Phonoland

Hello folks! I have troubled juke and I would be highly appreciative to anyone who could help me!
I acquired a Rockola 496 juke (45rmp only) about 10 years ago. It worked great for a few years, but suddenly stopped working (I forget what the specific symptom was). I found that the .8 amp 250v fuse on the power PC board assembly-mechanism (55180-A) had blown so I replaced it. It fired up, but only worked correctly for about a week before it developed its current problem.
Here is the current issue: A record will play, but when it gets to the end of the song, nothing happens – I do hear a relay click on the PC board. The cancel switch on the AMI volume control will mute the music momentarily, but the song continues. If I turn the scan switch to “scan”, the turntable spins.
What I’ve tried: First, I purchased a service manual that includes schematics from the 490, 494, 496, and 498. It explains how to program everything, but that’s about it. The wiring diagrams aren’t that useful to me – I’m not sure where to begin – the wiring hasn’t changed.
The gripper motor (52499-1a) and magazine motor (54359-1a) both move freely. I removed both of them and they both operated when I applied DC voltage. The gripper motor was drawing more amperage than the magazine motor so I replaced it. No change.
The power PC board assembly-mechanism (55180-A) was where I had initially found a blown fuse, so I replaced that. No change.
I also replaced the AMI volume control/reject button with no change.
Any bits of wisdom would be GREATLY APRRECIATED!!!

Hi
Maybe check the trip switch at the tone arm, this should operate the reverse relay on the power mechanism pcb( is this the one you here clicking), however because you used the cancel button and the record didn't reject this may indicate a fault with the board, check all plug connections to this board and fuse on this board and connections to the motor
regards
clones

Hi Pianoman,
Welcome--
"Follow that click"--always wanted to say that--for some reason ???
The click would indicate a relay being energized by the end of record switch---I ASSUME ('cause I dono !) this relay should power the gripper motor, and that the contacts on that relay failed. If not those contacts, something like a Triac on down the line has failed ?? Ron Rich

Thank you clones and Ron! I will look into this tomorrow probably and report back with my findings.

Well folks, Just for giggles I switched the relays from the old power PC board (that I had replaced along with the board) with the relays on the new PC board. It started working... until the next time I turned it on. Now it’s back to normal. And it seems the click is coming from the amplifier. I will look into it a little further and report back.

Hi Pianoman,
Just guessing, but to me this would indicate a "poor connection" somewhere--possibly on the board connector, you replaced, or a "dirty" relay "socket", or the relay itself. It is not un-common for all relays used in one position to have one, or more, of the same contacts "dirty". This is common for any contact switching "24vac", more often then any other type "power"--Didja clean the relay contacts ?? Ron Rich

Thanks for your reply Ron! Today I took the plastic covers off of the relays and sprayed everything with contact cleaner. When I reinstalled them it was working great. Again, after a restart it stopped working. I will look into it further.

Hi Man,
IMHO, "spraying contact cleaner" on relays is wrong--Using a "Plastic safe-Safety solvent" is fine,
and should be done, if any "foreign substance" is on them, but after that, they should be dressed with a burnishing tool, and properly adjusted. Ron Rich