The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The same Edison machine.
I want to gt the mainspring out to service it. With the drive gear off the back of the barrel, the shaft moves easily in and out of the bearing. The ratchet and gear on the front are another matter. As far as I can tell, they are permanently fixed to the shaft. They don't budge.

The barrel cap is already loose, I imagine I need to bring the shaft out through the front. So I need to disconnect it from the mainspring. The usual way to do that is to force the sprocket wheel backwards, until the center hook lets go of the spring.

But turning it as far as I can with a gloved hand, it doesn't want to let go. It's happy where it is. So I need some advice. What setup might help me to turn it further? Or is there a danger of breaking it if I turn it further?

Or am I completely on the wrong track? Please advise.

bangster

Have you consulted the Edison Disc Manual yet?

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 2910#p2910

Fran

This isn't a disk motor. It's a single spring cylinder motor.

On my model A, the ratchet and gear are held on the spring arbor by 'keys': small pieces that fit into a notch on the gear and a spline on the arbor. (I know because that key gave way once, forcing me to fabricate a replacement).

To remove the gears, you may have to carefully lever them off the arbor. If you can do that, and remove the cover of the spring barrel, you may be able to better access the arbor and free it from the center coils.

Bill

I would have hoped for a spline or key arrangement, but found no sign. This is an Edison Home model E. It looks to me like the ratchet is staked to the arbor.

I'll look harder.

Thanks,

bangster

fran604g wrote:Have you consulted the Edison Disc Manual yet?

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 2910#p2910

Fran

Ahh. Sorry, I didn't see a model of machine mentioned.

Best,
Fran

Hey Everbody...

I apologize for starting multiple threads about the same machine. I'll mend my ways.

bangster

Here's a pic of the ratchet wheel.
You can see that it's staked in two places. I don 't think it's meant to come off the shaft.

Any of y'all know the proper way to deal with this?

bangster wrote:Any of y'all know the proper way to deal with this?

Everyone may not agree if this is a proper way or not but if turning the gear and arbor clockwise as far as you can with your gloved hands does not unlock the spring from the arbor its time to be more aggressive. But first turn the gear and arbor clockwise as far as you can with your gloved hands than tap the whole spring barrel while under tension on a wood work bench. Hit it pretty hard to jar the spring inside hoping it will unlock from the arbor.
If this still does not work time to get aggressive. With safety glasses and gloved hands and the tension released, start to pull the gear, arbor and cover out of the spring barrel very slowly. Keep a very tight grip on everything so the spring can start to uncoil slowly as you pull it out of the barrel. The more you pull out the faster it will want to come out of the spring barrel. A good tight grip and you can keep everything under control as it uncoils.
After everything is out of the spring barrel than you can proceed to do what you wanted to.

A WORD OF CAUTION, IF YOU DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THIS THAN DON'T DO IT

Larry Crandell