The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I am having trouble adjusting the lift for the reproducer. When it is in the correct down position for playing records (limit pin centered in limit loop) there is not enough clearance when raised to clear the surface of the record. I have attached two photos of my lifting mechanism and I hope someone can compare them with their own, properly working B80.

It looks like something was broken on this. but I don't understand the function of it. This is really frustrating me!!! Please help if you can.

If you click on the photos, they appear in the correct orientation.

Dave,

I believe the issue isn't your lift turn button, per se, but where the horn assembly is positioned on the vertical shaft that the lift turn button is pinned into.

I don't know if your B80 DD has one, but some of the models had a set screw on the horn that allowed it to be moved up or down on the shaft. In your case, you would move the horn up on the shaft to allow for a higher clearance. I believe other models had an adjustable post on the bottom of this shaft that by screwing it in out adjusted the heght of the horn/ reproducer.

All this is from Memory, I don't own a DD machine, so use it as you will.

Hope that helps.

Shawn

I've owned 2 of these models..
That horn slides up and down on a rod that comes out of the upper casting and is held in 2 lower castings that are part of the motor mount. It looks as though the rod has gone beyond the travel of the knob that actuates the cam that lifts or lowers the rod against the upper casting. If you can , apply a little light oil to the rod where it enters the casting and try to gently push the rod down so that the lift/ lower cam is back riding against the top of the casting. There may be dirt or other contaminants that are preventing the rod from sliding were it ought to.
There are 2 more similar castings behind the horn that the same rod goes through that might need lubrication and or cleaning .

The early Diamond Disc machines don't have the adjustable screw to set the horn height

I don't see anything broken- that assembly is pretty bulletproof ! I hope this helps !

These photos may help you out:

Picture #1 - Horn Raised


Picture #2 - Horn Lowered

Picture #3 - Horn Raised

Chuck

Thank you for all the great photos and advice. I will check it all out in the next few days and will hope for success. I really appreciate all who provided photos and offered suggestions.
Dave

You can also very carefully slightly bend the horn.