Rock-ola 464 plays randomly, but doesn't process selections

I don't think any manufacture ever recommended temps--just assumed that they would operate in an area that was comfortable for humans ?? Ron Rich

I know you said to use only 20 wt non detergent oil, but would the 20 wt 3-in-1 work as well:

http://www.amazon.com/3-IN-ONE-10045-Mo ... DV7VWHAN9P

I don't think it would leave a dirty residue. I'm sure I can find 20 sae nd at a hardware store around here, but I thought I'd ask just in case I can't find any.

yep--that will work-- Ron Rich

I recall when ordering mine in (I live in the UK), after a little research I found that all of their 3-in-1 range, certainly the Motor Oil anyway was actually ND (non-detergent), they just stopped specifying it.

It was 54 degrees today and even with a hairdryer I was unable too get the gripper arm to move. I'm not sure what i could have damaged and of course the damage could be from me resetting the mechanism breaker multiple times. Where I'm at in the sequence is the turntable turns but the gripper doesn't complete its move to the magazine to replace the record (it missed grabbing the record). I've tried to move the gripper arm manually, but it's tight and doesn't want to budge and I'm not going to force it. I suspect I damaged it by operating it in too cold of conditions for the hydraulics and then resetting it so many times previously last week.

Hi
Try loosening the gripper motor(3 hex bolts) and cycling the gripper arm manually, at least you will then get a feel for the parts which are bound up and apply oil while you cycle it with machine off. You can also cycle it with the machine on. It could also be a problem with the gripper motor which may be on its way out, sometimes cleaning and lubricating the motor may bring it back to life
regards
clones

On the bottom side of the gripper motor (and the magazine motor as well), there's a knurled shaft that sticks out. With the juke powered off, turn the shaft with your fingers and it will operate the gripper manually. Takes for ever, but you can then feel for any binding without damaging the electronics. Don't keep turning it after the gripper reaches its respective ends of travel.

Also I doubt a hair dryer is going to offer enough heat. That's a pretty good chunk of metal. I just went thru this exercise on a 460. A heat gun will give you much more heat, but be careful you don't cook anything. Stay at least 2"-3" from the surface and a gentle sweeping motion. Feel it every once and a while. It shouldn't get more than toasty warm. Once I got things to wiggle, I used a bit of PB Blaster to penetrate and dissolve the grease. When things were moving better, I wiped the "Blasted" surfaces off and went back with the 3 in 1 motor oil. Patience is the key here.

Good luck!

-Jim

I would strongly advise that you remooooove ANY/ALL, records, prior to "heating"--- Ron Rich

You guys are the best here! So worst case scenario is that I fried the gripper motor. I'll try both suggestions this evening and hopefully it will either be fixed or at least we'll know if I'm in need of a new motor. I do have a heat gun and I imagine I'll have to shield the records in the magazine as a precaution if I use it. Oops! just saw Ron's post so I guess I'll be removing them. I've used a heat gun before on some cold solder points and I've seen how easily it can warp plastic so removing them would be best. So would a gripper motor going out or binding cause the turntable arm to also progress slowly before landing on the record? Those were the events I noticed before it happened and it happened twice before the cold hit when I zeroed out the selections two weeks ago on the read-out out levers. I did have to reset the breaker twice to get it to complete the sequence, but afterwards it was fine (that's why I kept resetting it last week). I'm really beginning to appreciate how intricate and complex jukeboxes are. I can only assume one from the 40's or 50's would make this one look like a cakewalk to repair. Maybe one day I'll get one from that era to upgrade my mom's soda fountain shop/rec room.

Yes--when the gripper is "going bad" (getting sticky), it becomes progressively worse--then worser, till it becomes worsest !
If I were "repairing" that phono, I would remove the gripper motor, check the brushes, replace, if needed, clean up the whole thing ( including the armature--if you don't know how--AXK!), re-oil/grease it, then move on to the gripper itself--Like someone wrote--"patience" is the key here--I would expect to spend at least an hour, freeing up the gripper, using ONLY 20 wt. oil ! Ron Rich

The tonearm motion is driven by the gripper motor, so if you have a binding problem, that will affect the speed of the tonearm moving towards the record. I suspect you have a lubrication problem (sticky grease) in the gripper mechanism and the cold weather has made it just that much worse. I unbolted my gripper motor while heating the mechanism. Because of the gearing, you won't be able to move anything with the motor attached. Once you get some movement, you can put the motor back on and use that knurled shaft to exercise things.

-Jim

The grease that's all over the gears looks like lithium grease to me. Was that ever used to lubricate the gears? The grease is a beige/ light tan color.

Not what should be there--factory used a graphite grease, that will "combine-soften", with 20 wt oil--
Me thinks you are "in for a messy job"---Have fun ! reversing "geppetto in-ja-near-ring" ---Ron Rich

Great! What color does graphite grease look like? I guess I could upload some pics tonight before I start working on it and you guys can tell me if it looks normal. I could be wrong, but it looks like lithium grease to me.

The grease you're seeing probably isn't what's causing you grief. It's the old, sticky lube that's coating the gripper mechanism shafts that has everything bound tight.