The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Just want to know if this motor is in need of a bit of a clean/service. I'm not too sure on stuff to do with cleaning motors.
Thank you

I would advise a good cleaning. But that means you must disassemble the motor. And to do that you must let the mainspring all the way down.

John

Thanks John, do I do this by just letting it run until it stops?

No, as there will be some residual power left in the mainspring. If you have not done this before, it's a messy job. You might want to take it to someone who has. How smoothly does the motor run now, that is, without a clean?

Also, look for some Youtube videos for how to let down a phonograph mainspring. That should give you an idea what is involved.

John

The motor runs smoothly but I will watch some videos as well. I'm going to attempt it myself because I don't have enough money for someone to do it for me.
Thanks again

It's hard to describe, and a lot easier to show, what needs to be done to let the mainspring down. I hope you find some videos that might help. But to get started, I would first take many photos of the motor from different angles. It looks like you may have already done this. This will help when you put the motor back together. Memory is a poor helpmate. Then I would remove the motor so you can get at it. You might want to take a sturdy cardboard box, something like a strong shoe box, and cut a hole in the top. This is so you can rest the motor on the top of the box with the spindle pointed downward. This might help you get at it. Nonetheless, you must use your judgement as to what's best.

I copied one of your photos and marked it up. To take the mainspring all the way done--that's essential prior to disassembly--you will need to let the phonograph motor run down as far as it can go. With the crank in place, turn the crank as if you were to wind the motor BUT only for one ratchet wheel tooth. You should hear a click when the click engages with the ratchet wheel. That means you've wound the mainspring--the opposite of what you want to do. So, don't wind a full ratchet wheel tooth. Turn the crank as if you were winding the mainspring just enough to loosen (i.e. disengage) the click from the ratchet wheel AND then turn the crank the OPPOSITE direction (with one hand) and re-engage the click (with the other). Do this one tooth at a time. Don't lose control of the crank. At some point the mainspring will offer no resistance. That's when it's completely wound down.

What I've written is to give you an idea of the process. and hopefully point you in the right direction. I wouldn't jump into this until your ready. Everything is easy once you know how to do it. I'd go find some videos and try to understand how the winding and ratchet wheel work first.

John

LaoChe85 wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 4:10 pm The motor runs smoothly but I will watch some videos as well. I'm going to attempt it myself because I don't have enough money for someone to do it for me.
Thanks again

It really looks fairly clean and not caked with dirt and dried up grease. In all honesty, if it were mine, I'd oil the bearing areas and put some grease on the gears and call it good.

Come to think of it, it does seem fine for now and it does run quite smoothly so with a bit of grease it should be fine.

Thanks for the description, this will give me a good idea when I service my other spring which is definitely in need of a re-grease etc.

Thanks again