New Guy With Basic Questions (Rock-Ola 470)

Hey guys, I'm a complete noob. Always wanted a Rockola 470. I love the disco meets psychedelia meets HR Punstuff design of this box. now I have one. Excuse my noob questions.

Box is complete, works, but doesn't select (guy says it used to). It's in good shape but there's a lot of "gunk" on mechanism.

1.Plan to lightly carefully clean mechanism using 3in1 oil? Is that correct?
2. I'll try selecting scan/operation or flipping to see if pcking up clcks in?
3. Juke says on top it takes 45's and Lp's. There is a switch for Standad and Euro. Does thus switch allow us to use the small hole (euro) 45's on this machine? Looks like 45 cnter hole holders can be retracted below turntable to allow use of these awesome records! Can anyone confirm this?
4. Top speakers appear gone. I've ordered replacements from eBay (off a 478). Hopefully the will fit fine
5. Top rear door is stuck. I've tried PB blast in lock and along sides but no go. An advice for getting it off. Getting the speakers in there is real important.
6. How do I play 45 ep's (with more than one song on the "A" side?

I have new keys and ne needle comng. Found all reference material tucked down into machine.

It's in my van. Drove down to SoCal from NorCal to get it. Tomorrow, I have to clean space for it in my garage and get people to help me move it. I'm excited, but a total noob at this guys. I have many many 45's.

What other advice can u give me? I love bringing old things back to life but ... I'm a noob at this, be gentle!!

I'll get pics for you tomorrow. I promise.

Hello Mindtrain,

Welcome to the forum.
If you have not got the manual for your model of your jukebox I suggest you get one, try www.victoryglass.com
A number of people on the forum should be able to point you in the right direction re advice, spare parts etc.
I assume that you are in the USA but can you let us know your location it may help with regards to helping you.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Thanks so much for the quick replies!!!

I'm in San Francisco, CA in the Sunset District out by Ocean Beach. I purchased the item from Craigslist in Van Nuys, CA (basically, LA).

I have a parts manual and wiring schematic. Let me check on user manual. It is all very old and yellowed. These were tucked away in a corner of the cabinet and folded up in an envelope,. The owner wasn't even aware they existed. It includes an orig service record from '77.

The rear door is not coming down. The key works to open the main box area (below title strips) but is caught on something (inside) on the rear top door where top speakers go. it will not open. It wants to turn but does not turn. Acts like it's caught, rusted, stuck. I'm worried it will have to be broken off and replaced. I did order new keys.

I'm missing the flourenscent tube light that obviously goes in top part of maim cabinet door. Will any tube do or is there a specific for replacement? I'm looking for the info as we speak

It's 4 am here. I am in bed, too excited to sleep. I have a whole day of cleaning and rearranging my garage before I can even bring the box inside. Then I have to convince three other guys to help me load it into the garage. I promise I'll post pics as soon as I've gotten up and had coffee.

Hi
!. No--I suggest that you use 3 in One (electric) motor oil--a 20 wt.- ONLY --do not use "regular" 3 in One--do not use any type of "grease" !
(BTW-That area is where I grew up--and I think you can purchase that oil at the Hrdw. store on 39th and Noriega Sts.)
2.-- don't understand the question ?
3. Switch is probably for record audio compensation--has nothing to do with hole size. Hole size, alone, is what determines turntable speed.
4. You may have wasted your money--they may or may not "fit". If not there are several people that run "juke junkyards" and are honest sellers of used parts.
One is "right up the road" from you in Napa---sorry, without seeing the phono , I can not recall the space allowed.
5. Once again --need to see it, which hopefully would trigger memory--
6. Already answered---
Best advice was given you to wait, and read----or spend the money to have me make a "service call"---
Ron Rich

here are some pics I took with the iPhone. it should give you an idea of it's general condition.

http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~sk8punk/IMG_3327.jpg

http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~sk8punk/IMG_3328.jpg

http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~sk8punk/jukebox1.JPG

http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~sk8punk/jukebox2.JPG

http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~sk8punk/jukebox3.JPG

Ron, I sent you a private message – Rob

Hey Mindtrain,

congrats with your RO470 !
I have just the same and beside a few minor probs (solved) it plays great.
Record equalization has indeed nothing to do with record holes, but all with arranging correct playback
( read this : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_equalization )
My 470 has a sticker on the turntable that says "for 45 RPM records ONLY - for 33 1/3 records order kit #2152"
As I am happy with my singles I left it. I only had to "dink" some 45's that had a small hole in it

Anyways : good luck with your 470, it's a great machine

RAMONES

PS : what's the serial no.? (Should be on the back plate)

Hey Ramones!

