Rock-ola 488

Q&A about all types of jukeboxes: Wurlitzer, Seeburg, Rock-Ola, AMI, and more.



Topic author
gregjmc
Junior Member
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:29 pm

Rock-ola 488

by gregjmc » Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:31 pm

Hello all! I'm hoping to find out how my Rock-ola 488 can be switched from it's current free usage mode back to pay mode....I'm not very familiar with this unit's workings, so I appreciate your experience...


DRebber
Junior Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:01 pm

Re: Rock-ola 488

by DRebber » Wed Feb 09, 2011 12:00 am

Does this model use the seperate Logic Control Board from the Credit Control unit? Or had they gone to the Central Control Computer by this time?

I remember on the older system with the stand alone Credit Unit that we used to jumper the back of the board to set "free play" mode. I'll look through my things to see if I can find that bulletin.

Respectfully,

David


Topic author
gregjmc
Junior Member
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:29 pm

Re: Rock-ola 488

by gregjmc » Wed Feb 09, 2011 5:38 am

Not quite sure, will I take a picture? Pardon my lack of know..

ImageImage


DRebber
Junior Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:01 pm

Re: Rock-ola 488

by DRebber » Thu Feb 10, 2011 3:22 am

Okey dokey!!! We have a Profit Setter!

I think you will find a soldered jumper on the back side of that unit. I will see if I can find the exact location/pin designations that will point you in the right direction if you do not see an obvious modification.

Respectfully,

David


Topic author
gregjmc
Junior Member
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:29 pm

Re: Rock-ola 488

by gregjmc » Fri Feb 11, 2011 6:44 pm

Any thoughts, David? I'm not sure where to make the change on the profit setter.

And also, a couple of months ago, at its last use, the jukebox worked completely. With nothing different happening in the meantime, right now I input song selections, they show up, but it doesn't move to the 45 and play it. What are the likely problems here? I can't imagine it's anything but very simple because nothing happened in mean time, no use. Thanks very much.


DRebber
Junior Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:01 pm

Re: Rock-ola 488

by DRebber » Sat Feb 12, 2011 2:04 pm

Okay, so I had a "senior moment"... :?

The Profit Setter DIP switches are the way to get it back to paid playing. The bottom row of DIP switches establish the price per credit. The other banks of switches will determine the number of credits per play. If you have an Operation Manual, it will tell you how to configure those banks of switches to achieve your desired pricing. If memory serves me, "Free Play" is established by setting the bottom bank of switches all to "Off".

As for it not playing your selections, it should be noted that something as simple as one moving the "Operate/Off/Scan" switch to the Off position will keep it from playing. It could also be a component failure. Solid state electronic devices do not have an operational lifespan like, say, a set of tires. It can be working one day, then stop working the next with no indication that it is about to fail. Moreover, something as simple as a connector not making contact will keep signals from passing between components.

The good news is that it is accepting the selection and showing it on the display. i.e. At least the logic board is working to some extent. The Logic Controller is the little printed circuit board mounted to the front of the mechanism. On it are two pushbuttons - Red and Blue. The Blue button is a test button for indexing that will select the first, middle, and last slots when it is depressed. What happens when you push that little blue button?

I will see if I have any information readily available on this series of Rock-Ola and check back.

Respectfully,
David


Topic author
gregjmc
Junior Member
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:29 pm

Re: Rock-ola 488

by gregjmc » Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:23 pm

Alrighty, still need a bit of advice on the profit setter settings as I don't have a manual, and it's not completely straightforward looking? Anyone out there have access to one somehow? This would be fantastic.

By messing with a few things, I've gotten it to the point of picking the 45 up, laying it on turn table, but the turntable won't spin. It's picking up sound, however, as is clear when you move the record with your hand when on the turn table. Any thoughts?


Ron Rich
Forum Moderator
Posts: 8195
Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 11:31 pm
Location: Millbrae (San Francisco area)CA, USA

Re: Rock-ola 488

by Ron Rich » Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:26 am

The profit setter" should have nothing to do with that--is the TT motor turning (Lift up the TT and look) ?
If not, you will need to get out the schematic, and see where the TT motor switch is--If so, is it "tilted" so that it can not turn the idler wheel ( very common RO problem, the support rubbers get old/hard/broken-MUST be replaced with correct ones !) Ron Rich


DRebber
Junior Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:01 pm

Re: Rock-ola 488

by DRebber » Sun Feb 13, 2011 6:26 pm

Greg,

As for the Profit Setter settings, to get straight 25 cent per play, set the switches as follows:

Switch Bank A = All "Off"
Switch Bank B = All "Off"
Switch Bank D = 1, 3 "On" - All others "Off"

If you want to get into Bonus Pricing, etc. I will need an email address to send .pdf of programming instructions.

David

User avatar

DoghouseRiley
Senior Member
Posts: 630
Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:48 pm
Location: North-West England

Re: Rock-ola 488

by DoghouseRiley » Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:41 pm

Digressing slightly but on the subject of multiple selections. I live in the UK and one evening I took a friend out for a drive in my car and we called in at a coffee bar opposite Kew Green in West London.
As we sat talking over our coffees, someone came in and put some money in the jukebox which wasn't being played at the time.
They put enough coins in to play "Train To "Nowhere" which was the "B side" to "Tequila" by the Champs, five times in succession.
I presume this wouldn't have been a Rock-Ola as with their wobble plates it won't select a record already chosen again until it had been played.

This incident obviously made an impression on me as it was in 1958 when I was a teenager.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

I don't mind if you don't like my manners, I don't like them myself, they're pretty bad, I grieve over them on long winter evenings.


Ron Rich
Forum Moderator
Posts: 8195
Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 11:31 pm
Location: Millbrae (San Francisco area)CA, USA

Re: Rock-ola 488

by Ron Rich » Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:09 pm

Doghouse,
No US made machine, working properly, would do that---
On a Seeburg or Wurly of that age, if a pin "failed to cancel" it could do it--Don't know about a RO--
Or the person needed to re-select, again, each time, it while it was playing--
Ron Rich

User avatar

DoghouseRiley
Senior Member
Posts: 630
Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:48 pm
Location: North-West England

Re: Rock-ola 488

by DoghouseRiley » Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:41 pm

I expect you're right Ron, I may not have seen them returning to the machine each time, as I was rather preoccupied with my companion. I don't remember what make of machine it was.
Until 1962, because of the import restrictions, the jukeboxes in this country were the "fishtank" Bal-Amis made over here on licence by Balfour, or those wartime ones which had originally been on US air bases. A retired electrical engineer friend, remembered seeing a room in a warehouse full of them gathering dust in the early fifties.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

I don't mind if you don't like my manners, I don't like them myself, they're pretty bad, I grieve over them on long winter evenings.


Topic author
gregjmc
Junior Member
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:29 pm

Re: Rock-ola 488

by gregjmc » Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:43 pm

Yes, if you could email the .pdf to gregjmcquaid@gmail.com, that'd be fantastic. Also, pushed inward in which direction is "on" and which is "off"? I'm assuming in leftward is "on", but just want to make sure....Alright, David! Thanks .

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 15 guests

It is currently Thu Oct 06, 2016 6:29 pm