Need Help, Western White Flyer trap machine

300wmxcr2

300wmxcr2

CGN Regular
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Location
Ontario
Looking for Help
We have a couple of Western White flyers we are re-erecting and looking for info on what seem like a problem with the machine. The angle changing disk item X33 stops sometimes when in operation and "chatters" for a seconds or two before continuing to rotate. Both machines are doing almost the same thing. Pulled the planetary gears out , checked roll pins etc.
I checked all the Western Retro videos, read an old thread on here and did some google searching to no avail.
I have tried to contact Ian Brotherson at Western Retro by email and phone and have not gotten a response.
Any know if he is still in business or have some experience with these machines?
 
Are you running them dry? Every time we used to fire ours up we would spray the entire plate with Rem-Oil or a lubricant like G-96 with the machine turned on and make sure the entire surfaces were lubed. If they were left to run dry you would often get that chatter you are talking about. Also make sure the screw holding the angle plate is snug. If it comes loose the plate will move slightly and stick causing that chatter you mention as well. It seemed to come loose more often if the angle assembly was dry. We would also give a little shot of Rem-Oil to the slide on the solenoid that releases the throwing arm. That would keep the solenoid release from occasionally sticking when the release button was pushed by the puller preventing a no target situation and it would also prevent windmilling if the solenoid release stuck in the down position. Use the KISS method and if still having issues move on from there. Those old westerns were bullet-proof and rarely broke down or had issues. An annual cleaning, oil change, new rubber on the throwing arm and regular shot of lube on the solenoid release and angle plate assembly was all they usually required. We always kept spare spring assemblies should one break but in the 25 years I shot over the 4 western trap and 4 skeet machines at our club I never saw one break. I've seen more issues with todays Pat Traps and other auto traps than those old westerns and those old westerns threw much nicer target flights. They put a spin on targets todays machines do not. At least in my opinion.

https://youtu.be/UlemzpBMLTs
 
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I've run one for 20 plus years, and it was probably 50 years old when i bought it. I sent it to Ian and had a 270 bird turret fitted, and checked over for any parts that may need replacing. The machine has never gave me any trouble. The little piece of wire that holds the clay from falling off the throwing arm got cut from the clays sharp edges, and that was it. great machine, no problems, i throw a few thousand every summer, and oil it at the start of every year.
Ian has a oil maintenance schedule you could probably buy or download off his website.
 
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