I'd been trying and trying to get the spring in from the inside-out, but just couldn't get enough grip. Your outside-in method was just what the doctor ordered!
Thank you You gave me the confidence to try this myself. It was a messy job, but now my Grafonola no longer thuds while unwinding. The Ford bearing grease worked great. I didn't see the catastrophic beheading force in my spring that so many horror stories have suggested. It seems a little like the stories about CRT TV discharging. There is real danger, but it may be exaggerated. Gary at Shenandoah put a thrown governor weight on a new spring for me. A very helpful gentleman.
The black stuff you find in most spring boxes is not dirt, it's graphite powder! Unless everything is jammed it's better to leave it alone. Putting grease may not be the best lubricant, as it will usually dry after many years. Graphite will not. :-)
I have one that says "No A 50915 AM Graphophone Co Bridgeport,Conn USA Pat Appl" on the front tab off the turntable. It is a 3 spring motor like yours. I first got rid of all the grease THEN removed the spring. I had a broken mainspring and replaced it with a new one. Had no trouble AT ALL using your method to install it back, WITHOUT GREASE. Did it several times as the first time I put it in backwards. The grease should go in last. Less mess and makes it easier to install.
@weldon0m Well, after talking to a few collectors and restorers, due to some very specific details, it was definitely made after 1912, likely before the 1920s. I came up with 1915 due to one very specific detail, that which I have forgotten.
You can load it dry and then smear in about 3 tablespoons worth of grease. With the right kind of grease it will distribute itself through the coils after a few windings. This works fine, but what I do is put a light layer of grease on the inside of the barrel, then lock the end on the rivet and wind about one revolution. At this time I then get a scoop of grease in my right hand and lightly grease both sides of the spring as I go along. Then at the end I smear about a tablespoon worth.
No, not all lithium greases are the same. I recommend Ford wheel-bearing grease w/ moly additive (never ever use aerosol grease!) I used the wrong stuff, but it works well (standard multi-purpose white lithium in a tube).
Hmm... depending on rarity and condition, eBay might be your best bet, but you might get the most from it by selling in a consignment shop with whatever records you may have for it. I see these selling in the high hundreds, low thousands in consignment shops (in good condition, as complete packages) in local shops, or as little as $50 on eBay.
@gramophoneshane I'll have to look at your removal method; but I'm curious; how can I grease the spring after it's in the barrel? I later found out a friend of mine has a custom-built, one-off clock spring winder. Go figure!
OMG...You should never remove a spring like that. Not only does it increase the risk of injury, but it can also snap the spring where it's attached to the barrel due to the forces being released. You really should remove them as I do in my original video. You might also find it easier to grease the spring after it's in the barrel so it's not slippery & there's less chance of it getting away from you.
You'd been better off putting the spring in dry then putting grease in and packing it in after. It will work its self in over time, but this way here makes a mess and your hands get all slippery
keep trying there are so many videos to do spring barrel repairs. main thing is when cleaning the components. cut a 5 gallon pail down. only soak the metal parts in kerosene. keep fiber gears away from solvent because they fall apart. slowly remove the spring. You are doing ok
How did you initially take the barrel apart? I can't for the life of me figure out how to get them apart? Inexplicably there isn't a single video of this procedure for a Columbia Grafonola 3 spring motor online!
Yep, its dangerous and you can damage the spring as well. Just keep a hand on the barrel and one on the spring and uncoil it slowly. I keep mine inside a 5 gal bucket also as a safety precaution in case it slips and shoots out. As far as grease, a blend of lithium and moly from the auto parts store works like a charm.
I have the same motor as this but it has 3 springs.Two springs were damaged and I replaced them.Seems they won't "hook up"Is the winding Spring on the right side wound counter clockwise?
Why not just pull the spring part way out and then carefully unwind the spring out instead of yanking it out and risk screwing up the spring or the spring barrel.
@TheWhodatman Sorry? I'm not married, which is how I get away with parking a motorbike in my living room. Would you feel better if I took this video down?
I'd been trying and trying to get the spring in from the inside-out, but just couldn't get enough grip. Your outside-in method was just what the doctor ordered!
Thank you You gave me the confidence to try this myself. It was a messy job, but now my Grafonola no longer thuds while unwinding. The Ford bearing grease worked great.
