Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > October 2002 > 2002.10.29 > 07Prev  Next


Leakage in Bellows Pump & Reserve
By Bill Mackin

Dave,  I just finished rebuilding the bellows and reservoir (1) for
a Cable Euphona.  I get about 15-20 seconds of time too.

In tracking down the problem, I found leakage where the pushrods that
control the valves go into the 2 boxes that mount on the top of the
'manifold'.  I believe that one box is the governor, the other is the
rewind motor valve.  Through normal wear, the hole has gotten larger
than the rod.

Other than that, I suspect there is very minor leakage through the new
rubberized cloth and maybe even the wood itself.  Minimal as the
leakage is, per square inch, I suspect that maybe it all adds up.

To fix the pushrods, I decided not to rebuild the end of the valve box
and governor, but I put a little bit of silicone sealant around the
shaft and slid it back and forth through the hole, then let it set up
for a while, sliding it in and out every so often while it set up so
that it didn't ever lock the shaft in place.  I think this reduced the
hole size a little bit.  Other options might be to glue on a rubber
seal with a hole that matches the rod diameter.

As to the rubber and wood leakage, I thought about coating the wood
with some sort of sealant, but I just repainted it instead.

I look forward to hearing about other people's sources of, and fixes
for, leaks.

How much leakage is acceptable, and how much is to be expected?

Bill Mackin


(Message sent Tue 29 Oct 2002, 16:09:01 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.)

Key Words in Subject:  Bellows, Leakage, Pump, Reserve

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page