Grafonola Spring Barrel question

[a12548]

Never worked on the Graf 3 springs...I cant seem to get the barrels apart. I tried getting that end gear out of the barrel, I twisted..turned backwards etc. I thought by removing the cap on the one barrel would help, but didnt. Also the 2 barrels with caps together almost seem sealed together. Thanks

[mikejk]

It looks like you haven't had any responces yet. Here's what I know from working on four Columbias.
It has been a while so not sure if memory will serve correctly, but I do remember them as being the most difficult to remove and re-assemble. The single barrel on the end with gear needs to be seperated from the other two that are joined back to back. The single barrel needs to be rotated so the dimples line up with their release points, then it's time to take a screw driver and hammer and gently start tapping around the rim while holding the barrel. Once this barrel is separated from the other two, you can see the opposite side of the end gear and use a screw driver to coax the shaft out of the inner coil. Be careful not to distort the inner coil or it will be very difficult to engage the spring during re-assembly. Then the remaining connected barrels are rotated against tension and a screw driver carefully inserted to help the shaft out of the springs.
This is not an easy operation, but patience will prevail. I have had to walk away from Columbia spring barrels and come back to it the next day. The one thing I learned was that the inner most coil must be tight around the shaft for it to re-engage the spring and can not be opened up while removing the shaft, and if they are, a good twist with needle nose will close them up and save a lot of #%&*#*!!! when trying to re-engage them. Hope this helps. Mike K.

[a12548]

Thanks Mike, I did exactly what you said and got it apart. I did the "walk away" for a few days in a row. Thanks!

[mikejk]

Great! Glad to hear you have managed to get them apart. I don't like working on Columbia springs, but I don't avoid them either. They are a challenge. My first machine was a Columbia C tabletop, but I didn't work on the springs until 20 years after I bought it. I still have that machine and won't part with it for sentimental reasons. Good luck with your project. Mike K.