Seeburg SMC1 "Disco" checklist

Hi,

Next week I'll be getting myself the Seeburg SMC1 Jukebox. It's one that isn't working but the owner says it is complete.
"Not working" can mean a lot of things.

Whats your advice on my actions to take?
What should I look at, whats a deal breaker?

Thanks!
With Kind regards,
William

Hi William, & all,
IMHO, there is no "deal breaker", other then "cosmetics", on the SMC's any longer. There was a definite one up to about 4 years ago, when I, and a couple of others, decided to make a totally new replacement MCU for them. The "original" MCU ( and the "re-designed", over, and over, versions), were difficult to keep going, and it has now become impossible to do so because of parts availability.
As of now, (once again, my opinion), it is the greatest Seeburg ever made. Mine has run almost 24/7 for the last 4 + years--with no problems.
If you, or anyone else, would like details on the new MCU, please PM me--I have some built/tested, and ready to ship, at the moment. Ron Rich

Ah Great!
I always wanted to own a jukebox, and I wanted to own a Wurlitzer 1015 until I realized I could only play 26 selection on it, and it costs loads!
Thats not practical, and so I sought others but none had the right look and feel and price.
Also, I love 70's and 80's music. But it's not right to play that on such an old jukebox. Those 1015's ask for old old stuff.
But I hated the newer jukeboxes, as most were just that.. Boxes..

Until I saw the Disco, including the mirrorball.

A jukebox where songs and jukebox matched look and feel, included the very nice price tags. I just had to find one.

I repaired several electronics in my past, I designed burglaralarmsystems and made many schematics and layouts. So I'm not afraid about the electronics part. Hearing that even if the MCU is beyond repair I can get an improved version makes it even better.
Which books are needed for schematics? and Mechanics? As long as I have drawings I'm sure this box will be playing again in the future

I started collecting records in the mean time

Thanks and I'm sure we will be talking in the future.



ps. Why do you think it's the best jukebox they ever made?

Hi Mr Mario,
IMHO, it's the best, with the new MCU because it uses the proven Seeburg mechanism, that they made for almost 50 years--and--It was simplified by the use of a microcomputer. Using the MCU gave them the chance to do things with the mechanism, that were cost-prohibited, in prior designs.
BTW--The "Disco" ( SMC-1) was not equipped with the ball. Only the "Phoenix" (SMC-2) was.
"Books" for the SMC series, are re-produced in a "package"--but dis-regard the "Trouble Shooting Guide", except the amplifier part, in the package, as it is VERY poor, and it is for the earlier "MicroLog" system. Check above in "where to find--" for sellers.
I would also, humbly suggest that my "Seeburg Mechanism Guide" should be of help, also. PM me if you wish to purchase a copy--Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:BTW--The "Disco" ( SMC-1) was not equipped with the ball. Only the "Phoenix" (SMC-2) was.

Oh Yes I know, but you have to agree, it's begging for one to be installed!!!

William,
No--I think not--the SMC-1 "features" a semi, view thru, window, and if it still has the two reflectors, and the reflectors in the turntable, I like that effect--even more then a "ball".
Ron Rich

Attached are the pictures of the Disco I'll be driving home for Christmas. I don't really see things that scare me, but anything you guys see I should be checking out?

Regards,
William

Hi William,
I see that at least three parts are missing, inside the cabinet, and I see the turntable paint job is shot. Ron Rich

What is missing Ron? Do you mean these 3?

The mirror is missing
The black housing on the right side of the turntable is missing
The cable shield is missing??

And what do you mean by "turntable paint job is shot" ?

Hi William,
Yes--You have the three missing parts--The "black housing" is usually called the "Mechanism Cover", and, I would call the "cable shield" a light reflector, as that is it's real purpose. All three of these are to "enhance" the "light show" that should be present when the "blacked-out" (painted-flat black) turntable spins. Ron Rich

Ok, I understand.
I have checked out some nice video;s and I know what you mean now.

Here is a nice collection of photo's and videos where I can see the parts missing. He made new ones.
This nicely shows the lightshow in this Jukebox.

Click here for the photo's

William,
I do not think he built a new deflector--just re-painted the one he had. See the small hole in the left side? That was the "hook hole" that the factory used to "transport" them. Ron Rich

Well, I picked up the jukebox and to finalize this thread here is the list of issues.

1. MCU is not running, display shows static random numbers on startup. Most of the time 8..8..
a) How can I determine if the CPU is running? If that chip is broken, all is lost with this MCU (like is there some heartbeat on an output somewhere to see if the program is running)
b) Are all 3 PCB's needed to test the main board? (just to make repairing easier piece by piece)

2. Amplifier Q5115 is blown (GE309689)
a) When looking at this reference chart here it can be replaced by 2n6292, on the web I found Ron Rich stating a TIP31C can be used. What to do ? And do I need to replace in pairs?
b) Whats is a common cause that makes these blow? Should I dig further to see if other things caused the blow?

3. Mechanism is working, I do not know if the PCC is working, any way to test this without a working MCU ?

Thanks!

ps. Replacing the MCU with Ron Rich's V2 is a very valid option in the back of my mind.

Hi William,
Glad you got it home !
As for the MCU--the crystal generates the "heartbeat"--It's been over twenty years since I fixed them--they were a real "pain" when brand new--and it was all downhill from then on. Schematics are mostly correct--however, depending on the "rev #", they may not match. Yes--basically, you need all three boards connected to find the problems--coin board, can be removed, in some circumstances, and you also need to keep the power supply connected.
There is, as far as I know, no way to determine if the MCU is bad, or the PCC / interface, is causing problems, without one known good one !
On the amp., transistor--It could have failed "on it's own", but I would carefully check the bias circuit, and the output transistors in that channel--Either the TIP (31/32) ( they MUST BE "C's"), or the other one, is a good replacement--and, yes, I do replace them in pairs-
As for the Gen 2, MCU, that I build--it's less expensive to purchase, then we were charging many years ago, to repair the "original" MCU's-- Plus, unlike the originals, it WORKS
Ron Rich ( like I said--PM me if you decide to purchase one)

When you only supply power to the MCU board, should it display normal numbers and react to the keypad?

If so, than thats the thing I want to get shown first.
Some IC's are getting warmer than I think they should be, so my guess is those are broken.

I know what you mean by the crystal being the heartbeat, but that still doesn't tell me if the program is running. I was more looking for some scan line, or interrupt line, or watchdog puls on some output so we really know if the program is running.

Thanks for the help!
Loving the Disco

ps. I don't think this transistor blew on it's own: