New AMI Owner -- Few questions (And yes I own the manual) :)

Hey everyone,

Recently my wife was on the laptop before bed and said "Hey someone has a Jukebox for free."

I responded that it probably was a scam but to send an e-mail anyway.

A couple days later I was on my way with trailer to pick up a free jukebox.

Now it has been about a month and I am sure my wife realizes the mistake she made by telling me about the ad.

The Jukebox in question is a 1976 AMI-Rowe R-80 Imperial Model and I am in love with it. It smells like "old" and needs some work overall but when that thing forcefully slams down a 45 and starts to play...man, it is sweet. Since getting it I have bought the manual and a new needle, tried my hand at getting the lights to work (with no success), and adjusted the tone arm to hit perfectly on the start of the record every time. Now I have a new problem. Immediately after adjusting the tone arm I smelled something funny. Then I visibly saw smoke coming out of the back of the unit. I immediately pulled the plug and opened the top. The culprit is the solenoid that is in the selector system labeled "Dormeyer Industries Class "130" E49318". It was charred and smoking. I have since removed it and done some research and found Grainger sells them online. My only problem is that they sell a lot of different solenoids that look a lot like the burnt one I have. So my most important questions of the day are how do I know which one I need and what exactly does this solenoid do? There is also a little bar that hangs and swings from the bottom of it. What does that do?

I appreciate any help that can be offered. I am excited to have fallen into this world of jukeboxes and am looking to learn as much as I can about the way this thing works. Like I said, I do have the manual and can be surprisingly mechanical...but at this point all of this is real foreign to me.

Hi Newbie, and welcome !
Since you "own the manual" I would strongly suggest a little "bedtime reading" might be in order--don't know how the wife will feel about this--but it would make it much easier for one of us to help you ! If I had a guess, I would guess the item that burned was the Latch Bar Solenoid. This should be shown in the schematic, and should give you the voltage it uses--then you can go "granger" it--but I AM only guessing !
Ron Rich

Hello nline24,

Sorry I do not know your name or location (it does help with local advice).

Yes as Ron says the solenoid is the latch bar soenoid but in your manual it is referred to as the Solenoid and Push Rod Assembly Rowe Ami part number 201-17137 (made up from 200-14754 push rod & 201-17100 AC solenoid).
Check page 7-12 in the R-80 Manual to confirm this is the solenoid.
The solenoid works off of 30 volts AC (marked on windings is 8721)and on the iron of the solenoid is your reference Dormeyer Industries Class "130" E49318.

If you can not source one I do have some good used solenoids in stock and most other parts that you need for restoration of your jukebox.
If you need anything by all means contact me off of line.

Regards
Alan Hood
ami-man
UK
alan-hood@datex.co.uk

I do not have a page 7-12 in my manual. I bought it from victory glass but did not get the parts catalog. I assume that page 7-12 may be a part of that? If not then my manual is missing some pages.

Does the latch coil solenoid work with the coin collecting mech in anyway? Or is it completly self contained In the selector assembly? Last owner installed a button for free play and alot of the coin collecting pieces are missing. Just wondering if this could of caused the burnout.

Trying to get an idea before I install a new solenoied and just end up burning it out.


Thanks for all the info so far. Ill post some pictures soon.

Ok the more I read the more I think it may have been dumb question about the solenoid being connected to the coin collector somehow but I guess I was asking if there would be anything connected to the solenoid besides the two wires coming off of it ??

Figure 4-3 on page 4-28 of the manual shows a start relay near the latch coil. I don't remember that or anything else being near the latch coil when I took it out. Would it be possible for me to make selections with that piece missing? If not then I wuld have to assume that it was there as I was able to make selections before the solenoid went up in smoke.

Also when you say the solenoid operates at 30V does that mean that a 120v solenoid has a max of 115 but should be able to handle the 30v fine?

The only one I see on Grainger that looks exactly like the one from the Jukebox is rated 115v.

Hi nline24,

There is 2 open relays in the button/keyboard assembly these are the stat relay R5 and the selectpulse and latch relay R1.

I suggest that you read the Sequence of Operation that starts on 4-11 through to 4-25 so you can understand how the jukebox operates.

The Latch Bar Solenoid needs to be 30 volts AC no other rated votage will do it must be correct or it will draw too much current and effect the rest of the jukebox effecting possibly the power supply unit and the credit unit.

The two open relays above will need there contacts cleaning and checking for operation. Do not use any switch cleaner,WD40 or any form of abrasive paper. Clean the contacts by pulling writing/copier paper through the contacts whilst holding the contacts together.

The Credit Unit/keyboard can be setup for free play so the solenoid should not burn out.

We still do not know your name or location.

Regards
Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

My apologies. My name is Nick and I am in Massachusetts.

So started disassembling my jukebox to give it a good thorough cleaning. Starting from the top down, I removed everything in the top part of the cabinet. Figure this will give me some reference when reading the manual as to how everything is connected.

I also did start reading the step by step process of how the jukebox operates. Hopefully should also help me get a better understanding of things.

A question based on what you had said above. By putting it on free play will it even cause the latch bar solenoid to function. For example would it matter if the burnt out one is in there as opposed to a new one. I plan on replacing it but if in the meantime if I wanted to run the machine with only the burned out solenoid is that possible by setting it to free play? Will it bypass operating the solenoid altogether?

Haven't found any 30v solenoids online at all...anywhere..at all...do they really not make 30 v solenoids anymore? I don't mind getting a used one but was hoping to find something new if it were at all possible.

Not sure getting it shipped from the UK would be my most cost effective course of action.

Thanks for all the help.

Those laminated solenoids are probably listed as 24 VAC and probably rated "continuous duty". Check with Allied Electronics or Digi-key. I think they both distribute Dormeyer brand solenoids.

I think, at the time, Rowe alternated between two solenoid manufacturers: Guardian Electric and Dormeyer.

Hello Nick,

Thank you now we know that you are in the USA we now know where to point you for parts.
For used Rowe Ami spares and replica parts go to the following sites:-
www.jukeboxparts.com (used spares for most jukeboxes)
www.victoryglass.com (new and replica parts)
Ron may be able to give you details of a Rowe Ami specialist in your area, again this could be for spares or work on your jukebox.

The Test or Free play button is on the back of the keyboard if you have the sticket on the inside of the top lid it shows you which one (in most cases it is the far right switch when looked at from behind the jukebox).
You can not use this feature with the latch bar solenoid burnt out, it must be replaced.

Try the above sites to obtain the complete solenoid. Get both parts of it rather than mixing the parts, these tend to bed in together.

If they can not supply you contact me off of line and I will give you a price for the parts and delivery.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Nick,
See the announcements section, above, for "used--new parts--where to find---"
Ron Rich

Can't thank you guys enough for your patience and help.

I sent out some e-mails and will hopefully get a new solenoid soon.