Another problem child, an AMI Rhapsody

Just picked up another 70s juke and after the record selects and the tone arm moves to the record, it will not play the record, it basically just stays where the tone arm starts on the outside edge. When I move the tone arm over a bit to the grooves of the record, it still won't play, just moves backwards towards the starting edge. I'm guessing this is a tone arm adjustment issue? Any ideas?

Thanks,

David

Hell David,

The Rhapsody is the 1974 Rowe Ami TI-2 Rhapsody. It has the glass front and sides showing an abstract pattern of blue, orange & yellow colours with a matching blue keyboard trim.
This jukebox was IMHO one of the best Rowe Ami jukboxes the mechanism sites between the two ported bass bins and the mid/high range speakers mounted mid way up he cabinet gives it a fantastic sound.

The main issue with this jukebox (same with TI-1) is the poor design of the two L shaped arms that make up the sides of the lift up title door. These usually crack across the casting at its weekest point. The result of the casting breaking was not helped by collectors or site owners slaming down the door.

The way to close these if the castings are intact is to push the door slightly backwards before the lock engages with your hands about 9 inches from each end of the front edge of the door.

Down to your problem.

Check the tone arm cables for catching anywhere and set up the tone arm adjustments as per any of the 1100/1200 manuals.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Thank you for responding, I will check for the tone arm adjustments. Do you know if this jukebox can be set up for free play and can I add external outdoor speakers to it?

Thanks,

David

David, yes you can connect external speakers. They can be either4-8-16 ohm or 70v. What amp is in there?

As for free play, it is easy enough to do, but as in other machines it does cause the latch solenoid to remain energized with the potential of over heating.

On the tonearm adjustments; it is important not to just "fiddle" with them. If the arm is not lowering onto the record, there are several possible causes.

1) Lift cam not properly adjusted or can not reaching its full travel.

2) Lift flange on tonearm assembly not properly set. This is the semi-circular tail piece that gets lifted by the "lever that rides on the cam. This can be tricky because it is adjusted by bending that piece. Do not deal with this unless everything else checks out normal.

3) I have seen two instances where the tonearm lift lever actually wears a notch in the cam causing it to not lift the lever enough to free the tonearm. This often goes unnoticed till someone sees the pickup hitting the gripper bow and they then over bend the adjustment.

Those arms often still have the 'no record reject" contacts. And some idiot may have turned the screw down too far and caused it to hold the tonearm above the record.

If you don't have the full setup instructions for the tonearm assembly, I can scan them in when I get back later.

FWIW: The TI-2 was the first machine I placed on location 30 years ago. I agree with Alan, this was one of Rowe's best designs mechanically, electronically, and aesthetically.

Rob/NYC

Hello David,

Free play on jukeboxes was one of the things that Rowe Ami did not put into some of their manuals being the jukebox was a money making machine!

Free play can be switched on the R-74 & R-80 by one of the premimum priced switches it is one of the ones at one end or the other on the switch bank, With the TI-1 & TI-2 I am sure this is not possible. A way round this would be by wiring up an additional credit button on the outside of the the jukebox.

With regards to speakers especially outside I would use 70 volt line speakers, this would allow you to run long lengths of cable the speakers (ideally waterproof) which would have a 70 volt speaker transformer in them set to the wattage you require, typical is usually 1/2 watt to 4 or 5 watts with tappings in between, you can however get these up to 30 watts.

Regards
Alan

Thanks again for the info, I d have the service manual so I will follow the instructions on how to adjust the tone arm assembly. The jukebox was playing just fine when I went to pick it up and bring it home. I had to drive @ 80 miles to bring it back home so I guess the ride may have jarred the one arm out of range/adjustment. It is actually selecting the record and the tone arm is moving correctly to the outside starting position of the record, it just does not advance and play, basically just staying in place. If I manually move the tone arm forward a bit to a point it should be playing the record, it just backs back up to the starting edge area of the record.

I've adjusted the tone arm to the best of my abilities according to the service manual but still it will not advance forward in the record, it just stays in place. If I manually advance the tone arm forward, it just slides back to the starting edge of the record backwards. Could the position of the cartridge be bent out of shape left or right or pivoting up and down?

Ok I think I may gave found the problem. The small spot weld that holds the cartridge to the small bracket that the screws to the tone arm was very loose and now has broken. Can someone tell me where I can buy a new cartridge/stylus assembly that includes the attached bracket? I will include some pics a little later.

Thanks,

David

David, the original cart looks like this:

http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/Rob-N ... sort=3&o=0

http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/Rob-N ... sort=3&o=1

There was no bracket, just a plastic shell. Chances are that cart has been replaced.

Rowe used a Shure M44. I replaced them in my machines because I had a dealer account with Pickering. At this point I'd recommend a Shure as the styli are plentiful.

Rob/NYC

Here are the pics of the tone arm and the cartridge that was in the juke.

New cartridge, works like a charm now and sounds awesome!

Thanks guys!