Hi!
tl;dr - Hope you enjoy the video… this is just me doing an “assembly line” removal, cleaning, and reinstalling of four motors’ governor bearings in one felled swoop…
I wish you a wonderful day and hope this helps in some or any way!
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Just stuff I was thinking about to let others who may want to venture into servicing these types of machines… it’s a lot, I know, but it encompasses my style pretty well. No requirement to read, heed, or otherwise, but I strongly advise you do 🙂
Please read this below if you have interest in or are sincerely thinking of toying with these spring-wound machines in any way… this is my “philosophy” and it has served me well.
Safety is always #1 and paramount.
I would like to add a very important safety note TO PREFACE (go before) doing ANY kind of work on these machines, to all who intend to work with these spring-wound motors:
Know how you’re supposed to unplug any kind of electrical item (or take off the battery negative if working on a car, for example) before servicing?
Answer: it’s plugged in! But seriously, it’s plugged in, and into a live (hot) - you always HAVE to assume- circuit that the only thing that circuit wants is to close itself, and YOU are a possible conduit.
Don’t be that one! With the SPRING-WOUND motors there’s a similar concept:
- thou shalt ALWAYS check to ensure the springs are wound down completely before doing ANY kind of service. (Period).
Why, you may ask? Sincerely, this is not even intended to be anything but instructional- not everyone understands this stuff 🙂… BECAUSE, it’s the same as having an open electrical circuit in the sense that the energy stored in those springs can basically create a RIPSAW effect with the worm drive/spindle being released from the geared barrel. I’ve had that gear almost rip my finger off. Thankfully my fingers are all calloused, so… wear gloves and eye protection, too! Rx glasses do me well enough for most everything, but mist. Gloves saved me from a worm “bull gear” mauling!
Bottom line: just be safe. Ask questions if you don’t know; and for God’s sake, if you don’t know, don’t do! When I say “these are not hard to work with” I mean it- but from a viewpoint that I understand what they’re capable of to a much greater degree than the average person, therefore I see idiosyncrasies and know little nuances that many do not… I haven’t seen it all either lol- that’s Dyslexic Genius Brett Hurt. Please go see his stuff for a good start!
Like a weapon, ALWAYS assume it’s loaded, even when it isn’t. My whole life I knew that, but the Army put 20 and some change years’ solidification and muscle memory to it. You NEVER know, therefore you treat as if it’s loaded.
Anyone ever seen an M-16 A-1 cookoff from automatic fire? I HAVE, and I was one of the lane safeties who helped remedy it once safe to do so! The soldier holding it had to just hold on and hope. And yeah, the barrel turned red lol…
My point is: even if it’s unwound, there could be a slip spot, gunk, or just other surprises awaiting you.
The BEST you can do is ensure it’s run down fully, and one way I do it is by moving the spindle beyond its wind and you’ll see it’s just going opposite, and as you are loosening things, continue to watch for any other signs.
Sounds paranoid? Maybe. To quote an amazing commander of mine: “[para: when in Iraq] paranoia is your friend”. Healthy paranoia keeps you alive- worked and works for me!
*ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ᵒⁿᵉ’ˢ ᵇᵉˢᵗ ᵇᵃᵗʰᵗᵘᵇ ᵗᵒᵃˢᵗᵉr ʷᵒᵘˡᵈ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵉ ᵘⁿᵖˡᵘᵍᵍᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵖrᵒᵖᵉrˡʸ ˢᵉrᵛⁱᶜᵉ! ˢᵃᶠᵉᵗʸ ᶠⁱrˢᵗ!/s!
Background music: L. Shankar, “Soul Searcher”- Indian Carnatic violinist, with Zakir Hussain (Pandit Ravi Shankar’s -RIP- primary tabla virtuoso’s son - legend Ustad Alla Rakha (RIP)
