Wurlitzer 256 Stepper

Hi,

I have a Wurlitzer 256 stepper which connects a Seeburg 3W-1 wallbox to my Wurlitzer 1700 Jukebox.

It has been working fine for several years. Things have changed recently.

When I select a song on the wallbox, the wallbox appears to work fine. The stepper number and letter switches move to the correct position, however, it does not make the next move to start the select cycle in the jukebox. It just stops. The number and letter switch are very slow to release. This jams the jukebox and I cannot make any selections (even through the jukebox selector). I need to turn off the power to start again. Once it resets, I can make selections normally by the jukebox selector.

When the stepper jams, if I 'tap' the stepper Latch Release Relay (with a screwdriver) it often releases and starts the cycle working, it then selects and plays the song and works normally. It appears that the timing relay in the stepper may be staying energised for too long.

Originally I thought it would be dirty or out-of-adjustment points, however I have cleaned and adjusted them several times without any success. The points are not in great condition, but I not been able to find replacements. I have removed the timing relays to clean them and checked all the soldered joints.

The only paperwork I could find for this stepper provides the advice "that this stepper operates similar to the 253 stepper". I have a brief manual for the 253 stepper, however, it is very brief and offers little guidance.

Sorry for the long question, but any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards

Gordon.

Hi Gordo,
Sounds to me like the relay armature may be magnetized. The contact point situation, may also be the cause of your problem. Contact points must be "pit" free and correctly adjusted first. Use a burnishing tool only on them -- a file must first be used if they are "pitted", but do so as lightly as possible, then burnish them.
To test if the relay armature is magnetized, insert a thin bit of paper between the pole piece, and the armature--tape this in place temporarily, OUTSIDE of the "striking area". If the relay now operates normally, I use a very thin Mylar strip, attached to the armature with thin glue to "cure" that problem.
Ron Rich

Hi Ron,

Found the problem and fixed it.

You were correct, it was a magnetised relay armature. Not the one I thought.

After I spent hours cleaning and burnishing every set of contacts there was no change.

So I put a piece of paper between each pole piece until I found the problem.

Thanks for your advice, without it I would still be looking.

Regards

Gordo..

Gordo,
Glad you found it--now you can send me a check for the time I have spent attempting to figure that out ! Ron Rich

Ron,

If you ever get to Australia, I'll buy you a lobster dinner and a few beers.

thanks

Gordon.

Hi Gordo,
Would love to take you up on that offer--but I don't think I can take the flight--even 1st class on Quantas--
Last time I took a short 1 hour flight, I did not fare too well---I'm just "too old"--
Ron Rich

Hi (Again),

I have been running the wallbox for a few weeks now and it selects a song every time (thanks Ron), however, it has started selecting incorrectly.

It works OK about half the time and the other half it tends to just select a random song.

The capacitors are reasonably new and check out OK.

The stepper is well lubed (from my last problem).

Any ideas what may cause this problem? Where can I start looking?

Regards

Gordon.

Hi Gordon,
Same places as earlier--Intermittent "stepper problems", are always "contact point ("dirty")/blade adjustment, magnetized relays, and, if used, a problem with the tube/trans. that fires the relays-
Ron Rich