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How do I add grease to the main spring of my Amberola 30, early model?
I see that there is a screw in the side of the spring housing, is that the right place?

Joe

Has the spring ever been serviced recently? If not, then it should be thoroughly cleaned and re-greased.

There are links on the forum which show you how to do this; or, if you're reluctant to do it yourself, you can send the spring barrel to a professional for service.

The bolt on the side of the barrel holds the outer end of the spring in place: best leave it alone...

-Bill

Lucius1958 wrote:The bolt on the side of the barrel holds the outer end of the spring in place: best leave it alone...

-Bill

Sorry Bill, but that is incorrect.
Provided the barrel hasn't been tampered with, a permanent rivet on the barrel is used to hold the outer end of the spring.
Both Amberolas & Diamond Disc machines do have a screw in the wall of the barrel which is removed to allow additional grease to be added.
The grease came in a small tube, and half a tube was added to Amberolas & the full tube to DD's.
You are supposed to fully wind the spring, remove the screw, add grease, replace the screw & you were good to go.
Fully winding the spring pulls the spring away from the barrel wall, providing a cavity for the additional grease.

Wind the machine fully, remove the oiling plug and place the squeeze tip of a quart bottle of 85-140 gear lubricant into the hole in the spring barrel. Fill the barrel with two or three tablespoons of the gear oil, replace the cap and let the motor run completely down a couple of times. You will probably never need to service the spring again.

The gear lubricant is the sort used in the differentials of motor cars and trucks. modern lubricants contain EP additives which greatly lessen surface wear due to sliding friction and also cation detergents which dissolve hardened old grease.

Hi

I wouldn't use gear oil used for car differentials, I don't know what it is like in the USA but it smells real bad here, also oil will drip onto your cabinet as the spring barrel is not sealed tight. I think grease would be the best option, like Shane suggested.

I use molly grease and for smaller springs I mix in some oil to thin it a little, molly is oil based so this is ok to do.

Regards Marcel

gramophoneshane wrote:

Lucius1958 wrote:The bolt on the side of the barrel holds the outer end of the spring in place: best leave it alone...

-Bill

Sorry Bill, but that is incorrect.
Provided the barrel hasn't been tampered with, a permanent rivet on the barrel is used to hold the outer end of the spring.
Both Amberolas & Diamond Disc machines do have a screw in the wall of the barrel which is removed to allow additional grease to be added.
The grease came in a small tube, and half a tube was added to Amberolas & the full tube to DD's.
You are supposed to fully wind the spring, remove the screw, add grease, replace the screw & you were good to go.
Fully winding the spring pulls the spring away from the barrel wall, providing a cavity for the additional grease.

My bad: I was relying on faulty memory. My 30 is awaiting a new spring, so I couldn't check it for reference...

Edison's recommendation is 10 parts Vasoline to 1 part graphite powder. I've seen this in several places including Eric Reiss' "The Compleat Talking Machine" book and also on a customer response letter from the Edison factory. You can get the graphite powder at a good hardware store.

I have added this to the spring of a diamond disc machine through the plugged hole in the spring barrel with a syringe and it works great. It will keep you going if you're not ready to pull it apart and fully clean. I've also used this formula on my victor IV spring that I rebuilt.

Wear some rubber gloves when you work with it, that graphite will turn your hands black and get under your nails. Unless you're into that look....

Scott

I disagree with Uncle Vanya totally as the gear oil will seep out of the spring barrel no matter how thick the gear oil is. Those spring barrels even when new leaked and were not sealed very tight. I have had good luck using synthetic blue marine grease as it does not have any intense vapors / smells. Or just use what Mr. Edison recommended - after a really good cleaning of course!