Rock-Ola 490-1

I have soldered before but not under such pressure. What function does the battery perform? Thanks for your help!

Make sure you use rosin core solder, not acid core, type solder !
All memory functions are held with batt. power when phonograph is switched off.
Ron Rich

About the unlit +26v lamp on the power supply. On both my 490 and 494, that lamp is not lit and both machines work fine. Possibly they're notorious for burning out but that seems unlikely since all the others are on continuously and still work. I've wondered about that, but haven't spent time looking into things that DO work on them. Also, have you checked the micro switches / cam? Even if all else is right, mis-adjustment of the cam will keep things from working right. There is info on adjustments in the service manual an here on this forum
Patrick

Hi All,
On some power supplies (don't recall if Rowe, or RO), the LED is part of the circuit. If the LED "burns out", you loose that voltage. This does not appear to be the case here--just meter it and see--
Ron Rich

As far as replacing the battery, all the batteries I looked at come uncharged. I can't seem to find a battery that is ready to go like a traditional AA battery. What to do??

Yes--all Ni-cads are sold un-charged. You must install it, and leave it powered up for a minimum of 12 hours-- Ron Rich

Battery in and charged. I noticed that the coin acceptor thing is not wired at all. Will the unit work without that part in the circuit? Can I bypass the unit somehow?

What, are you calling "the coin acceptor thing" ? The words "Coin Acceptor" are the Coin Acceptor Company's trade marked name (aka "CoinCo") for the mechanical device that processes coins. Another company, National Rejectors, inc. also produced a similar device--Both brands were often called "slug rejectors", or "coin acceptors"--neither had any "wires" going TO them--both channeled the coins to the coin switches, that did have wires to them. Without a "slug rejector", and the coin switches, it would be impossible for you to add credits, and play the phono--unless there is a "free pay switch" or you can set the computer on "free play". Ron Rich

My service manual , page 6 shows the coin switch adjustment contraption. One page of the wiring diagram shows the coin switch cable connecting to the coin switch thing. I have play set to 99 so coins are not needed. So, all that said, if I have my unit set for non-coin play(99) do I need to worry about the coin mechanism wiring?

Nope
Ron Rich

Not able to get mechanism to work. Tried system test, page 9 of manual. Here are results:
skips 0,1,2 and sits at test 3
Test 3 cycles thru all numbers, then lights pass
Test 4-keyboard entries show on display
Test5-get 0 then 2 then pass
Test 6-get a 4
Test 7 reads pass
Test 8 fail
Test 9 shows option switches

I can get the index mechanism to rotate the assembly by depressing the micro switch near the opto led, figure 3 in the indexing adjustment, page 4 of adjustments.

The carriage will rotate if you manually click that micro switch, rotating until the roller drops back into the notch.I just checked one of mine. Looking at that same manual, (Form # 864, Part # 55009), have you checked the first adjustment on Page 1 "Micro Switch and Cam Adjustment"? If that cam's not right, nothing will work right. If it looks like it's in the right place and your connections are good, you might test the micro switches per the topic at the top of this forum.
Patrick

I did check and the #1 micro switch is in the cam groove. Can anyone venture a guess as to why when I type in a selection, the selection number shows up for a few seconds and then goes out. Also, when I do the system tests, tests 1 and 2 (play selections) are bypassed completely.

Your selection number should appear briefly while you enter it and the "your selection" lamp underneath lights. After a couple seconds, it goes out. The next thing on the center of the display would be the selection now playing if there was one. Sounds like your S2 controller is doing its thing. Take a look at everything else in this thread. Good luck.
Patrick

from all the info in the thread, it appears microswitches are the only thing left for me to address. any suggestions on where to start? Will power always come to the mechanism power board or is it only on demand?