Rock-ola 429 cycle of operation

Hi Ed,

This problem sounds very familiar - I had similar issues with a 440 last year. My gripper was almost totally locked up from old gunk and sitting for years. I followed much advice on getting it freed up and to where everything seemed to be working normally. Still, I was plagued with little issues that always pointed to either the cam switches being out of adjustment or the shaft gears being out of sync.

You may have already done this, but I've read through all of the posts in this thread and I don't see where you've actually disassembled the gripper assembly. Taking the gripper completely apart, then cleaning and lubricating it properly was the only way I managed to solve my problems. From your description, it sounds like your issue may be in the internal workings of the gripper, in particular the trunnion that actuates the inner gripper (which moves independently). Since this unit is internal, you can really only get to it by taking it all apart. It's not as bad as it sounds and I was able to complete in less than an hour with the mech in the cabinet. Just make sure you have the parts breakdown diagram from the manual so you can keep track of everything. AND don't get over zealous driving the pin out of the reversing cam or you'll spend most of your time looking for it - Yup, that was me

Nelson

Hi Nelson, and all,
A "trick" I learned, from someone much smarter then me --- When driving pins out, place a "terry cloth towel" on the other side (wrap it around, if possible)--99% of the time the towel will catch the pin ! Ron Rich

I have had the gripper out, but not apart. To be honest, I have actually replaced it. When I first bought the machine I managed to get the old one in such a shape that it could not work anymore, but that's another story. I have the current gripper working now for about 30-40 test runs it seems to be holding. When I had the new on out. I was able move everything and it all seemed to be working. I think my problem was in the alignment of the outer cog (the one that controls that inner part) and the main gear below it. that outer cog wanted to "slip" while the music cycle was going. this slip allowed that inner arm to grip the record and if not manually moved back, cause a jam when the gripper reversed. While in the home position it cog rested on one of the wider teeth of the gear below. So I adjusted so that the cog rests on a tooth at either side of the cycle.
Now, from looking at my spare gripper, I do notice that it is much harder to operate that inner part (manually operating the outer cog) than it was on the new one. Could the new one being so free be what cause it to bleed off like that? Or does it sound more like alignment?

Hmm...it could be the gears aren't aligned correctly. I'm pretty sure that what you're referring to as the outer gear is the gear that connects to the trunnion, which is the piece that is responsible for the movement of the inner gripper. The inner gripper does have a spring which returns it to the normal position after the cycle - that spring certainly could explain why you're seeing this gear move slightly after the motor stops. If it was gunked up or binding in any way, it could see where there could be a delay in the inner gripper returning to it's resting position.

I hate to say it, but it still sounds to me as if the inner pieces are what's causing you the trouble. If you look at the parts breakdown of the gripper, you can see there's a lot more going on in there than it appears.

Nelson