[Phono-L] Repairing a fiber gear

Sat Jul 4 14:11:47 PDT 2009

Hi Rich,
    Well I thought it was fixed by replacing the felt but not so.  The fiber 
gear is definitely stripped.  I can still see the gear teeth so that if I 
can build it up with something I can file out the excess an hopefully have a 
useable gear.  The question is what to use to build it up.  I guess the 
first thing to do is clean off the gear completely so that whatever I use 
will stick.  I assume I can remove all the grease with something like 
acetone. Do you know what the fiber gear is made from?  This would help in 
deciding what to use.  Two possible materials come to mind.  The first is 
Weldwood wood filler.  It looks a lot like the firer gear and could be 
worked easily with a small Swiss pattern file after it set up.  I'm not sure 
if it will stick to the firer gear material or is strong enough to form the 
replacement teeth.  The second possibility is a clear epoxy.  The advantage 
to this is that the pattern of the original teeth will be visible through it 
and it will be easier to see how the teeth should be filed.  Do you have any 
suggestions?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rich" <rich-mail at octoxol.com>
To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l at oldcrank.org>
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 7:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Repairing a fiber gear


> If you plan on using the machine a lot it will still help to change it
> out.  Once the felt gets oil soaked and the old oil oxidizes its pretty
> much done.
>
> Good to hear that it worked out well!
>
> Rich
>
> Bob wrote:
>> Hi Rich,
>>    Well you were right, the felt was the problem.  It was quite
>> distorted and hanging over the edge of the brass disk on the governor.
>> .  As the rest of the felt looked pretty good, I only had to reposition
>> it in the arm that holds it and cut off the excess and reform the front
>> so that it was parallel with the governor disk.  Thanks for your help.
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rich" <rich-mail at octoxol.com>
>> To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l at oldcrank.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 3:19 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Repairing a fiber gear
>>
>>
>>> Try and change the felt without spreading the bent metal that holds it.
>>>  Usually you can cut a piece of real wool felt a bit tapered and pull
>>> it into the clamp without bending them as they tend to break.  Use real
>>> 100% wool felt or it will fail.
>>>
>>> Bob wrote:
>>>> Hi Rich,
>>>>     The governor felt is pretty much as you described.  I will change
>>>> that first.  If it's that easy I owe this list a Big Thank you.
>>>> Bob
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rich" <rich-mail at octoxol.com>
>>>> To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l at oldcrank.org>
>>>> Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 12:32 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Repairing a fiber gear
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Most of the older fiber gears are destroyed by petroleum.  Clean it 
>>>>> off
>>>>> and look at it real hard.  Sanding is not going to fix it.  look at 
>>>>> the
>>>>> felt pad that the governor runs against if its oil soaked and mushed
>>>>> out
>>>>> the governor will flutter.  Replace the felt.  Use real felt and not
>>>>> cheap polyester.  F-1 or F-2 grade felt works.  The felt is easy, the
>>>>> gear not so.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bob wrote:
>>>>>> I'm restoring a Thorens Excelda.  I've got it running pretty well but
>>>>>> am having a severe problem with wow and flutter.  It's so bad that it
>>>>>> makes listening almost impossible.  The records appear to be
>>>>>> traveling at a consistent speed but there must be minute hesitations
>>>>>> that are impossible to see but they surely affect the sound quality.
>>>>>> The mainspring is plenty strong so that's not the problem and the
>>>>>> reproducer sounds fantastic on other machines.  The problem appears
>>>>>> to be caused by excessive wear on the fiber gear that mates with the
>>>>>> worm gear in the governor.  A friend suggested I clean it and try to
>>>>>> build up the bad areas with JB Weld.  I'm afraid to do this because I
>>>>>> think it will be very difficult to control and be irreversible if I
>>>>>> do it wrong.  I've been thinking about cleaning all the grease off of
>>>>>> it and checking over for defects with a magnifier.  If I can see
>>>>>> areas in the gear thread that are raised I will smooth them out with
>>>>>> sand paper.  To try to build up an
>>>>> y areas that look low I will paint on some lacquer or urethane
>>>>> varnish. As I mentioned earlier, the turntable appears to be rotating
>>>>> at a consistent speed so It shouldn't take much to true up the teeth
>>>>> enough to work properly.  I'm looking for second opinions on this
>>>>> technique or any other technique that you think will solve the
>>>>> problem.  Thanks
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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