Ambidex bale arm mechanism
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:39 pm
Gentlemen,
I have examined the various photographs of Ambidex servicing but have not found
anything describing how the bale arm mechanism is supposed to work.
Last night with an hour to spare (and having fortuitously grown a third hand) I
was able to reposition the coil spring that sits under the automatic pick up
mechanism on the outside of the rotating head.
However, while it now goes over with a satisfying clunk sometimes, on other
occasions it refuses. This appears to be do with the little spring loaded lever
system that sits underneath the spool and protrudes through the rotating head
to interact with the external bale arm cam.
For the life of me I can't see how this little lever system is supposed to
work. How does it catch and hold the the bale arm in the open position and how
does the bale arm come to be released? Is the protruding section supposed to
move in and out to catch/release the external cam, and how is it triggered by
the turning of the rotating head?
Three hands needed to re-seat spring and re-attach bail arm!
View of internal bail arm lever system
I have wiped it clean of the old grease, but there are no shims/washers under either screw
The ghost in the machine
Grateful for any info/advice :hat:
dgc
I have examined the various photographs of Ambidex servicing but have not found
anything describing how the bale arm mechanism is supposed to work.
Last night with an hour to spare (and having fortuitously grown a third hand) I
was able to reposition the coil spring that sits under the automatic pick up
mechanism on the outside of the rotating head.
However, while it now goes over with a satisfying clunk sometimes, on other
occasions it refuses. This appears to be do with the little spring loaded lever
system that sits underneath the spool and protrudes through the rotating head
to interact with the external bale arm cam.
For the life of me I can't see how this little lever system is supposed to
work. How does it catch and hold the the bale arm in the open position and how
does the bale arm come to be released? Is the protruding section supposed to
move in and out to catch/release the external cam, and how is it triggered by
the turning of the rotating head?
Three hands needed to re-seat spring and re-attach bail arm!
View of internal bail arm lever system
I have wiped it clean of the old grease, but there are no shims/washers under either screw
The ghost in the machine
Grateful for any info/advice :hat:
dgc