tiny problem with lid stay on HMV 163

[bart1927]

I noticed that with my "new" HMV 163 I wasn't able to close the lid completely. At the left side (where the lid stay is), it is still a little ajar. When I press firmly on the lid, I can close it a little further, but there still is a 2 or 3 mm gap at the left side.

At first I thought that maybe the lid was a little warped, but when I removed the lid stay, the lid closed perfectly.

Underneath the motor board you can access the spring loaded lid stay mechanism. There is a knob to regulate the amount of tension of the spring, determining how much force is needed to close the lid. But even with the spring in it's most "relaxed" position (so relaxed even that the lid won't stay open anymore), the "gap" remains. Is there anything I can do about it?

I already greased the lid stay with a little petroleum jelly (also to stop the squeaking), but it didn't solve the problem.

Any suggestions?

I took a few photo's of the spring mechanism.

[Retrograde]

Just for comparison...
The lid on my 163 has a very very small gap (no more than 0.10 mm) on the left side when the lid is closed.

[Marco Gilardetti]

I refrained from answering earlier, but I think that this is only due to the force of the spring, which bends the lid under its own wheight by always acting on it, although the lid is not permanently warped per se. It was not a good idea in first place to have one single spring to act so asymmetrically on the lid.

Two equal springs of half strength on both sides would be the true solution, but of course this is not feasible.

Unless the lid is "ramshackeled" and needs to be stiffened (which would help, at least a bit) I don't think that there's anything you can really do without altering the machine, since it was made that way.

[bart1927]

I refrained from answering earlier, but I think that this is only due to the force of the spring, which bends the lid under its own wheight by always acting on it, although the lid is not permanently warped per se. It was not a good idea in first place to have one single spring to act so asymmetrically on the lid.

Two equal springs of half strength on both sides would be the true solution, but of course this is not feasible.

Unless the lid is "ramshackeled" and needs to be stiffened (which would help, at least a bit) I don't think that there's anything you can really do without altering the machine, since it was made that way.

I already figured that out. When I remove the lid stay, the lid closes perfectly with no gaps. What I do now, when I close the lid, I give an extra firm nudge right above the place where the lid stay is screwed to the lid, that way the lid closes all the way.

[Marco Gilardetti]

Now that you say that, it makes me think that the screws of the lid's hinge may be a little loosened, or that the wood where they should engage may be somewhat stripped. Or perhaps that the hinge itself has a bit too much backlash. Did you check the hinge itself and how well it is fastened?

[bart1927]

Now that you say that, it makes me think that the screws of the lid's hinge may be a little loosened, or that the wood where they should engage may be somewhat stripped. Or perhaps that the hinge itself has a bit too much backlash. Did you check the hinge itself and how well it is fastened?

The hinge is perfectly in place, and all there aren't any loose screws or stripped wood. When I remove the lid stay, the lid closes perfectly, without any extra nudges or pushing. Only with the lid stay in place I need to apply extra pressure right above the lid stay to make the lid close all the way.