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I was listening some couple of 12-inch records with my HMV 102 when all of a sudden the motor stopped immediately. I disassembled the board and checked the motor. Since every other gears and the governor worked fine, it appears the spring is broken. I haven't lubricated the motor for a while (about 2 months), but since I never dared to wind it up during a playing or didn't do anything would harm that spring; except, very recently, my father in his drunken state winded the motor up fully without my noticing; since I always set up the brakes (both manual and automatic brakes) whenever I don't use it, it lasted about three days in that condition. I think that might be the reason.

I made arrangement to check this out to the only phonograph repair shop in Korea, which is located about 300 kilometers from where I live. The broken part of the spring was cut off and connected it with another fresh bits of spring. At first, it worked fine playing with my 10-inch records, but when I tried to play some 12-inch records again, it starts to slow down, and finally stopped within 20 seconds. I thought maybe the record had some dirt on the grooves but it wasn't. And now it starts to have problems on playing 10 inch records as well!

Now, I wouldn't go to the shop again since I don't have any time to go another 300 kilometers from here. Is there any way for me to solve this problem - without replacing spring or so? I really need your help. I still have two other machines and a turntable, so it is not a matter of life and death, but since I really love this portable (always handy and the sound is fantastic), and it is surely one of the most precious things I had during my life, I really need some help about it. Actually, I am almost hysterical right now!



**********Update**************

I managed to change the spring into the new one - it wasn't a pleasant business in the first place, but anyway, it seemed okay, but now there's another problem going on; It would not fully wound - if I turn the crank about 15 times, the spring suddenly goes loose with a some noise, and it would go only for 1 minutes! Any suggestions on this problem?

Try replacing it altogether.

There's a guy in the UK who makes new HMV springs - try emailing him at the address listed on this eBay listing and see if he can help

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HMV-His-Masters-V ... 3a62ca3419

Yes, I'm afraid a replacement is probably the only thing to do now.
Joins in springs seldom last long, so dont be too hard on your father. It would have broken again eventually anyway. Spring metal sort of crystalises over time & becomes brittle, so another repair would probably only break again in the future.
With a brand new spring, you'll be able to wind the machine fully & it should last another 20 yrs with regular use.
If you have any clock makers/repairmen in your area, I'd copy down the measurements given on ebay and see if a clock spring of the correct size was available at a lower price.

I agree with Shane, replace it. I tried mending a broken spring and it worked, for a day, and the spring broke again. I bought a replacement and when I opened the barrel, the mend was fine and there was a new break a fair distance (of spring) from the mend.

JHolmesesq wrote:Try replacing it altogether.

There's a guy in the UK who makes new HMV springs - try emailing him at the address listed on this eBay listing and see if he can help

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HMV-His-Masters-V ... 3a62ca3419

I can vouch for this seller, too. His name is Michael Child and he makes awesome stuff. He also sells directly if you don't want to deal with eBay. Incidentally, he also makes the best new needles I've seen. I recently ordered 10,000 of them. Here is his contact info:

[email protected]

J & M Wholesale ( Bedford ) Ltd
16 Hardwick Road
Bedford
MK42 9LF

**********Update**************

I managed to change the spring into the new one - it wasn't a pleasant business in the first place, but anyway, it seemed okay, but now there's another problem going on; It would not fully wound - if I turn the crank about 15 times, the spring suddenly goes loose with a some noise, and it would go only for 1 minutes! Any suggestions on this problem?

The spring must be either slipping on the centre arbor, or isn't attached to the barrel at the outer end.
Only thing to do is open the barrel again & check which end is the problem. If you're able to wind it 15 times before it slips, I'd say the outer end is probably the cause. The inner coil should fit snuggly around the arbor, but if it doesn't you can usually reshape the spring centre with pliers & caution, but it the outer end isn't attached, you'll probably have to remove the spring from the barrel again & start over.