The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I tried to move the left governor bearing but it wouldn’t budge! I didn’t want to break another machine lol, so I stopped. Should I just wd40 it so it’ll move? I did take the set screw all the way out.

dzavracky wrote:I tried to move the left governor bearing but it wouldn’t budge! I didn’t want to break another machine lol, so I stopped. Should I just wd40 it so it’ll move? I did take the set screw all the way out.

Certainly. I use PB Blaster though. It's imho better for releasing gummed up rusty things. If you can pull the right bearing out, and move the governor away from the stuck bearing, you can gently tap the bearing out with a brass mallet. Don't hit it with a steel hammer, because that will mushroom the edge over.

Work it back and forth until you get it free and clean it well to remove any hardened oil, so that you can move it freely once you reinstall it. That'll make further adjustments much easier.

Best,
Fran

fran604g wrote:

dzavracky wrote:I tried to move the left governor bearing but it wouldn’t budge! I didn’t want to break another machine lol, so I stopped. Should I just wd40 it so it’ll move? I did take the set screw all the way out.

Certainly. I use PB Blaster though. It's imho better for releasing gummed up rusty things. If you can pull the right bearing out, and move the governor away from the stuck bearing, you can gently tap the bearing out with a brass mallet. Don't hit it with a steel hammer, because that will mushroom the edge over.

Work it back and forth until you get it free and clean it well to remove any hardened oil, so that you can move it freely once you reinstall it. That'll make further adjustments much easier.

Best,
Fran

Just one thing to add. PB Blaster is great stuff and I highly recommend it, but it stinks. Literally stinks. Use it outside, and wear gloves so you're not covered in foul-smelling petroleum products all day. Good luck!

It's been a few years since I worked on a Standard but I recall fixing this issue by replacing the governor weights. The springs that the weights are attached to get weak over 100 years. It's a cheap easy repair. Good luck.
Dave

thanks for the great feedback. Ill try moving the pins over first! once they are moved, how do I then test for the correct speed? I imagine this requires some trial and error

contact me directly by [email protected] easy fix L Hawes

dzavracky wrote:thanks for the great feedback. Ill try moving the pins over first! once they are moved, how do I then test for the correct speed? I imagine this requires some trial and error

The "old-school" test would be to wedge a slip of paper between cylinder & mandrel, and use a watch to count the revolutions: 40 in 15 seconds would get you a result of 160 rpm.

At some time, Edison added a pair of engraved rings on the carriage rod for a reference: check to see if you have those. At 160 rpm, the carriage should take exactly 1 minute to pass from one ring to the other.

Nowadays though, laser tachometers are available online at reasonable prices. Just stick the reflective tape to a junk cylinder, point the laser at it, and it will give you a pretty accurate readout. (Tip: if you do this with the reproducer up, add 1 or 2 rpms to the speed: the drag from the reproducer will reduce it to normal).

- Bill

On the governor I have loosened a few governors by making sure the screws that hold the bearings in place are loose or out. I lube them up then gently tap on the end of the stuck bearing to loosen it up. Normally one of the bearings will be loose and one is stuck. Also take the spring tensioner off of the bearing that tensions the belt tensioner. Be careful and do not bend the pins on the governor. You will have to remove the brake lever that goes up thru the plate. I put the screw and washer back in so I will not loose them or mix them up. Pull the pins out and you can remove the governor. I clean the bearings up then put them back in the correct side. You can adjust the governor towards the yoke speed control and see if that will slow it down enough. If you want you can replace the springs. Be careful as the screws are very small that hold the springs on and make sure you put the washers back on each screw that holds the springs in place. They are also very tight on there so get some jewelers screw drivers to take them out or a very small screw driver.
Some of the phonographs had marks on the carriage rod in the back. They were normally set up to time the motor to 160 turns per minute. If they are there use them to set up your timing. I agree you should buy the book to do the repairs. It gives some helpful hints too. Tom