Phonoland

Duane,
"belt assembly--" what model phono is this ?? A R-91 has no "belt assembly", other than the one that holds the records in place ? I guess that's what you are speaking of ?? If your basket has that much "play"in it, that's your gear problem---read the assembly directions for the record basket in the service manual-- there is a way to set the correct amount of "play".
Ron Rich

Ron, looking at the manual right now and see no reference to the amount of "play" in the magazine. other than to limit the amount of "end play" which is not the issue. The magazine actually moves too far INWARD, placing the magazine gear INSIDE of the primary gear, not the other way around. If there is a way to limit the amount of INWARD play, please reference a page number if you have it. And yes, by "belt assembly" I mean the belt that holds the records in place. The magazine has way too much play with regard to its distance from the primary gear that turns it. I cannot find anything in the manual regarding how to set this.

Hi Duane,
Sorry, it's been well over 30 years since I took one of the 45 rpm baskets off to replace a damaged one--have replaced at least 100 of the early CD types, but can not recall how they were attached to the post that spins with the basket ? Is the post moving, that distance, or is the basket sliding on the post ?? Ron Rich

Basket slides inward on the post. It's hard to see in the photo above, but there is a gap between the two sets of gears on the motor. The magazine shifts inward far enough that its gear fits into that gap and thus the basket will not turn when the primary gear does. Here is a pic from another angle with the magazine pulled out where it should be. You can see how dirty the gears are. Would LOVE to get the magazine off of there to clean everything.



However, I am reluctant to remove the basket because of how the opti switch is connected to it. (see photo below). I am concerned that I will not be able to get it back in the correct location or that I will damage something in the process. With that said, If the gears are that dirty, my guess is that the opti switch needs a good cleaning as well.

Opto is simple to remove-replace ! Follow the inst., in manual to re-adjust upon replacement ! Ron Rich

Hi Duane,

Sorry to say you should have waited for the manual to arrive, once read a few times you would have got to grips on how this mechanism operates.

To get to the Sprag Assembly (mechanism motor plate with the solenoid and sprag lever assembly) off of the mechanism, just place the mechanism on its back, remove the three 2Ba (1/4 AF) meachine screws that retain the assembly in place after removing the wires to the coil and motor.

You will find that the assembly will slide to the right past the magazine, but only just.
You can inspect the Sprag Wheel and the Stem Bushing (rubber grommets) my guess from looking at your pictures that this has been greased up, the teeth will be shot and the stem bushing will have rotted (this happens when any oil or grease comes in contact with this part of the mechanism.

Clean the mechanism gear, it needs to be clean and dry, check there is no dirt or grease in the 99 position hole in the gear, this is what the opto switch sensors and counts from.

Once you have replaced the parts you can put it back but do not fully tighten the three screws because of the slots in the mounting plate there is adjustment between three record slot locations, set it to the middle of the three slots so that the gripper bow does not touch the seporators (belt guides) or the mechanism wires. Put the merchanism back into upright position before doing this adjustment.

From your manual perform the mechanical adjustment for the opto switch after cleaning it. once it in the correct mechanical position you can do the electronic adjustments (the fine tuning as it were) again as per your manual.

Please let us know how you get on.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Allan, for the record I do have a copy of the manual now (came in last week) and have been pouring over it to figure out this issue. There is most definitely grease on those gears. Gotta love how people tend to throw grease at everything on jukes, even though ALL the manuals I have seen are very clear about where to apply lubrication.

As far as I understand it, the spraque assembly seems to be functioning properly (stops magazine when engaged). The issue seems to be centered on the gears that match up between the magazine and the motor. I am going to try to disassemble the mech today and will report back on how that goes. Wish me luck.

Ron Rich wrote:Opto is simple to remove-replace ! Follow the inst., in manual to re-adjust upon replacement ! Ron Rich

Ron, you say that the opto is "simple" to remove and replace. I must be dense as I cannot figure out how to do so. Access to all the screws holding it in place are blocked, either by the Magazine or the plate that the opto is bolted onto. My manual has info about recalibrating the opto, but NOTHING about how to access it for removal and cleaning. If you can lead me through this I would be forever thankful.



If you look at the photo above, the opto prevents the Magazine gear (which is screwed to the magazine hub) from being pull away from the motor. The only way that I can see to separate the opto from this gear would be to remove those hex screws that hold it in place. However, this is not possible due to the fact that the spokes of the magazine block access to these screws. So what I am missing here?

You are gonna wanna kick yourself in the butt after this--you can do this faster then I can type instructions ! L@@K at parts section drawing---
ONE 1/4 hex head screw, under the "adjusting knob"--remove it and the metal "tab" it holds, unplug it, and un-clip wire, if clipped, lift up on the whole assembly !
(when out --clean it with 91 % al-key-hawl---on a "Q-tip") Ron Rich

DOH! Nevermind, I feel like such a moron. I was looking at the wrong screws, not the one actually holding the opto in place. Got it.

Hehe Ron, looks like we posted at pretty much the same time. Yep,m definitely going to slap myself across the face a few times for this one.

Oh, well--great minds think alike--it just takes some time ??
Ron Rich

OK so more interesting discoveries. What I though was grease was actually part of the sprague wheel hub (what I was previously referring to as the "gear") that had actually dissentegrated into goo.



I can't find a proper full picture of this part, but pretty sure that it is not supposed to have this slot (worn into it by the gear on the magazine I presume).



It's a bit difficult to see, but there was actually viscous plastic remnants left embedded around the pins on the stem bushing.



Here's a pic of the back side of the spraque wheel and you can see where most of the four collars that surround the pins on stem bushing are gone.



those black pieces and the discoloration on the toothbrush are what is left of those collars.

So I guess it's time to order some spare parts. Anything else I should replace while I have this thing in pieces?

Hi Duane,
That's not "plastic" that you see--that is actually rubber--yep, order the whole "gear and hub assembly". It will come with 4 new rubber grommets, all assembled. Remove all traces of "lubricant" anywhere near that gear/shaft--the put ONE drop of 20 wt. ND oil, on both ends of the gear shaft--and oil the armature shaft on both ends with the same oil ( SOME motors have oil wick holes for the armature shaft ends-some do not). While you mech is out of the cabinet, you should also oil the transfer (gripper) MOTOR. It has HUGE oil wicks that should be filled with 20wt--just do not over fill them, or you WILL have oil on the records ! Do NOT--ever/never, oil or lube the gripper itself in any way !! Ron Rich

On your in/out play, problem--you never answered me--??
Is the basket itself sliding on the rod it is attached to, or is the whole rod shifting in/out ?
Ron Rich