The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I can normally track down problems with phonographs, but I can't with this one, it plays 4 minute just fine, plays steady, plays the whole record, but in 2 minute, it grinds to a halt after 15 seconds even though the upper works and motor all seems to be running smoothly as far as I can tell, anyone had a similar issue?

after fiddling with it it's doing it with the 4 minute also, I've narrowed it down to a bent mandrel rod causing excess friction, but the rod is frozen and I can't get it loose to straighten/replace, agh

Alex, The mandrel shaft should be secured by a nut. And, if I recall correctly, the rod is threaded on that end. I'm going from memory years ago when I bought a Fireside (or an Amberola DX with the Fireside motor) that had a slightly bent mandrel shaft. Anyway, the shaft is removable. Ron Sitko over here in the States can straighten bent mandrel shafts. I don't know about the UK but anyway there it is. Good luck.

Doug

FellowCollector wrote:Alex, The mandrel shaft should be secured by a nut. And, if I recall correctly, the rod is threaded on that end. I'm going from memory years ago when I bought a Fireside (or an Amberola DX with the Fireside motor) that had a slightly bent mandrel shaft. Anyway, the shaft is removable. Ron Sitko over here in the States can straighten bent mandrel shafts. I don't know about the UK but anyway there it is. Good luck.

Doug

Thanks Doug, the nut comes off easily, is the shaft threaded into the casting then secured by the nut, or does it just push into the casting, if you remember

Got it removed, but it got pretty chewed up in the process, it was pretty well seized in there, on the look out for a replacement rod now

Penetrating oil, a wooden or brass drift, and a mallet usually do the trick without destroying the carriage rods.

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:Penetrating oil, a wooden or brass drift, and a mallet usually do the trick without destroying the carriage rods.

I tried penetrating oil, tapping it out, everything, only way to get it to move without damaging the casting was to twist it loose with pliers, either way its out now, If I can't find an original rod, easy to make one on the lathe, hopefully I can finally get it to play properly

If you used pliers you probably left marks in the middle. If you looks at the mandrel I believe it makes contact with the shaft only at each end. So you should be able to sand the the raised marks away and use the straightened shaft.

It's a mystery to me that the machine would work in four minute but not in two. All the combination machines have an easier time in two minute mode.

Jerry B.

Post a picture of what you have with dimensions so members like me can check their parts inventory.

blizz

Hate to ask at this point, but is the belt tight enough? I have a combination Home which has a loose belt and it will play in 4 min. mode but not 2. The belt is new but I made it slightly too long, so... I have also had that problem with aStandard.
+1 with Jerry re: the plier marks. Should be able to file them out and have no problem.

Jim