Phonoland

Ok, I renovated a 1963 RockOla Rhapsody 408, and it was working great. Used it for a while, and then the record magazine basket belt broke.

Fortunately, the magazine motor did not break any of my records.

The replacement arrived from Victory Glass, and then my troubles began. I *cannot* figure out how to replace this thing.

I have memorized both the manual for the 408 and for the 418, but, other than a diagram of the magazine assembly, they say nothing about replacing the belt itself.

I am having terrible troubles with two parts of the operation:

1. I removed the middle back cover from the machine, and there are two metal belt spreader arms, each with a wheel at the top and bottom, and with a roller in the middle. Each of these has to come off, and the belt has to be threaded behind them. I managed to get the two bolts out of the bracket that holds each arm to the mech frame, but the metal arms will still not come free, they are held on by a metal piece that goes up inside the arm of the mech frame. I can't get the screws loose that hold the arm to the bracket on *either* arm on *either* side.

I did manage to get all four of the wheels loose and both of the rollers. But it is really gonna be tough to get the belt behind that lower wheel and get the wheel re-mounted on its axle, and I have to do it on both sides.

How are you supposed to deal with these 4 wheels and 2 rollers?


2. Even after I get the belt behind the 4 wheels and 2 rollers, I have a topological problem.

How do you get the belt past the "axle" of the basket, on either the front or the back, to get it in place in its notch on the ferris wheel magazine?

I can see that I could pass the belt between the tip of the gripper arm and the gripper arm rest in the back, but that doesn't help getting the belt "over" one of the ferris wheel axles, either front or back. ???????

I can't believe that this simple belt replacement procedure seems to be so complicated and hard. Am I just missing some obvious way to do this?


I'm really stuck here, so I'm counting on you guys to get me over this hump.

I think I need a big dose of Ron Rich here or something ....

Thanks,

Bill H.

Ok, I finally realized that the diagram in the Rockola 48 manual is WRONG. Amazing, no?

Diagram shows belt going all the way around the top of the basket, when in fact the belt doubles back on itself and goes back around UNDER the basket. That is why the records don't all fall out, duh.

So that took care of my #2 concern above.

Still had a heck of a time with those 4 wheels and 2 rollers. I had to knock the two lower screens out of the back of my cabinet to be able to get those lower two wheels threaded.

Never did manage to get either of the metal arms loose, did everything in place.

What a pain!


Anyway, my 408 is back in service again, sounds great! Hope that holds it for another 50 years ...


Bill H.