The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

phonogal wrote:Tried the freezer and oil but still stuck tight.

Of course, the cold will contract the metal, and then the oil will seize up, making it double jeopardy.

Just calm down, and wait till it's about 40-50 degrees.

phonogal wrote:Started to do a rebuild on my Ultona reproducer and have the needle bar screws out and the retaining ring screws removed and now I'm stuck or rather the retaining ring is. Is there any trick to getting this out? I was able to dig out the outer gasket and thought maybe this was holding the ring in but that wasn't the case. I know some of you have tackled this rebuild. Thanks, Jan

Jan ~ I was just wondering how you did with this... were you able to get the retaining ring removed?

If you do/did happen to break your ring, I do have one in my box o'crappola I can part with.

Hi Tink,
I haven't gotten it apart yet and decided until I find a spare, I will leave well enough alone. I did put a new gasket on the outside as I had already removed the broken dried up gasket. It really sounds pretty good as is but, I'm sure it would sound better if fully rebuilt. I haven't even looked at the Edison side to see how it comes apart. Thanks for the offer. If I get up enough courage, I may try again. Jan.

phonogal wrote:Hi Tink,
I haven't even looked at the Edison side to see how it comes apart. Thanks for the offer. If I get up enough courage, I may try again. Jan.

I found the Edison side to be a real beast, and feel it will likely test many people's patience if the lateral/vertical side causes them problems due to swollen or damaged pot metal. The retaining ring on my Edison side also refused to budge until I soaked it in penetrating oil, refrigerated it, swore at it, and then finally coaxed it free with two pairs of curved needle nose pliers covered with chamois. It cost me the mica, but at least the headache was finally over.

If everything came apart smoothly without components cracking, breaking, stripping, etc., etc., rebuilding the Edison side would not seem so daunting.

CarlosV posted his insights a while back about his experiences with the Edison side when I was venturing into rebuilding my first Ultona, and they were very helpful. I'll see if I can locate the thread and link it here.

If you decide you would like the retaining ring anyway, let me know and I can pop it into the mail for you. Sometimes we can be more courageous if we have a backup on hand...

Edited name to correct forum member

Thanks Tink,
I'll PM you.

Tinkerbell wrote:Alang posted his insights a while back about his experiences with the Edison side when I was venturing into rebuilding my first Ultona, and they were very helpful. I'll see if I can locate the thread and link it here.

Hi Tink, that must have been someone else, I never had an Ultona reproducer.
Andreas

alang wrote:

Tinkerbell wrote:Alang posted his insights a while back about his experiences with the Edison side when I was venturing into rebuilding my first Ultona, and they were very helpful. I'll see if I can locate the thread and link it here.

Hi Tink, that must have been someone else, I never had an Ultona reproducer.
Andreas

My apologies... now I will definitely have to go back and see who it was.

Okay, edit: It was CarlosV and here is the post/thread:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=2&t=4947