HMV 145 not running at constant speed - what to do?

[CptBob]

I've spent the weekend in our house in France playing my HMV 145 which lives there. I brought over some album sets with me, but I find piano music to be virtually unlistenable because the machine doesn't play at a constant speed.

I've made a very rough and ready video to illustrate the problem.

http://youtu.be/84SIUjMLqCM


Oiling the governer leather didn't seem to have any effect. It is very chewed up looking, could this be the cause of the problem? Is there anywhere you can get a replacement?

IMG_9477 by RWPD, on Flickr


IMG_9474 by RWPD, on Flickr

[Phono48]

Make sure the governor is free to slide on the central spindle as the weights move in and out. The old, sticky oil can often cause erratic travel, and therefore speed variation.

To replace the leather, you need some leather sewing machine belt. If you PM me your details, I'll pop a few bits in the post for you.

Barry

[VintageTechnologies]

I heard a noise at 1:32 that might have been the spring rumbling as it unwinds.

Regardless of that, I think the spring lube may be dried out, and the spring coils do not unwind past each other without friction. There is too much internal resistance to overcome.

I have a Victor VV-IX that exhibited the same behavior of running slower and slower despite a full winding. Likewise, oiling the governor did not help. I did a complete disassembly of the motor and cleaned the hardened waxy film from all the motor parts, particularly the spindle shaft and the bushing it passes through. Then I removed the spring coils, completely degreased them, and repacked the reassembled spring barrel with a heavy dose of fresh black lithium grease. Problem solved, it plays like a champ.

[CptBob]

Make sure the governor is free to slide on the central spindle as the weights move in and out. The old, sticky oil can often cause erratic travel, and therefore speed variation.

To replace the leather, you need some leather sewing machine belt. If you PM me your details, I'll pop a few bits in the post for you.

Barry

Thanks Barry, that makes sense, I'll check how well the governer slides on the spindle - and send you a PM.

Cheers

Robert

[CptBob]

I heard a noise at 1:32 that might have been the spring rumbling as it unwinds.

That noise was me tripping over a chair. It's a very rough and ready video done in a hurry with an ordinary camera. The record is no great shakes either.

I forgot to mention in my OP that the springs were re-greased about a year ago - Barry, kindly did the job for me and I watched and learnt and lent a hand where I could. Before we did this job the motor was banging like a good-un.

[Edisone]

I thought I had a "good ear" for music, but after listening to the video 4 times, I can't hear the problem.

[Joe_DS]

An improperly seated governor can also cause variations in speed.

When the motor is fully run down, check to make sure that the governor assembly is not seated to loosely by moving it back and forth in the directly of the bearings or collars.

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There should be just a hint of movement or shake, but no more. (Just enough to ensure that the governor will spin freely.) If there's back and forth movement of the governor, unscrew the screws holding the bearings in place, and reposition them. That's also a good time to put a drop of oil into each one. Once everything is back in place, make sure that the screws are tight so the retaining bearings/collars don't slip.

HTH,
Joe

[Henry]

When the motor is fully run down, check to make sure that the governor assembly is not seated too loosely by moving it back and forth in the directly of the bearings or collars.

Joe

Right! I speak from messy experience. There's nothing like the surprise you will get the first time you remove the governor with tension in the motor springs, as the springs release with the speed of thought. Chances are that once is enough, and that you will learn your lesson (as I did!) very quickly.

[Joe_DS]

Out of curiosity, did you ever solve the problem, or figure out what was causing it?

Joe

[Dave]

Oiling the governer leather didn't seem to have any effect. It is very chewed up looking, could this be the cause of the problem? Is there anywhere you can get a replacement?

CptBob...If you ever decide to replace that worn out leather.. here are excellent replacements from Walt Sommers.
eBay Item #360914019581