Rock-Ola 449 Problems

We Bought this Rock-Ola 449 1972 Jukebox before Xmas, We were told that before it was put away 15 years ago it was in working order.

Since then we've replaced 4 blown fuses, replaced the Selection Key Mechanism that was missing and Joined some Rat Eaten wires on the Floor of the Machine

The Selection Wheel now turns, the Relays Click and then nothing happens. The Scan/Off/Operation Switch does absolutely nothing and the Gripper appears to be in the Down Position (Playing)





Any Help getting it going would be Much Appreciated!!

Thanks, It was stupendously cheap, £300. I took a risk but It's a nice Ornament either way

Location is Inverness, Scotland, We've been looking for an Engineer and there doesn't seem to be anyone north of Glasgow that knows about them. It's not blown any fuses since we replaced them

Hopefully you have replaced them only with the correct size and type--to do otherwise, risks fire !
Do you have the service manual for this model ? if not, see above, announcement --where to find--for a list of sellers. Ron Rich

yeah we had specially order them from JukeboxParts.co.uk, they are hard to find in the u.k, No such luck with the Service Manual yet but I'll check the link, Thanks

OK--then if you can read a schematic, and check voltages, you should be able to determine were your problem(s) are--
As I see it, from what you have written, the gripper motor is not returning to it's home position. Why is the question--
Ron Rich

Yeah I think the Service Manual Might be the next step, I'll try heating up the motor with a hairdryer to try and loosen up the oil

Use caution--the records in the basket will not like the heat--at all ! Also, if not done "evenly", the "pot metal" in the gripper won't like it either ! I do not do that--at all--ever. I just "work" 20 wt. ND oil into the gripper assembly--sometimes this can take up to an hour--but it always works for me-- Ron Rich

Thanks, I was thinking of a low heat considering the amount of plastic around it but Yeah your method sounds a lot safer

Oh my god Thank you! I'll Give it a try once I can find the proper Oil. its in our living room now so anywhere between 5 and up to 30 degrees C .

Its previous Owner had it in his Outside Garage for 15 years so that's probably the cause of most of its problems

Also I'll Order the Service Manual And Hopefully find out what the problem is with the Motors, Gears Etc

Wow Your jukeboxes clearly has seen more love in a day than mine's seen in its lifetime

I doubt you will find the suggested oil available, I suggest SAE 20 wt. ND be used--also, I strongly suggest that unless you remove ALL of the "old grease", you use no grease--just a drop of the above mentioned oil--Under no circumstances, do I recommend "Aero Lubriplate" --use a graphite based grease very lightly-- Ron Rich

It'll be a big job to get all the grease out of this jukebox, All the Gears are caked in thick black grease. I'll try my best