I wanted to say that I agree with Jim Jelinek about the state of the
cloth on the newer Aeolian players.  These players can still give many
years of enjoyment if the cloth is replaced, even though they are not
the best.

Well, Niels, I guess we aren't thinking about the same player.  When
you talk about a late Aeolian, I think about the 1960-1975 player.
I wasn't able to view the pictures but with your comment about the
stacks sealed with pneumatic cloth and the stack above the keys, you
must have an older Aeolian 1925-1935 I guess.  That is great.

Something that worries me is that it has been rebuilt.  I have seen
cases where the customer said it was completely rebuilt.  Further
investigation indicates that it surly was, but it would have been best
if portions of the player were never touched.  I am talking about the
pouches and valves.  You talked about four of the valves that didn't
work.  Put a hose on the nipples of these valves and use your mouth
and see if the bleed is more than the other valves that work.  If it
is, you have a leak and will probably need to open up the stack.
Maybe a portion of the pouch wasn't glued down properly or is torn.

As far as the motor slowing down, I don't know.  It isn't your motor
since it is hard to turn when sealing the exhaust line.  Like you
said, it could be the regulator collapsing completely while pumping.
I wonder if the spring on the tempo regulator is missing or too loose?
I have no other suggestions.

I would like to say that as a larger load is put on the air motor,
the regulator pneumatic will close more.  This seems backward if you
are thinking about the air moving in the regulator.  What you should
be thinking about is the spring tension against the pneumatic as it
closes.  The spring exerts more tension as it is elongated and this
happens when the pneumatic closes and causes more power to be exerted
on the motor.

It sounds like you have an aptitude for mechanical things so with
enough investigation and elimination, you will solve the problem.

Pete Knobloch
Tempe, Arizona