Seeburg Selectomatic 100 Help Needed!

Jukebox works but has issues. You can plug it up and sound is horrible until it warms up. Sometimes you can bump it and speakers work better.. Thats not the big issue. You can no longer select a song it just plays one after the other inline. I tried cleaning contacts but no luck. Help! Its my dads and he cant go without it working correctly.

There were "dozens" of different Select-o-matic models made. What is the exact model number of the jukebox in question? Since you posted a generalized question, I can only answer in generalities. The Select-o-Matic series is anywhere from 50 to 60 years old now. The amplifier and receiver certainly need to be rebuilt due to age. I strongly suggest unplugging that jukebox and not using it until it has been fully serviced, adjusted, and lubricated according to the manual.

It's an HF-100R. Does that help ? Also at different times it the needle will slide down the record. Then once it skips a few it will be fine. Prolly have a couple different problems but where should I start ? I can do the work myself just need to know where to start. Thanks

I went ahead and purchased a manual on ebay but was hoping to get some help here.

First-off it sounds as though your stylus is worn to a stump. If possible provide us with a description of the cartridge on the arm. If it is original it will say "Seeburg hi-fi"_ etc and be red in color.

Take a look at this page and see if you can identify it:

http://www.needles4jukeboxes.com/seeburg_needles.htm

Beyond the stylus is the fact that this machine is now 60 years old. If it has not been thoroughly gone-over in the last 20 years, it is now in danger of destroying its amplifier due to leaking capacitors and wearing out it's mechanism due to a lack of lubrication. That is just the reality of something this old and which has seen commercial service followed by years of neglect.

You'll need to asses your abilities at basic electronic repair and (hopefully) simple mechanical rehabilitation. If you are up to it the amp can be rebuilt for well under $100 and the mechanism -may- require little more than lubrication and some contact cleaning.

My own approach has always been thorough dissassembly, washing, rebuilding of electronics and and on-bench troubleshoot before reintegration into the cabinet. This was essential when getting these old machines ready for a return to commercial service. For home use, only the amp and mech are non-avoidable, but a clean, well-functioning machine is more enjoyable.

If possible, post a few pic's of the outside and rear inside of the machine ( remove the rear panel that covers the amp and selection receiver pan). This will help us in making suggestions.

Rob/NYC

If possible, I would cancel the eBay purchase, and order a "package" from one of the suppliers listed above, as most eBay sold manuals, are poor quality, and you only get part of the "Service Manual package". I also humbly suggest that you purchase a copy of my Seeburg Mechanism Guide, as I wrote it to help explain how/what the mechanism should do when. It also explains my procedure for washing, which if followed, will stop you from doing any "damage". PM me if you wish to purchase it.
My advise, for now, would be to do nothing--Unplug it, and wait till after you have read the books ! This, once again, IMHO, will "save you" time, and possibly money, as you won't destroy anything-- ( I "fix" "lotsa stuff" which others have "just fixed" )
Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:If possible, I would cancel the eBay purchase, and order a "package" from one of the suppliers listed above, as most eBay sold manuals, are poor quality, and you only get part of the "Service Manual package". I also humbly suggest that you purchase a copy of my Seeburg Mechanism Guide, as I wrote it to help explain how/what the mechanism should do when. It also explains my procedure for washing, which if followed, will stop you from doing any "damage". PM me if you wish to purchase it.
My advise, for now, would be to do nothing--Unplug it, and wait till after you have read the books ! This, once again, IMHO, will "save you" time, and possibly money, as you won't destroy anything-- ( I "fix" "lotsa stuff" which others have "just fixed" )
Ron Rich

Crap I would have gotten it from you if I had known at the start.

Rob-NYC wrote:First-off it sounds as though your stylus is worn to a stump. If possible provide us with a description of the cartridge on the arm. If it is original it will say "Seeburg hi-fi"_ etc and be red in color.

Take a look at this page and see if you can identify it:

http://www.needles4jukeboxes.com/seeburg_needles.htm

Beyond the stylus is the fact that this machine is now 60 years old. If it has not been thoroughly gone-over in the last 20 years, it is now in danger of destroying its amplifier due to leaking capacitors and wearing out it's mechanism due to a lack of lubrication. That is just the reality of something this old and which has seen commercial service followed by years of neglect.

You'll need to asses your abilities at basic electronic repair and (hopefully) simple mechanical rehabilitation. If you are up to it the amp can be rebuilt for well under $100 and the mechanism -may- require little more than lubrication and some contact cleaning.

My own approach has always been thorough dissassembly, washing, rebuilding of electronics and and on-bench troubleshoot before reintegration into the cabinet. This was essential when getting these old machines ready for a return to commercial service. For home use, only the amp and mech are non-avoidable, but a clean, well-functioning machine is more enjoyable.

If possible, post a few pic's of the outside and rear inside of the machine ( remove the rear panel that covers the amp and selection receiver pan). This will help us in making suggestions.

Rob/NYC

Yes if memory serves me correct it says Seaburg Hifi on it. If I was betting it being my dads its pretty much original.

I don't sell any books, other the the two guides that I wrote--that's why I keep telling "newbies"to "read the stickies--".
Ron Rich

I got the manual in. It's helpful but takes some studying. I've checked and cleaned almost every contact. It still plays one record after another in line. It will not play a selection. Every seems to move correctly in the selector box. All contacts seem fine. The latch bar solenoid had both wires off so I soldered them back. It makes a humming noise time to time but it operates when you make a selection.

This has to be something simple that I'm missing.

One thing I have failed to do is remove the small cover on back to access the Selector Assembly. The way it plays one record after another in order it seems like it is not breaking ground contact like it should.

Yes-sir, you are probably going to need to remove that cover--
Had you read my Seeburg Mechanism Guide, I give the "sequence of operation" in the first few pages, and I think that you quickly might discover the S-SC contacts are causing your problem. See the service manual for more info--see above postings if you do not know how to "clean" them-- Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:Yes-sir, you are probably going to need to remove that cover--
Had you read my Seeburg Mechanism Guide, I give the "sequence of operation" in the first few pages, and I think that you quickly might discover the S-SC contacts are causing your problem. See the service manual for more info--see above postings if you do not know how to "clean" them-- Ron Rich

I took the back cover off. I found a broke wire on the front cancel solenoid. I soldered it back but the inside wire came out from the solenoid some. It still didn't help but I'm guessing the solenoid needs replaced.

The SC contact is on the front next to cam switch and the S contact is on the clamp arm switch correct ?

Just as drawn in the Service Manual--that coil wire looks "melted"--if so, S-SC timing is wrong !!
What about the other one ? Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:Just as drawn in the Service Manual--that coil wire looks "melted"--if so, S-SC timing is wrong !!
What about the other one ? Ron Rich

I can't see the other one good. I'm going to have to take it apart a little further. S contact is in a completely different spot than SC correct ? According to my manual it is. I've not even see the S contact if it is where it says it is.