Phonoland

I don't recall seeing any discussion in my internet searches on someone completely disassembling a Seeburg mech down to every last piece. It looks like a pretty daunting task. Has anyone ever done it? I have two identical 160ST28 mechs. I'm thinking it "might" be interesting to re-do one from the ground up. My hands are still steady and my eyesight is good, but I'd be curious to hear from anyone who's actually done it.

-Jim

Maybe there's a paper tag behind the motor that says "abandon all hope ye who enter here"?

Funny you post this....
I just finished rebuilding my 160ST28 which I have in a USC-2 (yes I know the USC-2 should have a 160ST23 but this is what it came with). I took care of laying out all the parts and even took photos of certain sections to help. Took me a few days working a little at a time but well worth it since it was pretty gummed up.

Its not that hard, just timely and need to be very aware of how it came apart.

Guys,
I doubt there is a "screw, or nut" I have not taken off one or the other, at some time--also built a few from the ground up--
Having all the parts at hand, in the correct order, I'd bet I still could build/adjust one in 8-10 hours (excluding wiring the SA U/TMU)--
Ron Rich

Did Seeburg ever produce an exploded view of their mechs for servicing? I've only seen the info that shows the various adjustments, but not for the whole unit disassembled.

-Jim

Jim,
Some info is in most Service Manuals--other then that--parts books "explode" the mech ( and other parts).
Remember, these were designed as"commercial" machines--to MAKE money for operators, not to the "public", and rarely for "home use". . Schools were often conducted for operators, and their techs., by all manufactures--I used to "teach" some for Seeburg--
Ron Rich

We had a Seeburg factory tech who lived in Seattle and would come down here to Olympia to service our Seeburgs back in the day. His name was Nelson Fernandi and he could tear down the mech to the last screw in about ten minutes. Then he could reassemble, lube, and adjust it in about an hour. He was excellent. I've lost contact with him over the years and I think he might have passed away. He was related to actor Vic Perrin, the "Outer Limits" voice!

There is no -good- reason to take apart a mechanism unless there is no other way to effect a repair.
When you disassemble a mech the tolerances in the mounting screw holes, casting tolerances and wear mean that a full set of adjustments will be required when put back together.

I've owned 72-3 machines and rebuilt at least as many for others.. Some came from filthy conditions in restaurant and operator basements or returned from long stints in Latin America or Europe where they saw much longer service than intended.

In all that I've torn down two mechs. A Wurlitzer 2800 with broken main cam and a 2410 that had flood damage. never needed to totally disassemble a Seeburg.

To wash Seeburg mechs I remove the motor, coils and the pickup assembly. It is then sprayed with diluted floor stripper to degrease it and rinsed with -hot- water and promptly blown dry with a vac used as blower. In a few cases it was necessary to hit it again with the stripper and work certain areas with a small brush. Sometimes I have immersed the mechanism and while under water, worked it manually to help flush the bearings.

Cleanliness is essential. Beyond that once you are thoroughly familiar with these machines you get a better perspective as to what is truly necessary to restore them versus extra work and possible frustration.

Rob/NYC

Hi
Yes I have had to do this, put all the parts (Apart from the Motor and solenoid) in the dishwasher for 4 hours, put back together works like a dream and looks like new!
Ross

Hi Ross,
There must be a "Lady" in your life, at the moment ( or she's VERY "tolerant" )--4 hours in the dishwasher - ? WOW !!!
Ron Rich

Back in my aerospace days, we had a vapor degreaser that would've cleaned up a mech in short order. I believe they are pretty much on California's verboten list due to the use of trichlorethylene(TCE) as a solvent. They sure worked good on greasy stuff, tho.

-Jim