Phonoland

I hope some one can clarify this adjustment for me. The service manual reads, to make this adjustment, the mechanism must be in the stand-by position with the gripper over the record magazine. That statement makes sense to me and is easily done. The next step reads, "Rotate the knurled end of the gripper motor shaft clockwise until a jam occurs". That's my confusion and where I need clarification. When I do that, it moves the gripper arm away from the magazine and over to the turntable, as if to place a record onto the turntable. Is that correct? I want to make sure this is the correct position to make the adjustment before moving onto additional troubleshooting and adjustments. THANX

RO books can be a little "weird" --usually the point will be clarified later on in the instructions--
(One book say to adjust a screw by "unloosing" it !)
Why do you think you need to "adjust" those switches ? "MicroSwitches" should never need re-adjustment, and in most cases if they do, they are faulty, and must be replaced. Ron Rich

Ron,
Thanx for responding. I had to remove the entire gripper housing assembly because it was "frozen" up. Old oil had dried up and "glued" the assembly where it wouldn't move. I removed the switch assembly and cam when doing that. I had used a sharpie to mark these before removal. I inadvertantly wiped one of the marks off while cleaning. Upon reassembly I adjusted the cam when the gripper was "jammed" while in position at the turntable (turning the gripper motor clockwise). That didn't work. So I did the adjustment by turning the gripper motor counter clockwise, jamming it over the magazine. That didn't work either. I think the first way was correct and there is another problem somewhere. Naturally, I don't want to continue to figure out what's wrong until I'm sure this adjustment is correct. Do you know which position is correct?

No, I would need the book in this case also--but, in general, a MicroSwitch is adjusted to "click" at 3/4 ths up, or down a "ramp".
Ron Rich

Still stuck on this one. Has any one out there made this adjustment? Possibly someone with a similar mechanism could manually turn the gripper motor CW to a jam and see if microswitch #1 roller is at the lowest point on the cam? If it is, is the gripper arm over the magazine or at the turntable.

Thanx for trying.

I have a rockola #414 that I have had to set the
Cam and switches to their original home positions.

When I turn the knurled knob on the gripper motor
Clockwise til it jams, the gripper is over the record
Magazine, microswitch #1 is seated in the deepest
Part of the cam well. I believe this is "home" position.

Just to be clear, because your turning a knob that's
Upside down/ underneath the motor, it should be turned
As if you were tightening a screw


George

Thanx for the reply George. That's completely opposite of what I thought. That's why I had asked. I viewed the knurled end of the motor while laying down, looking up at it. Turning it CW moved the gripper over to the turntable. I will set it up this weekend and continue to trouble shoot the other problems. At least I won't be confused by a misadjusted cam.

Thanx again!

Many thanx George. That worked perfectly. Along with Ron's comment about how to adjust it 3/4 till it clicks, I'm back in business. Onto the next adjustment. The needle touches down on the record about a 1/4" in from the lead in groove. I'm about to read up on that procedure next.

Thanx again!

Select a "normal size record"--6 and 7/8 plus minus 1/8, and set the needle down half way between the records edge, and the start of the music groove.
This is always a "compromise" on any phonograph.
Ron Rich

Thanx for the info everybody! I read the manual and along with everyones suggestions, I have it adjusted and working properly.

Thanx to Doghouse for posting the lube chart for Rockola's. I'll be finishing the cleaning and lubing now. Thanx to Ron for adding those other critical places not on the lube chart. I can attest to what Ron says about using the wrong lube. My gripper was "glued" tight from previous tech's using what ever was handy.

My girl friend was so impressed with this machine (now that it's working), she made room for it in our living room. Naturally, most of the 45's put in it are now her choice. The better news is that makes a void in the family room where the 468 was being tinkered with. I'm moving in a Rowe JBM to that spot. I rebuilt the amp last year and love the sweet sound the tube amp provides. This one only needs some TLC. Was in a smokey location and smells to high heaven.

Updates to follow!