The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

My big HMV is driving me slowly nuts. The automatic brake, which is disengaged by moving the tonearm to the right, intermittently refuses to engage at the end of the record. Manually moving the tonearm back and forth, both gradually and suddenly, also has no effect. And then it will trip. Maddening!

This is a brake that is similar to that used on the American orthophonics, with the serrated spring loaded parts. Clever little thing. Of course the American version starts via a separate lever rather than relying upon tonearm movement, but otherwise they're the same, conceptually.

Does anyone have the factory guidelines on lubrication and adjustment? Adjustment seems secondary to incorrect lubrication, in my case...I disassembled and cleaned and relubricated, and everything moves freely. But I'm sort of thinking that I might have lubed the pivot with the star-shaped washer in error, where it actually wants some friction in that area for actuation purposes.

There might even be guidance in an owners manual for this sort of thing.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

The answer is ZERO lubrication! These rely on friction and movement and spring tension. Too much lubrication is a nightmare. I find the only way to get these to work perfectly every time is to clean them free of grease / oil and then re-assemble. Do not lubricate them!

I will second that! Soak it in a solvent (I used acetone) until all traces of old lubricant are removed and it operates freely. It should need no lubrication

Thanks for the excellent advice. Just took it off, and went outside and sprayed it clean with carburetor cleaner. Dried and polished and reinstalled, and it works like a champ. Thanks guys.