1950's BSR UA-8 Speed Control Fix (BSR grease !)

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

I'm trading labor with a friend, so I'm getting this
BSR back to function. He's fixing a damaged little
Decca hi-fi cabinet for me.

Even back in the 1950's, BSR used that terrible grease
that hardens like epoxy.
How do I know this ?

The speed selector was totally immobile, and I could
not figure out why.
I reviewed the exploded diagram of the parts and
linkages in the speed selector area over and over.

I finally realized that part 19 called the speed
change pivot was a sleeve that Part 22,
the speed change lever assembly, was supposed
to move up and down on.
This allowed the idler wheel to move to different
speed positions on the stepped turret.

It took butane flame and a small hammer to knock
the pivot free from the lever assembly.
Yes, good old BSR grease on the pivot, hard as epoxy .

Also, there is not a C-clip that retains part 19, it
is a nut. A C-clip would not work at all in this
set up. Sams missed that item.

[hermitcrab]

I use vaseline for grease sparingly.. the purists yell at me all the time for it... but I have changers over ten years old still working fine using it ... just don't go hog wild applying it

[back-2-mono]

BSR grease is thee worst! Then Dual grease, then Garrard grease then...ugh.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Yesterday I tore down the cycling mech after
removing the tonearm.
The cleaning was not too difficult. The trip link had
a bad bend on one side. Easy to bend it back.
4 pole motor is good to go after new mounts installed.

Manual test, all A-OK.

Now I have to order some 5/8 inch long 2-56 screws,
because the tonearm has very deep set mount
holes. (Due to prior large crystal turn over cart)

I have some brass spacers, and will install an
Astatic 81/89 plug-in cart/mount I had left over.

I will say I used up September's cursing quota with
this changer initially. [ : )

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

I've finished my friends BSR. Installed the plug-in cart/stylus
Astatic 81T, using 3/4 inch 4-40 screws and spacers.

The carts hangs down a bit exaggerated, but the stylus tip clears the
right-hand On/Off/Rej knob.

I powered the motor up for real-life test, and it cycled well.
It took some time to get the tonearm set-down at a
good compromise position on an LP.

After the recent hurricane delays, I hope to get back to
other projects that required electrical power to complete.
My power was off almost 4 days.

My friend has finished repairs on the Decca "The Douglas" cabinet.
I completed the V-M 1200 changer for the Decca.
Look forward to putting it all back together this wknd.
Then she's ready for a good new home !

[William]

Sounds like you have been busy, and without power too. I wish I had your ambition.

Bill

[electra225]

It's good to have you back, Mr. Mogul!

Also glad to hear you survived the storms.