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Hi - I bought a nice Vic V a year ago at what I considered a very nice price for a machine in very nice original condition. I played it for a little bit but determined that the springs needed to be cleaned and re-greased. I have done this on several other Victor machines of mine with two or four spring motors of two different configurations. The Victor V has a motor nearly identical to those in the VTLA, Vic VI and early Victrola XVIs except without the "yielding" turntable. It's the one with three springs; a single spring in one barrel (with the drive gear attached) and two springs in another barrel. I have had the motor apart for some time now but ran into a dead end on getting the spring barrels open. I reviewed the past threads and found two that approach the issue:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 93&p=19515 (relating to a single-spring motor of the same vintage) and
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 00&p=30050 (relating to a double-spring motor also of the same vintage.)

I tried to pry the winding gear off as mentioned in both posts, but no luck. I tried heating the gear a little (and old, waxy grease flowed out from behind it) but no luck. I tried soaking the entire gear end of the spring barrel in penetrating oil for several days but still no luck. I will admit I have been very careful because prying involves putting pressure against the brass drive gear, and while I have been careful to do so only against the rivets which provide a solid backing, I am loathe to damage this gear, and perhaps I am not being vigorous enough. At any rate, I have had the spring barrel sitting in a box and been unable to use the machine for almost ten months and would like to get it back together. Any suggestions on how I can get these spring barrels open?

Thanks!

I don't take responsibility for any damage that may be done by saying this, but if I remember correctly, when I did the Vic III springs, I had to use 2 screw drivers and a hammer to get it off. It took a lot of force.

Yes, it was your post with the Vic III motor. I understand what you mean about responsibility. I was trying to be careful not to bend or otherwise damage the brass gear, but I suspect that it would withstand a great deal more force than i exerted. I may look and see whether I have a small enough gear puller as well.