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Hello;

A few weeks ago, I came across a PDF of the original manual that came with this model Grafonola, and found a section about oiling the motor. Since there is no telling when it was last oiled, I called my father to help me with it. Once we got to the paragraph that instructs the reader to remove the screws on either side of the crank, we heard a bolt hit the bottom of the cabinet, then another. Now, the crank is loose & will not turn, and the motor itself will not function.

This phonograph has been in my family for 4 generations, and has always worked perfectly. I would like to repair it myself, mostly due to the fact that nobody in my area knows how to repair these machines, and I am financially unable to ship the phonograph off for repair.


Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hi! Welcome to TMF !

If you can take a couple of photos of the machine ( side where the crank is, front, and of the playing area with the lid open), this might help us solve your problem.

Some of the Grafonolas of this vintage have a metal backing-plate roughly the same shape and size of the external crank escutcheon, but drilled and tapped to receive the two machine screws that secure the escutcheon to the cabinet. when the screws are removed, sometimes this inner plate drops-down inside the cabinet. Alternatively, there can be nuts, one for each screw.

Either way, this should not prevent removal of the crank.

The crank has to be removed to be able to get access to the motor for service: it should unscrew by turning counter-clockwise when looking at the crank-side of the machine. It may take a little "oomph" to budge it loose after being turned in the "tighten direction for 100 years.

Once the crank is removed, carefully lift the turn-table platter off the center spindle: the hole in the platter and the shank of the spindle are tapered, and a wedging action keeps the platter tight on the spindle - it might be stubborn coming-loose. with finger-tips under the edges of the platter ( on either side ), apply upwards force on one side, then the other, alternating, until the platter pops loose. If this does not work, have one person apply upwards force on the underside of the platter on both sides at the same time, and a second person tap on top of the spindle with a brass or plastic dead-blow hammer: this should release the platter. DO NOT Pound on the spindle. If the platter does not come loose, apply a few drops of penetrating oil to the base of the spindle, and let it sit overnight, and try all of the above again, in sequence.

Once the platter is removed you should be looking at the metal motor-plate: if it is a round plate, with one or two tabs projecting towards "7 and 8 o'clock", the motor and plate are secured by screws around the edge of plate (#6 or #8 round-head machine or wood screws) - remove those screws, then carefully lift the motor and plate using fingers hooked through the finger holes to the right and left of the spindle. Be careful not to bang / drag the motor across any cabinet parts. It will be black and greasy, so have some old newspaper ready to sit it down on.

If the metal motor plate is more squarish, with what looks like a hinge along the crank-side, there should be one or two screws along the opposite edge. when when loosened or removed, will allow the motor-plate and motor to swing-up, like a door. The motor should be able to be oiled while in the swung-up position.

Some Grafonolas have a wooden motor-board, which will have two hinges ( or one long "piano hinge") across the deck behind the turntable), and a couple of screws at the front corners of the deck: remove the front screws, and the whole deck should lift up at the front edge.

Once the motor is removed / swung-up, you should be able to look down into the cabinet with a good flashlight, and find the bits that dropped down inside.


If this machine has not been lubricated in anyone's lifetime, the motor would benefit form being disassembled and stripped of all old, hardened lubricant and dirt, then lubricated with quality modern lubes, and reassembled. Adding fresh oil to an old gunky motor is better than nothing, but only slightly.


Let us know how you make out !


Regards,

Frank