The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Could someone tell me the cause of a repetitive clunking noise coming from the governor gears while running? It only starts up once the table gets going full speed (in fact without a table on it the noise isn't there). I can post a video if needed. It only seems to happen while the governor is rubbing the speed control stop (meaning if I adjust the speed slow then back out to fast the noise goes away for the second or so it takes the governor to work its way out to the new position.

Pics would be a better help.

Here are some pics of the governor so you can see what I am talking about. Nothing is actually broken something is just running loud. The only way I can describe it is like a wheel being off balanced and so makes a repetitive thunk once every revolution.

Governors can be finicky to adjust for a variety of reasons.

It spins between two points that should be set just loose enough that the governor spins freely and not in a bind.

There could also be some play in the gears due to wear.

Are the flat springs all straight and symmetrical? Do all the weights weigh EXACTLY the same? Sometimes loosening the screws on one end of the springs and retightening will relieve any imbalance.

Have you cleaned the governor of all grime and gummy oil on the flange and felt pads? Have you cleaned the governor shaft the governor slides on?

Is the governor flange slightly bent or have any oxidation or corrosion where the felt pads ride?

I use non-gumming Remington gun oil on the felt pads and lithium grease on the worm gear.

I just uploaded a video on YouTube that demonstrates a dirty governor that goes unstable when the motor carries a load:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aMZ1GB_95E

I haven't disassembled anything but that sounds like a good idea and I will re-grease it and see if that helps. I saw the video and the noise is more of a clunky sound and less of a constant whirring (sorry for all the technical jargon hehe).