Any oil can delay people in here? Morley EVO-1 issue

[Pmelius]

Tried the oil can delay forum but it's pretty dead.  Maybe someone here can help

Got this unit and got the can all cleaned out thanks to advice from oilcandelay. I'm getting no output through the can. I signal traced input on the record wiper, but then I'm not picking anything up at the playback head. The playback wire had broken from its terminal when I was cleaning, so I resoldered it. I have continuity from the wiper to the board, so I know the wire hasn't failed open. I've attached a photo. The left wiper is the playback wiper, the center wiper is erase, and the one on the right is record. The disk spins counter-clockwise and I find it kind of strange that the erase head falls between the record and playback heads. I tried reversing the leads to the playback and record heads. Finally I was able to detect some "ticking" at the output but no effect. I'm wondering if the motor doesn't need to spin clockwise so that the heads would go record > playback > erase. So I tried reversing the leads to the motor, hoping it would spin the other way. It didn't. Now here I am! My guitar passes signal through the unit, just no effect. Also, my bulb doesn't work. I have a new one on the way but in the meantime I'm just using a flashlight for testing. Not sure if the bulb actually has to be in the circuit, but judging by the schematic I found, I think not. Also, all wipers do appear to be making contact with the disc and I do have UB-65 oil in it. I've serviced a couple other cans in the past.

Also, the erase and record heads are so wide, that only the very edge of the disc is able to carry oil in the direction that motor is spinning. They both go off of the edge of the disc.

Any help or direction is much appreciated.

If I can get that figured out I have questions regarding the functionality of the "speed" control. Mine is either seized or I don't understand how it functions.

[stallik]

Oil can delays are new to me but I found this article very interesting
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/oil_can_delays.htm
Apparently the motor is AC

[Pmelius]

The motor is AC in fact, runs right off of 120. I thought I could reverse the direction by reversing the leads. Not the case, it turns out. Interesting article, thanks for sharing that.

[PRR]

When disk turns, sequence should be P-E-R, then a 3/4 rotation for full delay time back to P.

This type(?) AC motor, direction of rotation is "fixed" by two heavy copper rings on part of each pole. The most likely reason it is wrong is someone took it apart and put it together wrong. Take the bearing brackets off the coil/core, flip the coil/core, and re-assemble.
https://woodgears.ca/reader/walters/reverse_motor.html

"Shaded pole motor":
http://electricala2z.com/motors-control/types-single-phase-induction-motors-single-phase-induction-motor-wiring-diagram/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaded-pole_motor

It may indeed be simpler to swap the R and P wires (which are about equally likely to be wrong if someone has been "fixing" without close attention).

I even had one of these, partly-hacked by a sophisticated technician, still not working, and my opinion was that I would have to be STUCK in 1957 forever to even try to get this mad idea to work. IMHO it is as sensible as Wooden chain.  These days there are much easier ways to shift sound in time. EQ can approximate the awful "vintage" response of the bad old technology.

[tubegeek]

I thought Down East WAS stuck in 1957?

[Pmelius]

When disk turns, sequence should be P-E-R, then a 3/4 rotation for full delay time back to P.

This type(?) AC motor, direction of rotation is "fixed" by two heavy copper rings on part of each pole. The most likely reason it is wrong is someone took it apart and put it together wrong. Take the bearing brackets off the coil/core, flip the coil/core, and re-assemble.
https://woodgears.ca/reader/walters/reverse_motor.html

"Shaded pole motor":
http://electricala2z.com/motors-control/types-single-phase-induction-motors-single-phase-induction-motor-wiring-diagram/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaded-pole_motor

It may indeed be simpler to swap the R and P wires (which are about equally likely to be wrong if someone has been "fixing" without close attention).

I even had one of these, partly-hacked by a sophisticated technician, still not working, and my opinion was that I would have to be STUCK in 1957 forever to even try to get this mad idea to work. IMHO it is as sensible as Wooden chain.  These days there are much easier ways to shift sound in time. EQ can approximate the awful "vintage" response of the bad old technology.

Educational reply! Thank you. I'll tinker some tonight. Personally I just love goofy stuff, and that's why I want this thing to run
Also, my ROI is pretty good if I get it working. Got it for free dollars.