The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Just recently the belt broke on my Edison standard model b, usually I ask a friend to do it for me but this time I wanted to do it myself. But when I put on a new belt the belt tensioner keeps on slowing the machine down till it stops or it plays slow and is warblely but when I lift the belt tensioner up it plays just fine. What do I do?

Sounds like the idler wheel is dragging. Put a drop of oil on it and see that it spins very freely.
Dave D

Is the idler wheel the wheel that presses down on the belt? Because if so I have tried that. And keep in mind this worked for about a year just fine until the belt snapped and I had to replaced it.

Post a picture of the belt with tensioner .

Tpapp54321 wrote:Just recently the belt broke on my Edison standard model b, usually I ask a friend to do it for me but this time I wanted to do it myself. But when I put on a new belt the belt tensioner keeps on slowing the machine down till it stops or it plays slow and is warblely but when I lift the belt tensioner up it plays just fine. What do I do?

Sounds like the belt is to tight. Try stretching it by just pulling on it. (If the idler wheel is turning freely)

Thank you the belt was just too tight