AMI Rowe MM5 - magazine alignment issues

Hello all,

I have an AMI Rowe MM5 jukebox. I was doing some work on it, and I must have disturbed the alignment for the record magazine. (I had removed the selector assembly and the stop switch assembly.)

I have the service manual.

I tried re-aligning the magazine according to the procedure in the manual. (Lock the magazine at record A1, and verify the stop switch gear is aligned - 200 index mark to the step on the search unit mounting bracket.)

I loosened the two screws on the nylon gear, and adjusted the magazine so that the transfer arm was centered in the A1 record slot.

Here's the problem - the transfer arm is perfectly aligned with the record slot at A1 - and aligned (somewhat) for 20 or 30 records on each side of A1. The farther away from A1, the worse the alignment gets. If I try to play a record on the opposite side of the magazine as A1, the alignment is off - so much so that the transfer arm hits between two record slots and can't grab the record. I tried re-aligning the magazine near those record slots, but as you can guess - the alignment was then off for all the records around A1.

It's as if there's a small alignment error and it's cumulative - the farther away from record A1, the worse it gets - to the point it can't grab records.

Is that the correct way to align the magazine? (Using the screws on the nylon gear?)

As far as I know, before I removed the selector and stop switch assembly, the alignment was ok for all the records. I never looked that close at it, but I never had problems playing records.

Thanks,

Mike

Mike, do you have records in -all- slots? Those mechs required properly balanced loads even when new, after wear and play has built up in the gears it is even more important.

Other areas to check belt and rollers. the belt should be reasonably firm but only tight enough to make sure the records don't fall out. The rollers often get gummy and this can cause excessive drag on the belt and lead to a slight misalignment.

In theory the sprag assembly eliminated critical adjustments, however decades of use causes backlash in the gears so a smooth and balanced magazine is essential.

What you are describing can result from an abused magazine where someone forced it to turn by hand and slightly bent the separators.

My two MM-1 hideaways are still on location having been last rebuilt in 1987 and the other in 1994. These mechs are pretty reliable when set up correctly but they are somewhat more delicate than Seeburg and Wurlitzer.

Rob/NYC

Hi Rob,

I don't have records in all of the slots. The jukebox is not 100% yet, so I only have 20 or 30 records in it, for testing.

I wouldn't suspect it's drag or imbalance in the magazine. If I use the scan switch to rotate the magazine, I can let the magazine rotate 3 or 4 full revolutions. If I stop on (or near) the A1 record - the record is in perfect alignment. If I stop on the other side of the magazine, it's out of alignment. If it was drag on the magazine (or pulleys or belt) I would expect the offset to be cumulative. (Once it got out of alignment, it would stay out of alignment.) The way it is working, is - if I stop on or near A1, it's in good alignment. If I stop near the opposite side of the magazine - it's out of alignment. I can let the magazine rotate 10 revolutions and stop on A1 and it's in alignment.

Thanks Rob,

Mike

Mike, what you describe is a typical case of imbalance. Remove all records and see what happens.

If you look at this situation mechanically, the gear ratio works against any fault other than those directly in the magazine. The sprag gears are not going to cause this as they rotate several rev's for every few slots.

Rob

Hello Mike,

Welcome to the forum.

The belt on the mechanism only function is to stop the records falling out and jamming up the mechanism.
I would have a look at the basket to see if any of the wires are bent (you can not play catchup on these, so do not try it by bending them).
I would have a look at the spragwheel alignment and detent. Also check the timing on the A1 and the 200 mark on the stop plate assembly.

I would also check the adjustment on the Sprag Assembly, it wants to be tight so the gears mesh correctly with the Pinion & Plate Asssembly but not so tight that the mechanism binds.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Hi Alan, here's a question for you...

Rowe R86. How do you replace the record magazine belt? I have a new belt for it but have been unable to figure out how to get the seamless belt around the magazine.

Thanks for any advice and I enjoy reading your posts.

Cheers mate,

Billy

Hello Billy,

To replace the belt you need to remove the big nut on the back of the mechanism/carousel and remove the magazine support plate by removing the three 2BA machine screws that hold it in place. NOTE it may be an idea to put the gripper bow into the play possition prior to removing the plate.

Put the belt into position onto the refitted Guide & Belt Support Assembly and adjust this into the correct position by adjusting the middle screw on the support plate before locking down the large nut.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Thank you Alan! I'll give it go today and post results.

Billy

One more question, do you access and replace belt by removing the back of the juke box?

Hello Billy,

Just lift the mechanism out of the jukebox.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Will do Alan. Thanks again bud

If I could figure out how to upload photos with all the restrictions, I'd show you where I am with the new belt. Either I'm not thinking of something or the company sent me the wrong size. It's well over the guide wheels at the top. I ordered the belt with an R-86 manual so I know they knew the model I needed.many ideas?

Hi Billie,

Sorry I can not see much from that picture.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

I was just showing the 2-3" extra belt above the guide wheels in the record magazine.

Hi Billy,

The only thing I can see from your picture (I can't see the belt) is that there is plenty of adjustment to lift the Roller Bracket Assembly to take up the slack.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK