My Troubled Motorola

Hello,

I purchased this machine when my Grundig had to be repaired. Was an estate and belonged to a man who used to own a television repair shop. Hopefully this means that not too much is ailing. But it is giving me grief in the phonograph department.

Here is what is going on with it:

I add a record an turn the dial to reject to begin playing it. The machine will process all the way through and just when it sets down upon the album it abruptly shuts itself off, with the arm still lying on there. It was doing this when I bought it and hasn't ever performed this function properly.

The records play just fine at all speeds. The sound is excellent.

The second problem it has with the record changer is that it will not eject itself at the end of the album. It was doing this most of the time but now has quit entirely.

The radio is wonderful, it has the usual AM, FM, & FM Stereo options. No shortwave on this model. I opened up the back of it and found two tube still in their boxes: RCA 12A7A and Raytheon 6QB5 EL84.

Can you help me find what's wrong and fix it? This is a Motorola Stereophonic SK40M-1

Thank you very much,

Jennifer

Just to add this, that it will cycle off more often than not while playing 33 1/3 but never with a 78. If this makes any difference.

Jennifer

Without knowing what this changer looks like I would guess that the changer tripping mechanism is sticking, but then most of the changer probably needs a good cleaning and lubrication. You can tell by pulling the changer and looking underneath. Most likely you will find that the grease has hardened and is now dragging the mechanism. This is the most common problem with vintage changers. As for it shutting off when setting down on a record check to see if the shut off trip lever located under the overarm (the one that holds the records steady) moves freely. This too may be stuck. Again, I'm giving you general advice because I don't know what this unit looks like and the levers and trippers are located in various places on various machines. Check the archives here, they may be of some help.

Thom

Thanks Thom for replying. I have watched from below while the record changer is cycling and shutting off. I think I will need to remove it from the cabinet and observe it more closely. I was going to do an archive search but didn't know enough of what I need to be searching!

Just got my replacement cassette for the Grundig today so perhaps it will be back and I can take the time to remove the phonograph on the Motorola and see what is happening. One things for sure, you gotta observe quickly because it's over in a heartbeat.

Jennifer

To slow things down set the speed selector on the slowest speed or even better, leave the unit off and turn the turntable by hand while using the reject selector.

Thom

The trip slide is probably bent. It performs BOTH functions.

V-M used the same parts to perform four different functions:

- Trip the changer at the end of the record.
- Work the reject function.
- Cause the power switch to turn off after the last record.
- Place the machine in manual operation.

When the overarm drops after the last record drops, a delay stop prevents the shutoff lever from turning until the pickup arm swings in to set down on the last record. Then, the arm return lever keeps the shutoff lever from turning. This delays the shutoff, so the last record plays.

At the start of the next change cycle, the shutoff lever turns, and lifts the trip slide up. As the change cycle ends, the trip slide hits the on-off switch lever and flips it off. Because the trip slide is still raised while the overarm is down, the trip finger will miss the trip slide tab, and turning the power on will place the changer in manual mode.

There are two ways to damage the trip slide:

1. Raise the overarm when the arm is near the end of the record in manual mode. The trip finger is on the wrong side of the trip slide tab, and starting a change cycle with REJECT can bend the trip slide.

2. Trying to keep the control knob in the ON position when the changer is trying to shut it off can bend the trip slide.

The bad news is that, if the main part of the trip slide is bent (as opposed to just the tab), it is almost impossible to bend the trip slide back in a way that makes the changer trip reliably. The trip slide binds and makes the stylus jump.

Another possibility is that the shutoff lever is not fully returning to its normal position. This keeps the trip slide raised, which causes power to shut off, and prevents end-of-record trip (but not reject). The return spring might be weak or disconnected, or the shutoff lever might be stuck with dirt or congealed grease.