The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello,
A friend has brought me an Edison Suitcase Home. The small brass gear in the picture has split and now turns freely on the shaft. What are my options for repairing this?? Can I just solder it back in place? How do I make sure that the gear lines up properly so the teeth mesh with the next gear? Or should I just try to find a replacement cluster gear?
Pete

Ron Sitko has replacement gears with a set screw.

Ron Sitko sells a better than original gear with a set screw to prevent slipping. When I made a similar repair, using a Sitko replacement, I filed a flat spot on the shaft and tightened the set screw to the flat spot. Problem solved!

That gear is a weak link in the Home gear train. When it splits it must be replaced. When this happens the crank turns freely. Your first thought might be a spring unhooked on the inside but with a Home check the little gear.

Jerry Blais

Thanks Guys!! I knew you would have the solution to the problem!
Pete

I agree! Get one of the gears from Ron Sitko. I ended up changing mine on my Edison Home B when I got it back in 2005. These original gears always seem to broken or will break.

I am wondering if that one gear is the only one that has that problem on the Edison Home?

I had this gear split while winding my Home be to demonstrate at a party.

Scared the you-know-what out of me !!!

It seems to be the only gear prone to problems with the Home.

How are the original gears put on. Are they heated then slid on ??? As it cools it contracts?? Are they soldered on??? One of my homes has the small gear slipping so I guess I need to order a replacement. I was going to order a motor on EBay but it would be better to replace the gear... Tom B

Very common problem with the Edison Home gear train. If you meticulously clean the gear and shaft and are very skilled at soldering, you can affect a suitable repair as solder will be enough to hold it. Just don't allow the solder to flow into the gear teeth. Just along the sides. The solder will flow on the shaft and inside the hole. There is enough lash in the gear to allow for the slight dimensional expansion due to the split. I have soldered dozens without any issue. If you are not skilled at soldering I would recommend replacing it with a new one. The originals were pressed on the shaft with probably a .001" press fit. Might have been .0015".

Changing the gear is a relatively easy repair with just a few hand tools. When I did my first one it was a little victory that each of us should enjoy. Just do it!

Jerry

After mine was changed, I never had another problem with my Edison Home B. The Home seems to be a very substantial machine and robust, and that has been 12 years.