Wurlitzer 2800 Free Play Not Working

Hello Everyone,

I want to start off by saying I totally am a newbie to Jukebox's but not to the audio world, that said I do have the service manual and the schematics for the unit.

I inherited this jukebox (Wurlitzer 2800) from a friend who moved over sea's and while he said it was working he cut the speakers out... Anyways that not my issue today, for some reason the Free play has stopped working. After i got the speakers replaced it played one song then stopped dead, now I can’t select anything.

I think it have some thing to do with missing coin mech that was jumpered and It popped out so I put it back where I thought it was but I’m really not sure. I've been over the schematics and manual with they all assume you have the coin mech so not much help.

I’ve attached some pictures of the jumper wire and free play switch so I would really appreciate any advice to get this working.

Thanks!

Mike

Hi Mike,
Your post is some what confusing--What, exactly are you calling the "missing coin mech" ? Are you missing the "slug rejector", is the "Playrak" still there ? One thing all "newbies" seem to forget --Jukeboxes were designed to MAKE
money, NOT play for "free".
On the photo, it appears that you have a plug inserted in the coin mech socket--is this a "jumper", or do the wires go somewhere ?
On the photo of the "switch"--that's definitely NOT, a "free play switch" ! That's the (robotics) motor control switch.
If my memory is correct, the 2800 series had a "test" (free play) switch on the keyboard.
Ron Rich

Hi Ron,

Thanks for the Quick Reply!

There is no Coin Mech at all. The coin slot drops directly into the chassis which is concerning. Where the Coin Mech should connect there is a jumper which is literally just a piece on the wire jammed in there.

I did locate the free play switch behind the keyboard but it had no effect (which i why i thought it where something else). What I found when poking around was I if i bumped the pre set solenoid and then the select light came on. I did it a few times and each time I pushed down the pre set solenoid I could select one song then the light went out.

So guess now I have a few more questions: Do I have a faulty solenoid that i need to replace? or the fact the pre set solenoid need to be manually set indicate another issue? What about the switch on the keyboard doing nothing? thoughts?

Should I locate a coin mech and restore it all back to original? and/or can I keep it bypassed some how and have it in perpetual free mode because while i agree it designed to make money but i would like not have to put money in it to play the records

Cheers,
Mike

Hi Mike,
You have a 2800 with a "pre-set solenoid" ? I may be mistaken, but I thought they eliminated that after the 2700. Perhaps you have an early production unit, or someone swapped it ? Anyway, IMHO, the "pre-set" arrangement was a PIA ! ( it was strictly an "anti cheat" circuit, that was added in the 2700 series).
I doubt the solenoid itself is bad, I suspect it's a "typical WurliTzer keyboard problem".
Try the following--softly-- push the pre set plunger into the solenoid--I suspect that you will "feel power" as it enters, and it will, "lock in" at some point. Let me know what happens --
Ron Rich

Hi Ron,

Yes I'm sure about the Pre Set Solenoid. you are correct about setting the Solenoid. as you gently press you "feel power" and then is locks in, once that happens the Selection light come on and you can do one selection. I've take a couple of pictures behind the keyboard,



Cheers,
Mike

Hi Mike,
OK,your problem is in one of the contact points that are "normally closed" (with out power on), operated by the pre-set plunger. Do you know how to "service" contacts ? If so, do so, or if not, ask--
Ron Rich

HI Ron,

I would love some pointers, i don't want to screw it up

Regards,
Mike

Hi Ron,

I have ordered in a couple of cans of contact cleaner with a hog brush's, one can is straight contact cleaner, the other can is with a silicon additive (I was thinking for the selector contacts and mech)

Any tips, anything I need to be careful of when spraying and cleaning the contacts?

Cheers,
Mike

Hi Mike,
My thoughts on contacts are posted above as a "sticky" (informational) topic---(Please read ALL "stickies")
I would throw the silicone one away, before even using it once !
Ron Rich