seeburg ss160

well i am a nube so bear with me on the lingo boys. I have a 1967 seeburg mod ss160. I noticed the last time we tried to play the unit that when a selection was made the player would not "track" move from left to right at all. After some inspection i have determined that the arm that picks up the 45 and delivers it to the playing unit is stuck in the down possession with a 45 beside it, preventing the unit to move. what am looking for? Do i have to destroy the 45 to free the arm. Is a release to return the arm to the up possession. Am i missing something here? Will the leaf switch at the bottom of the unit (back side) below the records activate this arm? Thanks for any help.

Well, you may have BIG problems, or you may be able to resolve the problem easily. From what you say, I am assuming----
What has happened is, somehow, the record has slipped by the (record) Transfer Arm, and the arm has lodged in the center hole of the record.
If this is the case, you MAY be able to cut the record and work it out carefully. At that point, look to see if the record is extra thin, or if something like a loose label may have caused this to happen. Also look at the "fingers" of the transfer arm, to see if one, or more has been bent. If none of he above is the cause, you will need to align the arm to the record rack as per the Service Manual. If there is a "bent finger" it can be corrected--very carefully with "long nose plyers". You will also need to look and see if the arm is "twisted". If all looks "OK", try it--if not , you may need to replace, and re-align the arm as per the Manual. Also, check the turntable to record rack alignment, as per the manual.
Good luck ! Ron Rich

I'm kinda nubie myself. Would it be possible to turn the motor backwards by hand to unjam it? Naturally unplug the power first.

I would advise against that, as usually what has happened is the "fingers" of the lift arm, have "jammed", and will get bent, if forced--- Ron Rich