The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The four-ball governor has bigger shafts both ends than the older three-ball governor. (That makes it harder to install.)

However, install is not the problem here. The weight screws left end contact the friction yoke which is causing the chattering in the video. Yet the whole motor came complete; I don't have any reason to think some part here does not fit right. I even slid in a plastic spacer above the yoke to raise it up to the top of its mounting piece. Still, the yoke hits the screws. The part the yoke mounts on clicks nicely in the hole and the slot -- its twin pivots.

I am going to sand the tops of the screws, and I could remove the washers. But something isn't right. There should be clearance and quiet operation.

I was given (by a generous forum member) a working three-ball governor, so I can always reinstall that. Its smaller diameter takes away the problem. But I would like to have the machine operate as it was outfitted originally.

Thanks for suggestions!

What part of the yoke is hitting? Is it hitting in the bottom of the yoke "Y", or is it hitting at the ends of the arms, near the friction felts? Kind of looks like it's in the bottom of the yoke. If that's so, I'd do a little detective work to see what is keeping the yoke too close. Barring that, I'd be more inclined to grind a bit of material off of the yoke.

After I posted it occurred to me I could file the yoke a bit thinner at the top.

Instead I took the whole thing apart, sanded each screw top with 600 grit sandpaper, chose the thinnest 4 screws and washers for the left side, and reassembled. Seems quiet now.

Thank you for the suggestion.