Need some help with the fibre gear on an early Columbia

[Jerry B.]

I am helping a friend with an early Col AH. The gear on the spindle is a combination brass and fibre gear. I believe the damaged fibre portion is available from Ron Sitko. Is this so? Once I get the fibre gear, what is the best way to install? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Jerry Blais

[Phonofreak]

I have worked on many of these motors before. Yes, the gear is available from Ron Sitko. Here is a step by step on how I replace these gears.
1 First, remove the whole brass and fiber gear assembly.
2. Do not remove the bad fiber gear just yet.
3. lay the new fiber gear with the teeth pointing in the exact orientation of the old fiber gear. This is very important. If you have the new gear in the opposite orientation, it will not work. Damage is possible.
4. Once you have the correct orientation of the new fiber gear, use a Sharpie marker and put a dot on top of the gear. This will help you remember in case you forget.
5. Pry off the bad gear off the spindle gear assembly.
6. Carefully clean the surface where the old gear was.
7. Making sure the black dot is up, attach the gear to the spindle gear. It should snap on.
8. Reassemble the motor and make sure the gears mesh. DO NOT WIND!!
9. Once everything meshes, Take out the spindle gear, and remove the fiber gear.
10. Use 5 min. epoxy and carefully apply it to where the fiber gear goes. Make sure the black dot is on top.
11. Let cure for 24 hours, and reassemble the motor. The black dot can be removed with rubbing alcohol.
Harvey Kravitz

[Jerry B.]

Thanks Harvey, I'll get a gear and give it a go. Jerry Blais

[Jerry B.]

Harvey, I followed your instructions. Everything meshed, or seemed to, and I gave the crank a few turns. There seems to be too much friction with the new fiber gear against the governor. I have some spring tension. What do you suggest?

Thanks, Jerry

[CDBPDX]

Hi, Jerry. There are a couple things that might help. First, there are a couple screws holding the small plate at the 'spring end' of the governor shaft. You can loosen those screws and adjust the location of the end of the governor shaft in relation to the fiber gear, closer or further apart. Be sure the spring is completely unwound before messing with this. Another thing is the location of the spindle gear on the spindle. A tiny bit of adjustment up or down the spindle can make a world of difference in how the gear and shaft interact.

Try experimenting with those adjustments a little and see if that helps. Be sure to test before you apply tension from the springs. If there is a little too much play, you can strip the fiber gear real quick.

Have fun! Cliff

[Phonofreak]

Between what we discussed on the phone, and Cliff's suggestions, you should have it running in no time.
Harvey Kravitz