I've read your other posts. It's awesome that you have a 470.

My mechanism was jammed. Ron is fixing it now. It's cool that he is so damn close to where I live. I'll check the serial number when I get it back and let you know.

I believe, based on what I have read here, that mine is set-up for the 33 and 1/3 playback (but lord knows I could be wrong, I am still a noob).

BTW: "Carbona Not Glue" by the Ramones is going on my jukebox, ha ha.

thanks for the welcome and the info!!!

--Rob

You can use 45 rom Small hole records in a rock ola if you do 2 small things.

! if the box has the 33rpm speed unit unplug it
2 for large hole 45 rpm use dinker inserts Them are the yellow hole adapters that snap into a 45rpm to use it on a reg spindle.

One other step you can at this point remove the platter 45rpm holders the 3 or 4 parts that come up to hold the large hole 45 rpm. There held on the bottom of the plater by a c clip.

I have a 478 an change my platter to a older type an use all small hole records since there being made that way today.

Eur in the usa switch on the amp is a joke. If set to euro it remove bass on usa adds bass.

Awww Mindtrain....

"Carbona" is one of the 45's I am missing

Hoping to placing some pix of my RO470 soon !
BTW, serial nr. of mine is 701567
Plz go to http://www.jbw-forum.de/sdb/index.php?a ... els&id=310 and add serial nr. of yours...
Hildegard is always happy to know where the jukes are
She sometimes has great info too

RAMONES

Thanks guys. Ron fixed my jukebox up real good. But, knowing me I jammed it up as soon as I got it home. I was testing the 33 and 1/3 mechanism (I actually have 7" records with small holes that play at 33 & 1/3) and I jammed it somehow. Now the regular 45's wanna play at 33 and 1/3. So, it's just something to do with the idle wheel. I'm gonna trouble shoot it tomorrow. Feel like an idiot. Ron fixes it all up and I break it first thing! (of course, there's that whole forgetting the tone arm was taped up thing too-doh!) I also think the 7" I used was slightly larger than the 45's, so it's possible it's not set correctly to play with the 33 and 1/3 7" because the tone arm goes up against the side of the record with that one and not on it (this is a brand new release on 33/1/3 7" so maybe that's it). it's not resetting the speed somehow. The tone arm and everything works fine for the 45, the speed is just not correct.

Ramones, the "Carbona" I have is clearly a bootleg. They get em in all the time at Amoeba. I'll keep my eye out for you. Same deal with my Bad Brains 45 (boot). Who cares. It works.

I build and repair vintage mopeds. Some of my friends, in fact, just built these amazing new mopeds for Sapporo (if u happen to see em). I don't have anywhere near their skills, but I do all right. We love these old machines. So, I feel like I did when I first got a moped. Afraid to touch anything cause I'll break it and then it won't work.

The rockola has a speed box under the turntable I think. I do not have my books out right now. But how it works. When a small hole record lands on the table. It then pushes the large hole holders down. At this point that hits a switch to tell the box to slow down man. lol Remove the platter it just lift straight off the unit. You well see the back side of the plate a c clip spring an red color or that may very plastic part, It might need a good lube job since it is a moving part.


The part name of the thing is auto speed unit How it works it slows down the motor.

Sorry Troydog, "Autospeed" was the name Seeburg used, for their "electronic motor speed change module", It was not used by anyone else to describe the speed change device. And the RockOla system is NOT oiled "on the red plastic"--this part must remain clean and dry. Also, it does not change the motor speed on RO's, it just changes the position of the idler wheel against the motor shaft. Ron Rich

hmm, I posted a detailed reply (with part numbers) and it didn't show up. oh well, here's the short version.

one of the circlips that holds the motor up busted.

I will get replacement washer and circlip tomorrow. the spring for the idler also went flying when I was trouble shooting. bah! hopefully, I can find a suitable replacement at Ace as I have looked everywhere in that cabinet for that little spring and can't find it. ridiculous!!

Quick update: I found the circlip. It wasn't busted, it was the wrong size! The dude who had it before must've busted his and replaced it with a larger one. So, it wasn't my fault. Man, I will get this thing working yet!