The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'd like to thank everyone for their help so far in helping me fix up my Victrola VV- XIV.

I'm having a speed problem still, even after following advice on another thread I started but let me start at the beginning:

The record player played 10 in. records great, but when I would put a 12 in. record on, it slowed down and barely played. So after pulling it apart I seen 2 governor weights sheered off. I ordered 3 new springs and another (missing) governor weight. After assembling everything back together the record player is now slower than it was before! The turn table barely moves and now wont even finish a 10 inch record.

I cleaned off all the old grease I could see off the gears and re-lubed everything.

Thanks in advance guys.

Would this problem continue even on a full wind? If so, your machine probably sat wound up for many years, the spring losing its energy potential all the while. In this case, you should get the spring replaced by a professional (there are a few members of the forum that replace springs).

The governor is sensitive, and may need adjustment. If the bearings are too tight, it binds. You need to make sure the governor turns freely and has a little slack in the bearings just a hair -- not too much. You also need to make sure the speed control arm that goes from the speed control adjustment screw to the spinning disk on the governor is adjusted and lubricated properly. These items are best adjusted with the motor board out of the machine. Be careful, if you make the turntable spin too fast the weights on the governor will strike the motor frame and break the governor springs.

This is a 4 spring motor, and should handle about 100 or more revolutions of the crank from a completely run down condition. Your springs may be tired after 100 years or may need to be cleaned and regreased. Without observing the motor in person, it's hard to tell. Although photos or a video of the motor in operation might help us help you. Otherwise we are just guessing again.

Thanks for the info. I ordered my springs from Walt Sommers (since he is close to me) and he sent two sets of governor springs. One low and one high tempered springs. Do you think that it might just be the springs? Unless told otherwise tomorrow I will replace all the springs with the other set.

travisgreyfox wrote:Thanks for the info. I ordered my springs from Walt Sommers (since he is close to me) and he sent two sets of governor springs. One low and one high tempered springs. Do you think that it might just be the springs? Unless told otherwise tomorrow I will replace all the springs with the other set.

Travis,

Check your PMs. I can help. (And, no, at this point it is clear that balance springs are not the issue.)

You are asking people to pretty much guess what the problem is with your motor. Some of the folks who have been replying to you are among the most capable troubleshooters and Victrola-fixer-uppers that exist. But we are not going to guess.

You are fairly close...Call me this week and we can plan for you to come on over on a Saturday and bring everything you want to work on. I will gladly invest the time to help you. Somebody somewhere along the way showed most of us on this forum and elsewhere how to work on the aspects of antique phonographs. I am lending the same hand that has been extended to me a thousand times over the years...all ya gotta do is grab it... Whatever that motor needs, I have it. I probably have 15 or 20 of those motors in my shop right now and parts for dozens more. We can do it.

Walt

travisgreyfox wrote:I'd like to thank everyone for their help so far in helping me fix up my Victrola VV- XIV.

I'm having a speed problem still, even after following advice on another thread I started but let me start at the beginning:

The record player played 10 in. records great, but when I would put a 12 in. record on, it slowed down and barely played. So after pulling it apart I seen 2 governor weights sheered off. I ordered 3 new springs and another (missing) governor weight. After assembling everything back together the record player is now slower than it was before! The turn table barely moves and now wont even finish a 10 inch record.

I cleaned off all the old grease I could see off the gears and re-lubed everything.

Thanks in advance guys.

it played great with two broken Governor springs ? Really ?

VictrolaGuy - Walt wrote:

travisgreyfox wrote:Thanks for the info. I ordered my springs from Walt Sommers (since he is close to me) and he sent two sets of governor springs. One low and one high tempered springs. Do you think that it might just be the springs? Unless told otherwise tomorrow I will replace all the springs with the other set.

Travis,

Check your PMs. I can help. (And, no, at this point it is clear that balance springs are not the issue.)

You are asking people to pretty much guess what the problem is with your motor. Some of the folks who have been replying to you are among the most capable troubleshooters and Victrola-fixer-uppers that exist. But we are not going to guess.

You are fairly close...Call me this week and we can plan for you to come on over on a Saturday and bring everything you want to work on. I will gladly invest the time to help you. Somebody somewhere along the way showed most of us on this forum and elsewhere how to work on the aspects of antique phonographs. I am lending the same hand that has been extended to me a thousand times over the years...all ya gotta do is grab it... Whatever that motor needs, I have it. I probably have 15 or 20 of those motors in my shop right now and parts for dozens more. We can do it.

Walt

Thank you so much for your generosity sir! I am replying to your PM now. Hopefully I can find some time to get out there (just had a baby girl Thursday night).

[quote="it played great with two broken Governor springs ? Really ?[/quote]



That is what is baffling me the most. It played 10 in records great until I took it apart and added two more governor weights. Now the turntable moves too slow to play any record.

If the replacement weights are not identical in size and/or weight to the remaining original one, this will cause the motor to run very unevenly, if at all! Always replace governor weights as a matched set, not individually.

Barry