An improved peripheral drive device for winding synthetic fibers wherein at least two turnably borne tension mandrel shafts for the reception of bobbin spools are mounted on a bobbin revolver. A servo motor is located on the rear side of the bobbin revolver and is initially positioned in axial alignment with the tension mandrel shaft having an empty bobbin spool mounted thereon which is waiting to be revolved into an operational position in which the fiber is transferred to it and the winding of the fiber upon it begins. The improvement relates to a swing lever fastened at one end of the servo motor and mounted at its other end for rotation during the bobbin changing operation about the axis of rotation of the bobbin revolver. The shaft end of the servo motor is adapted to drivingly engage the rear end of the tension mandrel shafts and a means is provided for axially shifting the servo motor shaft into engagement with the tension mandrel having an empty bobbin spool mounted thereon when this mandrel shaft is in its waiting position and for uncoupling said servo motor shaft when this mandrel shaft has been brought into its operating position by the bobbin revolver.