Phillip:  I have been reading the messages in reply to your original query and, I think that, even though you have both ends of the centre wire being turned on your setup, you may in fact be placing a considerable torsion force upon this wire.   This is because of the tension that you are applying to the covering wire as it is wound on to the centre wire.

I consider that you would do better with a redesign of your machine.  Something like this: Mount in the headstock chuck of a lathe a tube to the end of which is attached a simple mounting for your reel of covering wire and a simple guide with an adjustable friction device installed.   The tube should be the length of the hollow spindle of the lathe so as to guide the centre wire into the winding machine.  Attach the end of the covering wire, AND the centre wire to the carriage of the lathe. The centre wire mount should be free to revolve, while the attachment for the covering wire must  be fixed.  This will remove the torsion force on the centre wire.

Set the lathe to a slow turning speed AND the reverse feed on the carriage to the correct spacing of the turns.  Bring the carriage as close as it is possible up to the headstock chuck.  Set ALL the controls in place and have the clutches engaged and THEN set the lathe in motion.  

Because of the mounting of the feed wire onto the headstock end of the lathe, you will need a lathe with a large swing.  You will also want a lathe  with a  bed length longer than the length of your longest string. 

Hope the above is understandable.

Tom Roach
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada
519 746 5324
819 463 4856

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