AMI/Rowe Diplomat Jan 200

My AMI/Rowe Diplomat will not return a record to the carousel. It will retrieve one, play it, and attempt to return it, but it drops the record onto the turntable before it can return it. Any suggestions? The manual does not tell how to troubleshoot it.

This is typical of a gummy gripper-trunnion gear assembly.

The mechanism at the base of the gripper bow (what lifts the record) has gotten gummed up either from dirt or dried oil.

Make note of how it is assembled and remove it, take what will easily come off it and soak the whole thing in either a diluted floor stripper, or a fairly strong mix of dishwashing soap in warm water. Work the gripper bow and the small pilot that holds the record against the outer clamp in and out while soaking to work out the old oil and gunk.

That area is not supposed to be oiled.

If you are unsure about removing the assembly, there is a cheat that involves dribbling a light oil into that assembly to free up and flush out the old oil. This is not the proper way to go about it, but for home use it probably will get it going again.

Rob/NYC

Guys,
There is a much simpler, faster way to "repair " this--it will work only if the gripper has NOT been oiled or greased !
Remove any record, and select that slot. Using the service switch stop the gripper as the bow is straight up. Push on the spring loaded center shaft quickly about 25 times, letting it snap back--once it comes back "with a bang", push/pull on the outer section ( that's connected to the bow itself) a few times.
Start motor holding tone arm and push tone arm in to activate the cancel switch. Re-install the removed record, and play the "heck" out of it--it should now be OK, till you let it "sit" again-- Ron Rich

It's a greasy, gummy mess. I was surprised how easily it was removed. It's soaking now.

OK--do NOT re-grease--remove all of it, and then clean it with food grade, silicone. Spray it onto a clean rag and wipe down all parts--
Should last "forever", when done this way----
Ron Rich

O boy

So everything is cleaned and replaced in as close to original position as I know (based on pictures, video, etc.). Granted, there is probably some detail I am overlooking. Because - the situation now is that the carousel will not turn. It seems that the cam and trunnion gears are not engaging with the gear just below it. Rather, they touch, but are not turning in sync. I assume this is due to some problem lining those up when I placed it back together, but I do not know how to correct this issue. When the service control is flipped to the off position, the turn table turns without the tone arm in the resting position. There are strange things happening, but I assume because it all works together, one issue has throw the entire system off. I actually removed the arm assembly and tested the carousel, and it turns fine.

Ok, after some effort I've unearthed my original service data for these old Rowe's.

Here is a scan of the trunnion re-installation line drawing:

http://s1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa3 ... union1.jpg

http://s1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa3 ... union2.jpg

There are more scans of AMI/Rowe on the main page: http://s1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/Rob-NYC/

Rob

It's time to concede that I'm in way over my head. I set everything up exactly (or as close as I can get to) as the manual I have (same as those scans) shows. Now, nothing lines up.

Ron, we cleaned it and worked it a few times to get it going good, and once it was back together CORRECTLY (oops), it works like a charm. Thanks for all the input, guys.

Glad you "got-it" ! Ron Rich

Hi Guys!

I am new to this forum any help would be great!

i have got an Ami Rowe Ti2 with the same problem and i want to clean it as advised but how do i get the unit out?

Can you please re post the scans as i could not get them downloaded

Thanks!!

James Gold

Hi James,
They download for me ? --they are copies of the 1100 model service manual, which you can purchase from Germany--see "Used/new parts/books--"post above.
Ron Rich

Hi James,

Welcome to the forum.

Stripping down the gripper is an easy job.

First locate the two 1/4AF 4BA machine screws (one older 1100 mechanisms they can be Philips screws) that are in the flanges either side of the main mechanism casting. You do not have to complete remove these just enough to remove the two pegs that form the pivot point on each side of the trunnion casting.
Once these pegs/pins (sadly they are not listed in most of the manuals) have been removed you can pull out the assembly.
Note what way the Cam gear is around in its rest positon, if this is out 180 degrees this is why the gripper bow gear get stuck.
Now strip the gripper bow assembly completely and wash all the parts in warm water and washing up liquid, use a toothbrush to get any dirt or oil out of the gears.
Dry off completely and check the parts for any wear or breakage, the parts to check for wear are the Cam Gear (400-05013), Trunnion Gear (300-05122), Follower Cam (201-10815, note if this hasn't already been turned around put it back on with the good face nearest to the inner shoe), Roller (200-12537) check for flat spots on the roller,

Check the gripper bow (full name Transfer Arm & Hub Assembly 301-05197) to make sure the two flanges are not broken, if they are the grpper bow will not turn correctly to go back into the mechanism.

Reassemble after putting some high melting point grease in the two ends of the trunnion casting, refit the Pawl Lever and Shaft Assembly (201-12532). Now put the spring back onto the shaft of the Inner Shoe (201-10808) and put it through the trunnion casting the correct way is obvious because of the pawl lever and roller. Put the cam follower onto the inner shoe and tighten up the lock nut.

Put on the cam gear and trunnion gear and put back into the mechanism, the 2 pegs/pins will be harder to put back in because of the gease in the trunnion sockets, make sureyou agline the holes in the pegs to be in line with the retention screws.


Regards
Alan
Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

james gold wrote:Hi Guys!
I am new to this forum any help would be great!
i have got an Ami Rowe Ti2 with the same problem and i want to clean it as advised but how do i get the unit out?
Can you please re post the scans as i could not get them downloaded
Thanks!!
James Gold

Hi James, these may be a help:
http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/Rob-N ... ort=2&o=16
http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/Rob-N ... ort=2&o=15

To blow them up, hover the mouse pointer on piv and click the 4th gray "button.

To download just look at the "Option" heading on the lower right.

There are more Rowe/AMI pages on my Photobucket if you are willing to plow through it:
http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/Rob-N ... t=3&page=1

Rob/NYC

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the help, i will download them at the weekend as where i am at the connection is very slow

Regards James