The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

My beloved HMV 102 started making clunky spring noises (winding and play) a while back, nothing dire, just mild protestations that it needs service. I have not done anything about it, yet, firstly because I have never done a spring before and would prefer first to attempt such work on a burner piece of non-functional junk that I don't really care about and secondly because I have not had time, already having a back log of more urgent repairs and projects to attend to, including a number of spousal-driven things . So I have kept the machine's use to the minimum in the interim.

The other day, one of the hottest days of the year so far, we had guests over for lunch in out in the garden. They had expressed a keen and sincere desire to hear and see a gramophone in action, so in preparation, I took the 102, my nicest sounding portable, and a few records out into the garden. It sat there for a bit while we ate lunch and chatted. It was never entirely in direct sunlight, but it was quite hot to the touch by the time I got around to winding it up and putting it through its paces. Interestingly, the spring was absolutely silent. And it has so far remained so.

If there is a reprieve from needing to service the spring, I suspect that it is only a temporary one.

I know that old grease can become waxy and hard. I am now wondering if heat might temporarily rejuvenate it. Has anyone ever tried applying a hairdryer to a noisy spring drum?

Curious...!!!

Inigo wrote: Sun Jul 14, 2024 7:19 pmCurious...!!!

Indeed.

I remember that "He who shall not be mentioned" (who used to insult most other gramophone enthusiasts on his Youtube channel and forum) used to say that for a bumping spring, warming the motor in the sun on a hot day would sometimes give a temporary cure.

Orchorsol wrote: Mon Jul 15, 2024 9:06 am I remember that "He who shall not be mentioned" (who used to insult most other gramophone enthusiasts on his Youtube channel and forum) used to say that for a bumping spring, warming the motor in the sun on a hot day would sometimes give a temporary cure.

Hmmm ... I have no idea who this Lord-Voldemort-like character is/was, but if your description of his behaviour is correct, one would have thought the heat of his scorching scorn would have been enough to melt even the most hardened mass of dried out petroleum jelly and graphite--no need for solar help.

It makes sense that the heat will alleviate spring bump issues, as it softens the old grease. The issue will probably reappear if the machine is not frequently utilized. I have experienced reduction in bumps of notorious motors like the HMV 32 when I use it frequently - like making it spin every day.

This means that the grease has thickened with age. Heat will thin it. You could alleviate for awhile this by opening the barrel and adding a teaspoon or 2 of hypoid gear oil, then playing a bunch of records to really squish it through all the grease. I would still service it eventually though, and my drug of choice is a 50/50 mix of Redline synthetic grease and Redline synthetic automatic transmission fluid after a good cleaning. Premix in a jar and pour it into your cleaned spring/ barrel, then play a bunch of records to distribute it.