Help with AMI E-80 mechanism

I just found this site, and was hoping that maybe someone could give me some ideas! I recently picked up a couple of jukeboxes in unknown condition. I thought I would start with my 1953 AMI E-80 jukebox. When I got it, the mechanism was in a mode like it was playing a record. The transfer arm is down flat to the left of the turntable, and the turntable motor is spinning. When the tonearm is moved towards the center of the record and the cut-off switch is engaged, I can see the transfer gear motor turning for a brief time (turns fairly slowly, and just for a couple of seconds), and then the motor stops. I haven't been letting it run for long because I don't want to damage anything.

I have several questions that I was hoping might help me get started:
1) The whole transfer drive seems like it might be gummed up. When the jukebox is powered off, I can manually turn the transfer gear motor, but I reach a point where I get a lot of resistance and can't turn it any more. Is there another way that I can manually try and move something, to see what is binding? Is cleaning/re-lubricating this the best place to start?

2) If I want to try and clean out the old grease, should I take the whole mechanism out of the cabinet first? Or try and disassemble it when it's in the cabinet? I didn't see anything in the E-80 manual about taking the whole mechanism out, is that an easy process?

3) What's the best stuff to use to clean out the old grease, and what should I use to re-lubricate? I saw someone mention that I could use GT-85 to remove the old grease?

Any other thoughts on where I should start on this problem?

Thanks!
Dave

The mechanism could be gummed up. The brushes on the motors could be worn, dirty. I've seen the rectifier, the big heat sink looking thing in the power supply with wires soldered to it, go bad. In fact someone asked me to work on one once that would run fine in one direction and slow in the other because of the rectifier. Their cure was to drill a hole in the side of the cabinet and tie a string on the table assembly and a brick on the outside of the cabinet to pull it.

Wouldn't a spring have been better then the brick ??
Ron Rich

Hi, thanks for the fast response! I'll look at the rectifier, I assume that it's best to replace it with a large, modern-day silicon rectifier?

Regarding the mechanism possibly being gummed up, should I normally meet quite a bit of resistance when I'm manually turning the transfer motor (to the point where I can't turn the motor by hand anymore)? Or is there some other way that I should manually try and move the mechanism to try and see if its bound up?

Thanks again,
Dave

Dave,
I think he was joking ( I know I was)---the rectifier knows not, which direction the motor is turning The motor itself, if I recall correctly, has an adjustable thrust bearing, which DOES KNOW the direction. It would be my guess that the problem is in the motor, probably a lubrication issue. Also, if my memory is correct--that motor is a "bear" to re-assemble. One must make a special tool to re-install and retain the brushes during re-assembly. If you don't think you have the skills to do it, I think you should send it to someone who does---Ron Rich

Hi Ron! I was wondering about the rectifier though, as I have read that the old style ones can go bad and not provide the proper voltage to run the motor, especially under load. But, in any case, I do wonder about not being able to manually operate the transfer mechanism, is that normal for AMI's? I know on my Rockola 414, I can manually operate the mechanism by hand...

Thanks,
Dave

Dave,
Yes, that style rectifier tends to "get weak"--however a simple voltage test will answer if it needs replacing, or not. IF replaced, I strongly urge the new style be fused.
As fro turning the motor--on the Rock's, they provide a knob for that--AMi did not intend it be done--I have never attempted it--- ?? Ron Rich