problem with seeburg disco was workingish then stopped

Q&A about all types of jukeboxes: Wurlitzer, Seeburg, Rock-Ola, AMI, and more.



Topic author
iiiluckyboyiii
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Location: rockford il USA

problem with seeburg disco was workingish then stopped

by iiiluckyboyiii » Sat Oct 11, 2014 6:52 pm

OK I bought this thing off a guy who didn't know If it worked or not.. I got it home plugged it in and low and behold it worked just had to find a loose wire to get the sound to work which I did. Then it was working OK didn't want to return the 45 but that was the magnet which was mia..anyways today I plugged it in and the selector screen says playing 200 and it won't do anything I can give it credits and it acknowledges that I am and I can select different records but nothing happens just keeps saying playing 200.. also the motor? At the bottom is really really hot.. it just won't move I dunno what to do...please help!!


Ron Rich
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Re: problem with seeburg disco was workingish then stopped

by Ron Rich » Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:16 pm

Hi Luckyboy,
You'd best be "lucky"--apparently you have a model SMC-1 phonograph--If so, turn the power off now--before you read anymore ! The NIDEC brand motors "burn up", and or "seize", if left jammed for 10 or more minutes.
Once your motor has cooled down, add 20 wt. ND oil to the two oil cups--several times, prior to powering it up again.
After it has cooled down, and you have oiled it, turn the motor coupling so that the carriage moves at least one slot to the right, and re-power it up--see what it does, and let me know--If it returns to the jammed position, kill the power !
There are a couple of options at this point, including the brand new replacement MCU I build for the SMC's. PM me if you wish to purchase one.
Ron Rich


Topic author
iiiluckyboyiii
Junior Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:17 pm
Location: rockford il USA

Re: problem with seeburg disco was workingish then stopped

by iiiluckyboyiii » Sun Oct 12, 2014 1:46 am

That worked like a charm she is up and kicking again. Thank you so much I think you helped me a year ago? On my rockola 470 also you know your stuff.. do you know anything about this juke itself? I Googled it and got everything but what I was looking for like if it is worth anything or if I got a decent deal on it.. or something like that... it's a cool jukebox that's for sure..


Ron Rich
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Posts: 8196
Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 11:31 pm
Location: Millbrae (San Francisco area)CA, USA

Re: problem with seeburg disco was workingish then stopped

by Ron Rich » Sun Oct 12, 2014 6:02 pm

Hi Luckyboy,
Glad to have "helped"(twice ??) !
Unfortunately, the problem you experienced, is bound to repeat itself. It was a constant problem with the SMC's. It could be a mechanism problem ("dirty", poorly adjusted 3M-1 contacts), or a PCC interface board problem--several "updates" were done to help--but none are 100% successful, as, most likely, the problem is in the MCU.
If you had asked me my opinion of that phonograph about 6 years ago, I would have answered about the same as I wrote in my "Seeburg Mechanism Guide"--very negative ! However, since the design of the new, "Gen 2, MCU" for that phono, I think it is the "best" Seeburg ever made !
I have a "test stand" SMC, here that has been running almost 24/7 for six years--no problems have shown up since we made the final version of the main chip, exactly 4 years ago, this month ! (like I said before, PM me if you wish to purchase a new MCU)
Ron Rich


Topic author
iiiluckyboyiii
Junior Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:17 pm
Location: rockford il USA

Re: problem with seeburg disco was workingish then stopped

by iiiluckyboyiii » Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:36 am

OK I got the thing working flawlessly with a neodymium magnet.. but here is my question and maybe you can help me.. my a side is super scratchy and poppy I'm pretty sure that's a needle problem but wanted to see if you thought anything different. .


Ron Rich
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Re: problem with seeburg disco was workingish then stopped

by Ron Rich » Sun Oct 19, 2014 4:25 am

Why don't you swap the needles and answer your own question ? Ron Rich


Topic author
iiiluckyboyiii
Junior Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:17 pm
Location: rockford il USA

Re: problem with seeburg disco was workingish then stopped

by iiiluckyboyiii » Mon Oct 20, 2014 12:27 am

Duh lol apparently I'm losing it thanks that'll do it...


ken g
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Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:56 am
Location: Twin Falls Idaho USA

Re: problem with seeburg disco was workingish then stopped

by ken g » Mon Oct 20, 2014 4:06 am

I am not into replacing parts that still work like they should ...but... Ron mentions his upgrade part for those disco machines . I had to get one from him for a customers jukebox . The best thing about the part is you can run your machine on random play just like a cd player does . My customer is real happy with this upgrade part .


Ron Rich
Forum Moderator
Posts: 8196
Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 11:31 pm
Location: Millbrae (San Francisco area)CA, USA

Re: problem with seeburg disco was workingish then stopped

by Ron Rich » Mon Oct 20, 2014 4:50 pm

Hi Ken,
Glad to make your customer "Happy" !---thanks for the "plug"-- :lol:
Ron Rich

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