The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I've heard differing opinions about this. What do you guys think? When you have a multi spring motor with one spring broken, do you replace all three, or just one?

Benjamin

Ben, The very first thing I would do (given the amount of spring lost), is to contact forum member "Bruce". He lives fairly close to you and has the tools and knowledge to fix that spring. This would also be the cheapest way to repair.

On the other hand, there are two schools of thought regarding this issue. Some say to save the money and just replace the one broken spring (if repair is not possible).

The other school of thought is replacing all the springs. The theory behind this is, placing a new "strong" spring up against old springs can create a tension that can cause the old springs to break prematurely.

There is no wrong or right regarding this.

The other issue to consider is logistics. Since you are up in Canada, the exchange and shipping can get costly.

So, if you choose to order one spring (I recommend Ron Sitko), it's is cheaper in the long run to order all three.

Unless your willing to chance having to order another one or two again.

Again, given the fact the spring loss is minimal and this is a three spring motor....you will never notice the loss once repaired.

I would PM Bruce first before you do anything.

Where is your spring broken? Most of the time it's at an end and can repaired, especially the outer end.

If mine had just been broken at the outer end, I would probably just shorten all three springs by 2 in; unfortunately, mine is broken at the very center...

Benjamin

benjaminh wrote:If mine had just been broken at the outer end, I would probably just shorten all three springs by 2 in; unfortunately, mine is broken at the very center...

Benjamin

I'm curious....why would you need to shorten the other two good spring by 2".. .

I would have thought that if you shorten the broken one, you should shorten the other two, so the tension is balanced...

Please correct me if I'm wrong; just an assumption I made...

benjaminh wrote:I would have thought that if you shorten the broken one, you should shorten the other two, so the tension is balanced...

Please correct me if I'm wrong; just an assumption I made...

Other than creating more unnecessary work and more risk of weakening the other good springs....no need. I would have Bruce repair the inner hole of that spring (if possible). I believe he can do it and he is very reasonable. At the very least....I would ask him.. .

Jerry, a pic of the broken part of spring in question has been posted on this thread above. .

I have PM'ed Bruce after reading your first response, Wayne; and am waiting for a reply.

Like my Dad always said, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Replace the broken one and move on. Just my 2¢
Joe

Only the one broken. I had a three spring saal motor with one broken spring and I just replaced the one and cleaned the others.