How to separate a columbia tone arm from elbow

[rizbone]

Is there a good way to separate the Columbia tone arm from the elbow. I know there is an expansion ring holding them together but wasn't sure if they could be pulled apart in some manner or if you just need to break one of the two parts.

[Phonofreak]

If the arm ,elbow and base swivels and move freely, I would leave it alone. A lot of these arms are not interchangeable. It's very difficult to separate them. It's even harder to put them together again.
Harvey Kraviyz

[De Soto Frank]

If there is NOT a set-screw on the back-side of the elbow, then the arm is held in the elbow by a snap-ring & gtoove, and Harvey's advice should be heeded.

The earlier arms have a set-screw (really a limit-stop screw ) through the back-side of the elbow that engages a slot in the hub of the arm. Remove that screw, and the arm will lift completely vertical, and the bayonet-lugs will release from the elbow.


At any rate, these Columbia pieces go from "okay" to "broken" w/o warning, so if it moves okay, best to leave it alone.


If the up & down is a little stiff, flow some penetrating oil into the joint,and keep working it up & down.

It it does not loosen up, you can try making a thin slurry of Bon-Ami and penetrating oil, and flowing that into the joint, then working the joint some more.

Once you have it freed-up to your satisfaction, rinse the joint with more penetrating oil and finish-up with some light machine oil.

Good luck !

[rizbone]

I'll try the Bon-Ami first. I have one that is really stiff and the base of another one missing the tone arm part. Worst case I'll cut off the base and then try to put the two of them together.

[De Soto Frank]

Be patient.

I had another thought, if the Bon-Ami lapping does not help...

You may have to supply some of your own ingenuity here, but, if you can chill the arm ( pack it in ice for an hour or so * ), then wrap it in an oven mitt, and carefully play a heat-gun on the elbow, you might achieve enough thermal contraction in the arm and expansion in the elbow to get them to separate.


I will check my morgue and see if I have any arms / elbows of this style.


* or even place the arm inside an oven mitt (where your hand would go), and fill the mitt with dry-ice (pellets would be best), then play the heat on the elbow.