The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello, yesterday i purchased my second Victrola a vv-ix 1916 model for $130 couldn't pass it up. physically the victrola is in about 8/10 condition but the motor plays slowly and is somewhat harder to crank that my other victrola a vv-260 however i know that is also the newer model of the double spring motor. I removed the motor and greased and oiled everything like stated should be on the diagram under the board, then i noticed while i play the motor my barrel on the opposite side of the motor is always spinning like it should , while the other barrel only spins sometimes about every 2-3 seconds not constantly . Is that normal? i suspect that 2 main springs will have to be re-greased but before i tackle this could their be any other problem causing this? I'm not familiar with this type of motor yet.

Thank you very much - Tyler

Hi Tyler

I just rebuilt the two spring motor on my VV-IX 1922. The spring barrel does turn as you observe pausing briefly every 2-3 seconds. Does the spindle speed governor function properly?

Ray

RayB wrote:Hi Tyler

I just rebuilt the two spring motor on my VV-IX 1922. The spring barrel does turn as you observe pausing briefly every 2-3 seconds. Does the spindle speed governor function properly?

Ray

The Governor does work from what i see, however to get the desired speed i have to turn the governor up almost all the way to play a 78. also i must crank the main spring about 10-12 times..

12 cranks probably aren't enough for the double spring. Typically I start with around 25-28 cranks and add an additional 10 after each play. There is a website on my profile that shows some pics.

Ray

The springs store energy. When you wind the motor, you are delivering the energy to the springs. Consider two motors with identical springs. One machine cranks easier than the other but requires more turns of the crank. The other motor requires fewer turns of the crank but it crank harder. The gear ratio is different between the crank and the spring barrels. It's like two people riding identical bikes along side each other at the same speed. One person has his in second speed (pedals easier) and the other person has his in third speed (pedals harder). This might help explain the differences between your two spring motors. Jerry Blais

[quote="Jerry B."]The springs store energy. When you wind the motor, you are delivering the energy to the springs. Consider two motors with identical springs. One machine cranks easier than the other but requires more turns of the crank. The other motor requires fewer turns of the crank but it crank harder. The gear ratio is different between the crank and the spring barrels. It's like two people riding identical bikes along side each other at the same speed. One person has his in second speed (pedals easier) and the other person has his in third speed (pedals harder). This might help explain the differences between your two spring motors. Jerry Blais[/quot

Wow i never thought of putting it in that sort of context,Makes sense though! i just could not figure out why one barrel was spinning slower & if that was normal. thank you

I cant believe you guys "count cranks". Why would you even do that?
Why not fully wind or almost fully wind the motor & be done with it?
Fully wound your double spring motors will play 2 record sides before having to wound up again.