VV2-55 Spring Question

Discussions on Talking Machines & Accessories
Lah Ca
Victor IV
Posts: 1363
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:22 pm

Re: VV2-55 Spring Question

Post by Lah Ca »

Bleated thanks to all.

It will be some time before I get around to doing anything here.

There is much chaos in my life at the moment.

MarkELynch
Victor III
Posts: 559
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:19 pm
Location: Silver Spring, MD

Re: VV2-55 Spring Question

Post by MarkELynch »

Life gets in the way sometimes but it is always comforting to have something to look forward to.

Here is the 2-55 parts listing. Notice that the complete spring barrel assembly was available as well as the spring and rivets separately.

This may not be a comprehensive list. When the RCA published this it included only the parts they still had available at that time. Other Victor model parts listings when this appeared (early 1930’s) had severely truncated listings.

Mark
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phonojim
Victor IV
Posts: 1485
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 8:20 pm
Location: Mid - Michigan

Re: VV2-55 Spring Question

Post by phonojim »

I would consider using 6-32 screws which are only slightly larger in diameter as well as being a very common and easy to find size today. However, make sure there is enough room around the existing hole to accommodate the larger hole.

Lah Ca
Victor IV
Posts: 1363
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:22 pm

Re: VV2-55 Spring Question

Post by Lah Ca »

Thank you for all the replies.

I have not had much time to look at this issue at all. But today, I did.

I tried a different technique for cleaning the motor before removing the spring drum/barrel, well ... at least a technique I have not seen discussed here.

I took the motor to my mechanic whom I had to visit anyway and asked if he could put it in his parts cleaner.

He did not think that this was a good idea, but he did propose something else, spraying the motor with brake fluid from a small pump equipped plastic bottle and blowing the fluid and dissolved 1920s grease and dirt off with an air hose.

He had one of his junior mechanics do it. It took very little brake fluid and very little time, about 5 minutes.

The motor is not entirely clean only because I said it was good enough for my purposes at the point we stopped--this was being done for free and was interrupting his work on someone's car. The young mechanic would have continued if I had asked.

VV2-55.jpg

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Jim_Cannon
Victor Jr
Posts: 29
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2020 2:32 pm
Location: Young Harris, GA

Re: VV2-55 Spring Question

Post by Jim_Cannon »

Did he spray it with Brake Fluid? Or Brake Cleaner?

Brake Fluid is very corrosive.

Brake Cleaner is a solvent. It evaporates without leaving an oil film.

To clean my motor, I used some mineral spirits and a couple of different brushes (as small as a toothbrush).

The mess inside the spring barrel will need a lot of your favorite solvent.

Lah Ca
Victor IV
Posts: 1363
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:22 pm

Re: VV2-55 Spring Question

Post by Lah Ca »

Jim_Cannon wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 9:46 am Did he spray it with Brake Fluid? Or Brake Cleaner?

Brake Fluid is very corrosive.
Brake fluid, I think.

However, I am not concerned in the least about this particular motor. It would require an enormous amount of work to restore it to good working condition--bushings for the spindle (and perhaps elsewhere) and probably plating and re-machining of the spindle shaft (and perhaps others). The motor has a lot of slop with wild platter wobble, and it makes horrible screeching noises.

I do not have time at present for slow careful work with this motor. Dismantling the motor and removing and servicing the drum is only a practice run for repairing the spring in my good VV2-55, something I do not want to mess up.

Jim_Cannon wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 9:46 am To clean my motor, I used some mineral spirits and a couple of different brushes (as small as a toothbrush).
Thanks.

Jim_Cannon wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 9:46 am The mess inside the spring barrel will need a lot of your favorite solvent.
Oh yes. ..... I have watched videos.

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