The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi,
The spring on the governor pad on my HMV 101 is decidedly “floppy”, and hasn’t got the sharp click that I think it’s supposed to have when I pull it one way and let go (this is when I’ve taken out the governor). I’m attaching a photo - does it look like it’s the right shape? I’ve tried to see detail on various YouTube videos but it’s difficult to get the right angle. If anyone has a photo of what it should look like, that would help - I’m not sure whether I need to bend the end one way or the other. Also, the spring wraps around the shaft it’s on three times - I’m wondering if it’s snapped before and is therefore shorter than it should be. I don’t think this one can be taken apart and replaced.
As I say, the issue is that it’s just sluggish and the spring doesn’t seem to be doing it’s job. It’s fair loose / free enough so that it’s not in need just of a bot of oil, I think.

At the other end there should have a prong with an U shape at the end, catching the pad lever... Maybe it's snapped. Look closely at the other end of the spring...

You can’t see it in my photo, but the prong with the U shape is in place ok, so hasn’t snapped off.

Then it could be that it seems floppy just now, with everything disassembled. You should try with the governor in place, the motor assembled to the motorboard and the upper parts of the speed regulation lever in place on the motorboard. I mean, the spring can be floppy now, but with everything in place it can work properly and be in tension.... because it looks good!

have you tried cleaning old oil and gunk off of the pivot for the governor pad? I've dad a very dirty motor where it needed cleaning, and that solved the problem with the governor pad being sluggish. If the spring is toast, you'll have to drill out the rivet holding the assembly in place, as this was not likely to be an ordinary part that would get replaced regularly during service.