Columbia Eagle governor weight spring…replace it?

[JerryVan]

Your skipping problem is here. In the playing position, there should be a gap between the lift tongue and the lever. Yours has the tongue laying against the lever, preventing the reproducer from lowering enough to fully engage with the cylinder. Try carefully bending the tongue upwards, towards the reproducer and away from the lever. In the direction shown by the arrow. It won't need much bending, just enough so that the tongue does not touch the lever while playing.

Screenshot 2025-07-16 201035.png (449.19 KiB) Viewed 175 times

The wow and flutter is an unrelated issue, having to do with your governor spring issue.

[AmberolaAndy]

Your skipping problem is here. In the playing position, there should be a gap between the lift tongue and the lever. Yours has the tongue laying against the lever, preventing the reproducer from lowering enough to fully engage with the cylinder. Try carefully bending the tongue upwards, towards the reproducer and away from the lever. In the direction shown by the arrow. It won't need much bending, just enough so that the tongue does not touch the lever while playing.

Screenshot 2025-07-16 201035.png

The wow and flutter is an unrelated issue, having to do with your governor spring issue.

So is it supposed to be like this? When I have it like this the reproducer has no side play and has that dragging issue still.

[AmberolaAndy]

Ok I found where Thephonographshop has the Columbia Eagle governor springs! They are ordered.

[JerryVan]

So is it supposed to be like this? When I have it like this the reproducer has no side play and has that dragging issue still.

No. The tongue is still laying on the lever. Here is mine while in the playing position. The gap does not have to be that large, but it needs to have a gap.

[AmberolaAndy]

So is it supposed to be like this? When I have it like this the reproducer has no side play and has that dragging issue still.

No. The tongue is still laying on the lever. Here is mine while in the playing position. The gap does not have to be that large, but it needs to have a gap.

DSC06831.JPG

Well that explains a lot! So it somehow got bent back in its 128 years of life?

[Inigo]

Comparing the photos I see an enormous gap in the wrong one which does not exist in the other, as if the tongue part, the ring that goes around the reproducer conduit sits much lower in the wrong one. It looks like that ring could be pushed up along the conduit to rest against the knurled part with the set screw.

[JerryVan]

Comparing the photos I see an enormous gap in the wrong one which does not exist in the other, as if the tongue part, the ring that goes around the reproducer conduit sits much lower in the wrong one. It looks like that ring could be pushed up along the conduit to rest against the knurled part with the set screw.

Inigo,

Yes, if he could slide the ring/tongue towards the reproducer that would also help. It appears to be nicely soldered in place, however, so I figured a small bend would also suffice and would be an easier fix if he's not adept at soldering.

I also believe that the apparent difference in the location of my ring is exaggerated by the fact that the OP's reproducer does not slide on as far as mine does.

[AmberolaAndy]

Comparing the photos I see an enormous gap in the wrong one which does not exist in the other, as if the tongue part, the ring that goes around the reproducer conduit sits much lower in the wrong one. It looks like that ring could be pushed up along the conduit to rest against the knurled part with the set screw.

Inigo,

Yes, if he could slide the ring/tongue towards the reproducer that would also help. It appears to be nicely soldered in place, however, so I figured a small bend would also suffice and would be an easier fix if he's not adept at soldering.

I also believe that the apparent difference in the location of my ring is exaggerated by the fact that the OP's reproducer does not slide on as far as mine does.

I cannot solder my way outta a wet paper bag. BUT I do have a parts machine! I can just do a swap.

[JerryVan]

I cannot solder my way outta a wet paper bag. BUT I do have a parts machine! I can just do a swap.

Just grabbing the tongue from the side with a needle nose plier and giving it a slight bend will be way easier than swapping out the carriage. Your call, however.

[AmberolaAndy]

I cannot solder my way outta a wet paper bag. BUT I do have a parts machine! I can just do a swap.

Just grabbing the tongue from the side with a needle nose plier and giving it a slight bend will be way easier than swapping out the carriage. Your call, however.

Then bending it it is!