The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Sadly my newly acquired Collaro A27 motor has a broken 'non-return' spring.

It has snapped near the top.

Can anyone advise please if the can be repaired or where a new one might be available from ?

Oh, I also notice that this motor spindle attaches to the turntable using a seperate screw fit attachement. (Did I use the correct words there ?). I assume that this was standard for the Collaro A 27 ? Photographs 'below'. (It was very difficult to unscrew to release the turntable so I damaged them a bit - hard banging with a hammer and the end of a scew-driver, using pliers etc).


Thanks as always for any help anyone can give.

Well, having just read part of 'The Compleat Talking Machine' I will try to unravel part of the remaining spring and use that to re-attach.

Sounds like a good idea .............. hopefully.

As there seems to be very little info on how to get a replacement for one of these, I'll offer up this video where I did successfully manage to make a new one. I've posted it before, so apologies if you have already seen it.
https://youtu.be/6yn4ah9bkNg

mrrgstuff wrote: Fri Jun 30, 2023 6:31 pm As there seems to be very little info on how to get a replacement for one of these, I'll offer up this video where I did successfully manage to make a new one. I've posted it before, so apologies if you have already seen it.
https://youtu.be/6yn4ah9bkNg

Very interesting indeed.

If re-using the original one proves too difficult I will try to make one as you suggest. I do have a few spare motors (albeit different manufacturers) around as well so I will also see if I can use their non-return springs.

Thanks !!!

mrrgstuff wrote: Fri Jun 30, 2023 6:31 pm As there seems to be very little info on how to get a replacement for one of these, I'll offer up this video where I did successfully manage to make a new one. I've posted it before, so apologies if you have already seen it.
https://youtu.be/6yn4ah9bkNg

I thought I would mention that this morning I had a quick look at the non-return spring with a pair of pliers.

I was VERY surprised because the spring metal is relatively soft and quite malleable. I expected it to be very hard and brittle. Like a motor main-sping. Consequently, I now have a far better understanding of your video and techniques.

So, my next step is to try to re-use the current non-return spring and if there isn't enough to use I will try your technique.

I don't have a lathe though, so could you advise how I might approach making a non-return spring without a lathe ?

Thanks very much.

poodling around wrote: Mon Jul 03, 2023 10:52 am
I don't have a lathe though, so could you advise how I might approach making a non-return spring without a lathe ?

So, there is good news and not so good news.

On one hand it is pretty easy to make a spring without a lathe. This very short video (not mine) shows one technique:
https://youtube.com/shorts/evpe955YRMc?feature=share4

You can do something similar with a plain shaft like in this video (also not mine):
https://youtu.be/iA6ZAo9Re9o

The not so good news is that the shaft you form the spring around needs to be smaller in diameter than the shaft the spring is going on to. This is because the spring will expand slightly after winding and won't grip the shaft. So you can't use the shaft the spring is going on to form it.

A lathe is the perfect tool to create this undersized shaft, so if you don't have access to one you need to find a suitably sized shaft from somewhere else.

Another one, using the hand drill:

https://youtu.be/ubQqYq5vmnc

mrrgstuff wrote: Mon Jul 03, 2023 1:35 pm

poodling around wrote: Mon Jul 03, 2023 10:52 am
I don't have a lathe though, so could you advise how I might approach making a non-return spring without a lathe ?

So, there is good news and not so good news.

On one hand it is pretty easy to make a spring without a lathe. This very short video (not mine) shows one technique:
https://youtube.com/shorts/evpe955YRMc?feature=share4

You can do something similar with a plain shaft like in this video (also not mine):
https://youtu.be/iA6ZAo9Re9o

The not so good news is that the shaft you form the spring around needs to be smaller in diameter than the shaft the spring is going on to. This is because the spring will expand slightly after winding and won't grip the shaft. So you can't use the shaft the spring is going on to form it.

A lathe is the perfect tool to create this undersized shaft, so if you don't have access to one you need to find a suitably sized shaft from somewhere else.

Brilliant ! I will have a go and get back with an up-date in two days !!!

I’ll go for mrrgstuff’s solution. I’ve tried it and it works. I also have no lathe!

If the whisk doesn’t work, a wire coat hanger, stripped of the plastic will. You might get away with the whisk to be fair as it’s a small motor.

I used a drill bit and a pair of mole grips and pliers. Use a bit just smaller than the shaft of the winding spindle.

I clamped one end of the wire to the drill bit, then held it vertically in a vice. Then start to wrap it round with a pair of pliers to keep it close to the bit. Eventually it’ll work, just make sure it’s long enough. Then, put the loop in to anchor it. It’s hard work and you have to try and be dexterous to move the pliers round without letting go, or it’ll not be an equal wind.

The most important part- ensure you wind it the correct way round, else it’ll do exact the opposite and not hold the wind! I found this out the hard way.

It will go on the shaft with a bit of fiddling.

Someone told me the action of wrapping the non- springy material round, in fact adds some spring when it’s done.

Inigo wrote: Mon Jul 03, 2023 3:29 pm Another one, using the hand drill:

https://youtu.be/ubQqYq5vmnc

Very good and helpful video.

Thanks Inigo.