The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Everything has pretty much already been said
in the previous responses. I will just add this: You already know that it runs just fine without the belt. Everything on the bottom is working right.

With the belt off, this lets you get the feel
of the top works. You can turn the pulley
by hand that drives the top works. Put yourself in the same situation that the belt is when it attempts to drive the top works. Feel the total work it must do by hand-turning
the pulley.

The whole top works should turn freely.
There is some little friction, and of course
a bit more when the carriage is set down and
the half-nut is engaged on the feed screw.
But the total friction needs to not be excessive. As others have already said, you'll
feel it is too tight and then go looking for
where.

Could be the mandrel bearing. Could be the
feed screw bearings. Could be something along
the way in the gear train. Just be patient,
use plenty of oil and common sense.

Let us know what the trouble is when you find
it and fix it.

Chuck

Hey Brian,

I had a similar issue with my triumph. It would run at speed for 20 minutes without the feed screw engaged, but as soon as I let the carriage down, it would slow to a stop. It turned out to be the free play on one of the gears on the lower words. Once adjusted, It plays strong.

Check out the associated thread: http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... it=triumph

Good luck.

Bump

Hey Brian, did you ever solve the problem?

no, not yet. but thanks to everyone who provided suggestions. I made some notes, and am hoping to find some time this week or weekend to finally play around with this machine, as instructed, and get it going. I was planning to snap some photos at the same time. I'll definitely post them and my results once I get back into this small project.

Hi Brian' I had the same problem with my home and all the guy's on here was very helpfull, it turned out to be the belt was too tight.Also watch out for the half nut, it has to rest on the feedscrew very softly,it's a real pain. good luck Gordon

I heard somewhere that Edison was known
to have said that the halfnut just should "kiss"
the feed screw.

just an update, I finally got around to making some adjustments to the triumph and it's now working really well... I cleaned the feed screw, using a degreaser spray and then running a razor blade through the threading from beginning to end... I also loosened the half nut to the point where it applies the least possible pressure to the feedscrew... but what seemed to make the biggest difference was loosening the belt tension... I had never replaced one of those belts before and I think I just initially installed it too tightly.

it's still making some light gear noise when playing 4-minute, although in the 2-minute position, it's extremely quiet.

anyway, thanks to everyone who helped with suggestions. I'm grateful.

Very nice! - but what is with all those braces inside the lid?

estott wrote:Very nice! - but what is with all those braces inside the lid?

Original packing materials. I'm pretty sure they were to reinforce the lid and prevent the carriage from sliding around during the original crating and shipping process.

brianu wrote:

estott wrote:Very nice! - but what is with all those braces inside the lid?

Original packing materials. I'm pretty sure they were to reinforce the lid and prevent the carriage from sliding around during the original crating and shipping process.

A lot of the Triumphs seem to retain that original packing under the lid. I'm sure it adds 5 pounds to the weight of the lid and, as a result there's only one way to put the lid on. I.e. if the "front" is damaged, you can't flip it around. Still, I've also left it in mine when they come that way.