Phonoland

Hey everyone (anyone) - so glad to find this forum. I'm new to this forum and I really appreciate any help you can offer.

I have a Wulitzer 31000 Americana. My dad bought it when I was a kid and he left it to me. It's been in storage for some time. It was pretty dirty, so I cleaned it up as much as I could. Some friends of mine has a little neighborhood bar and, after much deliberation, I decided it needed to be put to good use. Anyway - we finally got it working (if you trip a pin, it will start the rotation, it will pull up that record, and play it.) It needed new drive belts/bands and the main cam was all out of alignment from being moved. We got all that sorted out. So it will play a record if I manually trip a pin. The sound isn't really coming out, but that's secondary at this point. I can address the amp. My main problem is the selection ring.

When I make a selection, the selection ring (if I'm naming it correctly) moves, but it doesn't travel to the correct location for selection, it also doesn't make a selection, and then it moves back to a different location (other than the zero position where it started.) I've re-zeroed it, but I don't think that's the fix. It just seems to be acting erratically. I've been reading in the service manual, but I haven't made heads or tails of what to do. Does anyone have any advice / direction. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

Welcome,
Please read the information and sticky's, posted above in this section--especially "Attn Newbies"---Sorry, but I can not understand what you are saying -- Ron Rich

Let me try again - with the proper lexicon. Plus I've had a chance to test it a little more, so I have more information now.

When someone makes a selection on the keyboard selector, it will take the input (once - any subsequent entries won't take until it's cleared), When that selection is made via the keyboard selector, the "Rotating Plate" moves, and it moves so that the rocker aligns with the proper latch pin. But the the rocker doesn't actuate to trip a latch pin. I understand the reason it won't take a subsequent entry is because the first entry wasn't properly processed.

So the problem appears to be in the triggering of the rocker. But I don't know if I should focus on the junction box or something inside the changer. The service manual doesn't seem to address this directly (or maybe I just don't understand.)

Any help or direction is great appreciated. Thank you again.

The "functional schematic", addresses this, if not in text--
There is a "letter coil, circuit breaker (or MDL 8/10 fuse, if someone's changed it)"--I believe it's on the junction box, in this model---check it, as they are known to go open--If a fuse, and larger then 8/10, you can bet you have (a) blown coil(s)--- Ron Rich

On the 200 select mechanisms there are two micro switches just to the left of center on the base of the pin memory unit. When a selection is made the search motor turns the rocker plate and, simultaneously a group solenoid on the stop plate drops a vane that engages with a pip (my term) on the turning rocker plate. The stop plate assembly gets dragged to a hard stop where two screws on the stop plate casting punch two micro switches.

One of those micro switches initiates the pin punch on the memory. If that switch is faulty the motor just stays in stall mode and no pin is punched and no further selections can be made.

The other of the two micro switches makes sure the search motor reverses after a pin is punched thus releasing the solenoid vane that had engaged the stop plate.

Dirty or pitted contacts on the plug-in relays can cause this problem as well as the micro switches.

Take a look at Ron's "Contact points" and "how to check switches" posts. those should help.

Note: Proper lubrication is --important-- on these mechanisms. There is a lot of stress on the motors especially pulling down the two record lift arms.

Rob/NYC

Rob-NYC wrote:On the 200 select mechanisms there are two micro switches just to the left of center on the base of the pin memory unit. When a selection is made the search motor turns the rocker plate and, simultaneously a group solenoid on the stop plate drops a vane that engages with a pip (my term) on the turning rocker plate. The stop plate assembly gets dragged to a hard stop where two screws on the stop plate casting punch two micro switches.

One of those micro switches initiates the pin punch on the memory. If that switch is faulty the motor just stays in stall mode and no pin is punched and no further selections can be made.

The other of the two micro switches makes sure the search motor reverses after a pin is punched thus releasing the solenoid vane that had engaged the stop plate.

Dirty or pitted contacts on the plug-in relays can cause this problem as well as the micro switches.

Take a look at Ron's "Contact points" and "how to check switches" posts. those should help.

Note: Proper lubrication is --important-- on these mechanisms. There is a lot of stress on the motors especially pulling down the two record lift arms.

Rob/NYC

I'll go read those posts as soon as I get a chance. I'll post back what I find. Again - thank you for being patient with me and taking the time to respond.

Ron Rich wrote:The "functional schematic", addresses this, if not in text--
There is a "letter coil, circuit breaker (or MDL 8/10 fuse, if someone's changed it)"--I believe it's on the junction box, in this model---check it, as they are known to go open--If a fuse, and larger then 8/10, you can bet you have (a) blown coil(s)--- Ron Rich

Thank you, Ron. I'll check this when I get a chance. Between you and Rob, I hope I can figure this out. And I'll post back what I find. Again - thank you. I appreciate your patience and taking the time to respond.