Pre-war Marx mechanical motors with the screw-in key will wind in the clockwise direction, and the key will unscrew in the counter-clockwise direction. Trying to remove a stuck key could result in damage to the ratchet of the motor. The earliest motors as found in the M10000 use a spring type ratchet that tends to slip anyway. Penetrating oil/WD-40 is a good start to loosen the key. An M10000 has a lot of room to work (compared to other Marx mechanicals), so you could apply a bit of heat to the brass hub with a torch... use some sheet metal to shield the body from the torch flame. Use a small pair of pliers to hold the brass hub still while rotating the key counter-clockwise. It might help to use a Crescent wrench to give you extra leverage on the key.
Let us know how it turns out...
Now I see a square protruding from oposite side of the motor - maybe not screw-in but key does not come out of the motor. I tried WD40 to no avail. Still, does not look like my other Marx and Hafner mechanical motors. (Struggling after eye surgery)
Just purchased a Marx prewar wind-up M10,000. Motor does not work but I don't think the spring is not broken - maybe a spring to the ratchet is gone. This motor is new to me since it is a screw-in. I believe the key winds clock-wise but.... not sure.
How do I remove the key to remove the motor. I don't want to destroy it.
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