Question on Restoring a Orthophonic Reproducer

[Victrolaman]

Hi,
Im in the process of restoring one of my Orthophonic reproducers, i replaced the ball bearings, although on this one i had a bit of a hard time, the bearings seemdd to keep falling through one side? and i was confused because it was perfectly set in the middleas it should be, im thinking the ball bearings were a bit to small for the reproducer? i have restored many of these and never had this issue. Someone told me to take a piece of rubber tubing and insert that first and put it down in the race and then lay the ball bearings on top of that so they dont fall through and then another piece of tubing on top then close the cover.
It worked but didnt sound right, sounded muffeled or like it was to tight. Also to should you as a rule put a drop of superglue on each of the spider legs where it meets the diaphragm? all the shelac is gone on this one but im assuming its still tight to it? or as a rule just put a small drop on each foot and on the inside to where the tabs fold over?

Im hearing a tiny hint of buzzing on loud passages and i cant imagine what else it could be. im at the point of just taking thise one and sending it out to be done
But like i said i have restored many orthophonic reproducers over the years never had one like this act this way and be this difficult. So anyone tell me what im dojng wrong or any tips on the bearing issue comming through the other side or the buzzing. When i had the bearings in there with the tubing it sounded to tight and muffled there was no fidelity at all and still buzzed a bit on loud parts of the record

[gramophone78]

Try reading the tips in the back of LFD. I think there are a couple threads in the "tech" section of the forum also that discuss re-building these in great detail. You may also want to try and tighten the back ring a little more (if you can) to make sure the diaphragm is good and tight. I assume you replaced the gaskets???. If all else fails.....I think a man Steve Medved (sp?) in Florida can do these.

[Victrolaman]

yes i redid the gaskets, and everything? thats why im confused. I have the LFD book, excellent book but nothing i didnt know or do already restoring this. i just cant get this one to sound the way i want it.
i have a nice nickel plated brass one, all original except the bearings and its the best one in my collection i own. this one i just can figure it out. i may have to send it out. but figured id ask the experts here first bfore i do anything else i can try

[alang]

If all else fails.....I think a man Steve Medved (sp?) in Florida can do these.

Steve Medved only does Edison reproducers.
Andreas

[James]

I also had this problem. What I did is to cut a paper thin but firm flat plastic (not tubing) the size of the race with a hole at the middle for the needle bar. Insert it first, and the race sit on it. I also smear a thin layer of vaseline around the side of the race, and the needle bar. I store the ball bearings in a prescription bottle with a magnet, so they are magnetized. Then drop the ball bearings in place. On top another thin flat plastic, this time with out a hole in the middle. Then close the cover. I had restored six reproducers using this method, and sound alright to my ear.

James

Hi,
Im in the process of restoring one of my Orthophonic reproducers, i replaced the ball bearings, although on this one i had a bit of a hard time, the bearings seemdd to keep falling through one side? and i was confused because it was perfectly set in the middleas it should be, im thinking the ball bearings were a bit to small for the reproducer? i have restored many of these and never had this issue. Someone told me to take a piece of rubber tubing and insert that first and put it down in the race and then lay the ball bearings on top of that so they dont fall through and then another piece of tubing on top then close the cover.
It worked but didnt sound right, sounded muffeled or like it was to tight. Also to should you as a rule put a drop of superglue on each of the spider legs where it meets the diaphragm? all the shelac is gone on this one but im assuming its still tight to it? or as a rule just put a small drop on each foot and on the inside to where the tabs fold over?

Im hearing a tiny hint of buzzing on loud passages and i cant imagine what else it could be. im at the point of just taking thise one and sending it out to be done
But like i said i have restored many orthophonic reproducers over the years never had one like this act this way and be this difficult. So anyone tell me what im dojng wrong or any tips on the bearing issue comming through the other side or the buzzing. When i had the bearings in there with the tubing it sounded to tight and muffled there was no fidelity at all and still buzzed a bit on loud parts of the record

[phonojim]

You should not need to put anything on the underside of the bearings. I grease the outer race and the crosspin before I insert the bearings. When I start placing bearings, I hold the reproducer so that the bearing race is nearly vertical so the bearings won't fall through. I place one ball at the bottom then two others at approximately 120 degree intervals. this will hold the crosspin in place and make it easier to put the rest in. It may be necessary to adjust the balls with a toothpick or something similar to set them in position. once the balls are in place, insert the steel washer, the rubber washer and put the cap on. Note: brass and early potmetal reproducers do not use the washers, but strictly rely on magnetism to hold the balls in place. The early potmetal units to which I am referring are the ones that have a needle chuck like the brass ones, that is with the needle screw coming straight out the side rather than at an angle. The method you have used to hold the bearing assembly together sounds like it could easily lead to a muffled sound by putting too much pressure on the bearings.
As far as the spider legs, they definitely need to be sealed because they will leak and may rattle. You can use wax, but I have had good results with regular clear shellack and a very small artist's brush. Apply a very small dab to the joint - just enough to close the gap, let it dry and inspect. Add a little bit more if it looks like it is needed.
BTW: you should lightly grease the gaskets. It will help to seal them and could make it easier to remove the diaphragm if you ever need to again.
One other thought: check the adjustment of the limiting screw on the stylus bar. If it is too snug, it could rattle, or if too tight could limit the movement of the bar and cause low volume/muffled sound.
Hope this helps.

Jim

[Victrolaman]

Hi Jim

Thanks for the no I will try that. This is a pot metal one but I never thought to look to see if the needle chuck is straight or on a angle I will look at it in the morning to see. I was just thinking this batch of balls were a bit to small. As I have never had this issue before. Also I'm wondering if I should remagnatize the pivot bar and balls? Because they are not now. I think this may help to.
Also I think I'm tightening down the screws to hard on the covers and applying to much pressure?

If I can't get it right the next few try's I will have to send it out. But I can try to put a thin coat of grease on the race as well to help hold them in.
What do you use to center the needle bar and the other side while working on the other? I have a piece of tubing I stick in one side and I use 2 wooden matches to hold the needle bar straight.
Myself to I always take tha limit screw out and don't use it.