Rockola #414 trouble

Hi guys,
My rockola model 414 had been playing great.
I recently had the amp professionally rebuilt about
2 months ago, sound was super.. Then just tonight
This happened. Record finished, operation worked
Normal, next selection was placed on turntable and
Then no sound! Turntable spinning, needle on record.
I tried ejecting record with both the tone arm and
Reject button in back, won't eject.. Smelled some
Electrical smell and could hear a slight sizzle.
Turned off juke and am seeking advice!

Thanks, George Raven

Ps: I'm curious what would cause no sound combined
With the no eject capability?



George Raven

Hi George

Sounds like the loss of a power supply output to me.
In fact that electrical smell and sizzling you could hear would point me in the direction of a power transformer in fact (not good news )
the sizzling sound you heard, may have been a result of wax bubbling within one of the transformers which may have been running far too hot.
A pile of molten wax on any chassis close to a transformer is usually a good clue.

With the power removed and the unit unplugged follow your nose to the smell.

How competent are you with electronics ? Do you have the service manual ?

You might as a first thing, check all the fuses and circuit breakers to see if any have blown or tripped.
However be very cautious with replacing any that you may find blown. They have obviously blown for a reason.

If you are in any way unsure of what you are doing seek help from a professional repairer.

Pete

Thanks for reply Pete, I haven't been able to
Get on it yet...I've also been told to check out
Those three micro switches on the cam behind the
Gear mechanism...will give update as I forge ahead

George

George,
Install a 60 watt incandescent lamp in series with the phono line cord BEFORE you power it up again--
The lamp must NOT lite at full brilliance ! If it does, you have a serious problem, which must be located prior to using the phonograph.
This will probably require someone with "electronic skills" to trouble shoot it-- I doubt the "Microswitches" are causing this problem. Ron Rich

Hi Ron, before I read your last post I was already
Back there checking it out. I manually clicked what I
Thought would be the next microswitch in line and
The juke cycled thru as normal! I made a few selections
And it's playing great, amp sounds good.
Was just going to clean contacts, lubricate, or
Should I look into further?

Thanks, George

Hi George

Glad to hear it's working again, at least it would appear that no lasting damage was done.

I am rather concerned however about the electrical smell and sizzling sound you could hear.
As a minimum "followup" to this, I would suggest the following.

Run the jukebox for a while say play a dozen selections or so,
then shut down the machine and with the line cord unplugged, put your hands inside and feel the temperature of the various transformers.
Just to make sure that none are running excessively hot.

Pete

George,
Are you sure that you heard those sounds ? I, like Pete, am very concerned about that--
I would do all that Pete suggested, but I would first check that ALL fuses installed are the correct size and type.
Ron Rich

The electrical smell was very apparent..there's a
Chance the sizzle sound may have been the needle
On the spinning record with no power to amp?
I heard this for just a few seconds before turning power off.
I think it just jammed mid-cycle, causing a wire or switch to heat
Up. It's running smooth now with none of the transformers heating
Up. I appreciate replys and will keep an eye on it.

Thanks
Raven65

George,
I would also oil the whole phonograph with SAE 20 wt. ND oil-- be sure to oil the gripper motor, if it has the "drilled oil hole" well !
You might also want to take it's "temperature" and see if that's what "got hot", or is running hot. If so, it's time to disassemble, clean the armature, lube and re-install it.
Ron Rich