a Dual 1019 with a Shure cartridge with a 78 stylus to hard drive. And all played fine even if some really sounded worn out.

Thank you for the help

Like they say 'live and learn'. This is all new to me even if the units are 100 yeas old.

It's also important to change the needle after every playing. Worn needles also create drag and prematurely wear out records... which adds even more drag.

[Lah Ca]

What is the needle rake angle on your troublesome VV-80? Can you adjust it?

Common advice suggests that the 55 to 65 degree range is normative. A steeper angle may increase surface noise and increase drag friction between the record and the needle which can slow or stop play. A more acute angle can reduce drag and possibly surface noise at a cost of other sound quality perhaps.

Here is a picture cribbed from the web showing a picture of a reproducer with a more acute angle, probably in the 55 degree or less range .

2025-06-28 07.00.44 www.startpage.com ab55003e2d20.jpg (32.72 KiB) Viewed 245 times