I didn't see the catastrophic beheading force in my spring that so many horror stories have suggested. It seems a little like the stories about CRT TV discharging. There is real danger, but it may be exaggerated.
Gary at Shenandoah put a thrown governor weight on a new spring for me. A very helpful gentleman.
The black stuff you find in most spring boxes is not dirt, it's graphite powder! Unless everything is jammed it's better to leave it alone. Putting grease may not be the best lubricant, as it will usually dry after many years. Graphite will not. :-)
I have one that says
"No A 50915
AM Graphophone Co
Bridgeport,Conn
USA
Pat Appl"
on the front tab off the turntable.
It is a 3 spring motor like yours. I first got rid of all the grease THEN removed the spring. I had a broken mainspring and replaced it with a new one. Had no trouble AT ALL using your method to install it back, WITHOUT GREASE. Did it several times as the first time I put it in backwards. The grease should go in last. Less mess and makes it easier to install.
Thanks for the comment! Can't wait to see how yours turns out!
@weldon0m Well, after talking to a few collectors and restorers, due to some very specific details, it was definitely made after 1912, likely before the 1920s. I came up with 1915 due to one very specific detail, that which I have forgotten.
You can load it dry and then smear in about 3 tablespoons worth of grease. With the right kind of grease it will distribute itself through the coils after a few windings. This works fine, but what I do is put a light layer of grease on the inside of the barrel, then lock the end on the rivet and wind about one revolution. At this time I then get a scoop of grease in my right hand and lightly grease both sides of the spring as I go along. Then at the end I smear about a tablespoon worth.
No, not all lithium greases are the same. I recommend Ford wheel-bearing grease w/ moly additive (never ever use aerosol grease!) I used the wrong stuff, but it works well (standard multi-purpose white lithium in a tube).
Hmm... depending on rarity and condition, eBay might be your best bet, but you might get the most from it by selling in a consignment shop with whatever records you may have for it. I see these selling in the high hundreds, low thousands in consignment shops (in good condition, as complete packages) in local shops, or as little as $50 on eBay.
@gramophoneshane I'll have to look at your removal method; but I'm curious; how can I grease the spring after it's in the barrel? I later found out a friend of mine has a custom-built, one-off clock spring winder. Go figure!
OMG...You should never remove a spring like that. Not only does it increase the risk of injury, but it can also snap the spring where it's attached to the barrel due to the forces being released. You really should remove them as I do in my original video.
You might also find it easier to grease the spring after it's in the barrel so it's not slippery & there's less chance of it getting away from you.
You'd been better off putting the spring in dry then putting grease in and packing it in after. It will work its self in over time, but this way here makes a mess and your hands get all slippery
keep trying there are so many videos to do spring barrel repairs. main thing is when cleaning the components. cut a 5 gallon pail down. only soak the metal parts in kerosene. keep fiber gears away from solvent because they fall apart. slowly remove the spring. You are doing ok
Advise you in what regard? Repair? Restoration? Preservation? Selling it?
How did you initially take the barrel apart? I can't for the life of me figure out how to get them apart? Inexplicably there isn't a single video of this procedure for a Columbia Grafonola 3 spring motor online!
Yep, its dangerous and you can damage the spring as well. Just keep a hand on the barrel and one on the spring and uncoil it slowly. I keep mine inside a 5 gal bucket also as a safety precaution in case it slips and shoots out. As far as grease, a blend of lithium and moly from the auto parts store works like a charm.
@petchharrison You mean "Graphite grease?" Thanks for the tip!
I have the same motor as this but it has 3 springs.Two springs were damaged and I replaced them.Seems they won't "hook up"Is the winding Spring on the right side wound counter clockwise?
@TheWhodatman I never once considered myself an "Expert" at anything... salon what!?!?
I have been given a family heirloom of a columbia grafonola viva tonal in good condition with needles and handle. Can anyone advise me?
do you repair grafonolas?
No
Why not just pull the spring part way out and then carefully unwind the spring out instead of yanking it out and risk screwing up the spring or the spring barrel.
@TheWhodatman Sorry? I'm not married, which is how I get away with parking a motorbike in my living room. Would you feel better if I took this video down?
@TheWhodatman OK, I get it, I did it wrong. OK? GOT THE MESSAGE.
use gaffite grease its a lot better..jeff
@TheWhodatman Oh... I thought you were a... nevermind...
Selling thx FOR PROMPT REPLY