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Hi everybody, I just disassembled the top works of my Standard Model D for cleaning after making a few records, and when I oiled it and reassembled it, I was hit with a few malfunctions. The biggest problem is that maybe 30s into a cylinder, 2 or 4 minute, the thing starts to slow down. Actually it starts before that by a while, but that's when it starts to really get bad.

I tried backing off the half nut a tiny bit, but that brings its own set of problems: it will advance most of the way along the feedscrew, but the first maybe ¾-inch of it, it won't. I am thoroughly perplexed. I had noticed the feedscrew issue before and was able to fix it simply by finding a 'sweet spot' of tension in the half nut, but now, nothing I do seems to work.

All points of movement including end bushings, the center bushing, the carriage rod, the feedscrew, and all gears, have been cleaned and well-oiled. I even went down into the motor (which I hadn't messed with) and oiled it a bit.

Thinking that perhaps my carriage rod was slightly bent, I turned it a bit but to no avail.

It is probably worth noting that each and every test was conducted on a full wind.

Any and all help and advice is appreciated.

My first guess is that your feedscrew and half nut have been over-lubricated. Wipe them completely dry, than put just a drop or 2 of LIGHT oil, like sewing machine oil, on the feedscrew. Don't use 3-in-1 or anything like that, it's too thick for this job.

Hi Ryan
If your machine was running properly before your disassembly and cleaning, its probably something very minor you're over looking. Some adjustment, alignment, or loading of a bearing.
A second or third look may help.

Best Regards, Larry

I'll keep at it, then. Thanks.

52089 wrote:My first guess is that your feedscrew and half nut have been over-lubricated. Wipe them completely dry, than put just a drop or 2 of LIGHT oil, like sewing machine oil, on the feedscrew. Don't use 3-in-1 or anything like that, it's too thick for this job.

I wonder if this is what has been giving me fits with a Home D... which was "running fine until I touched it" (read: cleaned and re-lubed the upper-works.)

I used 3-in-1 Electric motor oil on the upper-stuff ( back-rod, feed-screw, carriage straight-edge, mandrel bearings...)

I've rebuilt about 40 Std D models, and I can point out a few things pertaining to the top works. When re-assembling, the mandrel shaft and end bearing you should have a little side-play, about the thickness of a business card, same goes for feedscrew. This is simply an adjustment of the pulley position, and also the end pintel bearings on the feedscrew. Also, what is the condition of your mandrel bearing? Are you still running on the original pot metal bearing, or have you installed a new brass sleeve? Is your intermediate gear on its shaft too tight? I also like that to have a little side play.

Did you replace your drive belt? Is it too tight?

Put a drop of oil on your belt tensioning roller, too!

When you removed the 2/4 minute gear and shaft, did you possibly lose the little ⅜" long friction spring that mounts in the flat spot of the shaft?

Lastly. It is entirely possible that your mainspring is ka-put. Every time I rebuild a Std D, I always put in a new mainspring, regardless. A perfectly adjusted D should play for 12 minutes on a single winding, although most play for 8 min.

Wyatt

Hello, I was able to get it working by taking the 'some minor adjustment' advice. While removing the feed screw cover, I noticed a gap between the feed screw and half nut in the down position - meaning that they were not perfectly aligned. I adjusted the position of the half nut part of the carriage, and tweaked the tension and it now works fine. Thanks to everybody who commented.

EDIT: No, no. I was wrong, it's happening again. I'm getting more time now than before, though. I am using gun oil, not 3-in-1.

I can't see where you mentioned the horn; is it a cygnet? Does this occur with no horn at all?

Simple 14" witch's hat horn. It worked the other day after adjusting the half-nut again; then on Sunday it had issues again. This morning (applying pressure with my finger in lieu of the horn, as my family is still asleep) it worked fine. This is all with a horizontal carriage containing a Diamond B reproducer. Testing on BA records.