Seeburg USC1 Bandshell STOPPED!

Hi everyone,

I have been asked to look at a Seeburg USC1 Musical Bandshell, but I don't know where to begin. Here's what I have been told about it:

The jukebox was working fine last week and then it just STOPPED working.

I have been told that a technician has looked at it and said that the "track" has two low points which are causing it to drop the feed and that the "track" needs to be machined level at a machine shop.

I don't understand any of that, but if you do I would be grateful for your thoughts. Is it possible that it could have been working okay one day then just stop working because of such a fault? The fault described sounds so severe and unlikely, but as I said I don't know anything about these boxes.

Keith,
I sure as heck do not have the "vegas" idea of what this "technician" is talking about---and it's my guess that he does not either--
Of course--everything works at one time, until it quits.
If you are in biz to repair these things, I would suggest that you should purchase, and read, the Seeburg I and O Manual, the Seeburg Service Manual for this model, and my two "guides" that cover this model.
PM me if you wish to purchase my guides--
Ron Rich

I'm not in the business of repairing jukeboxes, I just tinker with them as a hobby. I was asked to look at this one as a favour, but like you I don't understand what the so called technician was talking about.

If I can get any further info about the problem I will post.

I have the service manual for this model, but not the operating manual. Your two manuals sound interesting, I'll let you know on those.

Okay, so I got this Bandshell to my workshop so I can fix it for my friend.

I am going to totally ignore what the previous technician has said was the problem and start from scratch.

This is what happens:

Nothing... However, if I move the mechanism manually to the right side of the carriage (looking from the front of the jukebox), the direction relay clicks and the motor starts and the mech begins to scan left. When the mech gets to the far left side it changes direction, then dies when it gets to position 214 (as indicated on the "selection playing" display). The mech won't move again until it has changed direction at the right-hand side once more. If a selection has been made it will stop and play the record if the carriage is moving right to left (A-sides).

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Keith,
A couple of suggestions--
First, do not move the mechanism "by hand" or change directions of the mech as you can, and probably will, cause damage.
Second, Please read the Service Manual ( and I would humbly suggest my Seeburg Mechanism Guide) prior to doing anything else.
Once read, please use terms used in the manuals, so we can understand exactly what is happening.
(PM me if you wish to purchase a copy of my guide) Ron Rich

Okay, read the manual - done.

As this is a favour for a friend I can't buy any other manuals for it. If it was my jukebox I would have ALL the manuals. However, there has been some progress with the fault finding.

Earlier I said that the mech was stopping in the same place each time. Well, this is not true. The mech scans from right to left with no problem, but when it changes direction and starts to scan back it gets slow and sluggish, stopping (dying) randomly on the left to right cycle. Sometimes it will scan all the way back to the right, but not always. Also, it doesn't pick-up any selections (transfer) as previously thought.

From what I can understand from the manual and other sources I now believe the problem must be with the wiring.

I have come to this conclusion because I am getting continuity to ground on both terminals of switch S1103 and the problem doesn't go away when I disconnect the amp from the mech.

The problem I have now is that I don't know where to start looking for the problem in the mech wiring.

Any suggestions?

Keith,
I don't think so--the only differences between scanning one way or the other is the reversing switch, and the second motor.
I would assume that there is a lubrication problem causing this, as my first thought---is it properly oiled with the correct oil ?? Ron Rich

Hello Ron,

Is there a chance of a broken blade on the reversing switch?

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Hi Alan,
Anything is "possible" but I doubt it's broken, as if it were, it would not move at all, at least in one direction--
"dirty" ( pitted), mis-adjusted contact is somewhat logical here-- Ron Rich

Thanks for both your inputs.

Ron is absolutely right, I have no idea when it was last lubricated or with what oil. So, I have spent all morning cleaning out all the old oil and gunk and re-lubed with SAE20ND.

Initially this didn't solve the problem, but I then noticed that there was some sideways movement in the carriage (sideways front to back, not left to right). After seeing this and giving the carriage gentle twist everything started to work fine. It appears that the carriage was skewing when travelling left to right causing it to jam.

Next it's back to the manual to see if there is any adjustment which will prevent it from happening again.

Keith,
I have seen that happen before--check ALL of the "wheels", and the "shoe" adjustment on the left front of the tone arm cradle ( should have a max of .005 clearance--min .003, between the "shoe" and the frame), and check the upper limit stop, located up on the "selection now playing" read out sensors. Ron Rich

Okay, I think I have everything adjusted correctly on the carriage now. All the wheels are working and seem to be in good condition and the carriage is travelling along the bed okay.

The problem I have now is that the records are randomly rejecting. Sometimes almost immediately after the needle has landed, other times they will play to the end, but mostly somewhere between 1/4 and 3/4 through the record. It is totally random every time, I have timed them and it's never the same. I have checked the magnet and the cut off switch alignment, but it all looks good.

What am I missing?

Keith,
Is this electrical or mechanical in nature ?
Ron Rich

How can I tell for sure?

I think it may be electrical, as the longer the jukebox is switched on the worse it seems to get.