LPC 1 selects but won't play

Hi,

I'm looking for some guidance with my 1963 Seeburg LPC-1. It worked pretty good until recently. It now will only make a selection but then stops running once the record has been clamped in position. I have to then manually eject it from the back or use the trip lever. My best guess so far is to get a cap kit replacement for the auto speed unit.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chad

Hi Chad,
Most likely your "guess" is 95% correct--however there are a few other things besides the caps in the AS, that could be the problem. Correct oil, is the next thing I would look at -- Ron Rich

Thanks Ron. I'm from Winnipeg, Canada but I have my jukebox at the lake about 90 minutes from home.... I only recently purchased it from a friend so I'm still learning my way around it. At the motor I'm able to thumb the drive quite freely. The moving parts seem to move with ease. Would you still recommend oiling it?
It's just odd that it worked fine a few days ago and then just stopped playing records. That's why i figured it was a cap. Could it be the double cap by the motor. That's another spot I thought could have caused the problem.

Thanks again for your help.
C

Hi Chad,
Sounds as if it's the 4 uf oil filled cap in the AS--but, yes--that phono, as all Seeburgs, should be oiled with 20 wt. ND oil as per the lube chart, every 6 months ! Ron Rich

Thanks Ron. I really need to to get a proper service, troubleshooting and parts manual. The one I have is for the LPC 480. It sounds like they are similar but would really like to get the LPC 1. I would assume there would be differences in the 2 jukebox manuals.
Could you point me in the right direction to order/buy parts? I'm having a tough time sourcing parts. It also doesn't help that I don't have the parts list for the LPC 1.
I've updated my profile. I'm new to this website. Please let me know if I'm still missing anything in my profile.
Thanks,
Chad Sperber

Hi Chad,
The 480 manuals are, in most cases identical to the LPC-1 Manuals. The only differences will be some slight differences in the APU due to the Album Scan Unit, which was not used in the LPC-1. The I and O manual will also have these same differences. If you wish to purchase a "correct manual package", see the post above in this section titled "New-used parts--books----". Cabinet parts, are very different, of course, but the mechanical/electronic parts are the same, except for very minor differences.
If looking for the oil filled cap in the 45TASU-1, try your local "Granger"--they stock it .

Hi Ron,
Correction, the manual I have is for a 1967 Spectra LS1. I have this jukebox as well but it's in storage and is in pretty rough shape. I bought some 3in1 motor oil (sae20) and with lubricate LPC-1 when out again. You had mentioned to oil it. I'm going to oil all moving parts. Are there any ones that I should pay close attention to that will help with my problem? I'm also bringing out a 4uf/370v or comparable cap.
Can you tell me exactly what the metal can above the motor is? I didn't get any pictures and I'm hoping to find a part for this. I can't seem to get any reference for it. I thought it was a run cap for the motor. Is this correct?

Thanks,
C

Hi Chad,
The LS-1 is quite different form the LPC-1 in it's selection, and mechanism run design. Yes--the cap above the motor is the motor run cap--
You can test it by removing a record from the rack, selecting that slot, and slowly pulling the clamp arm out, You will hear the AS relay relax, and the turntable will turn, if that cap is good.
That cap is the same on both the LS-, and the LPC models. If you are new to Seeburgs and wish to understand the differences in mechanisms over the years, I have written the "Seeburg Mechanism Guide", in which I attempted to cover that totally ( PM me to purchase, if you'd like).
My advise on the Lubriplate, is to throw the container of it away ! (covered in the Mech Guide also--)--If, you wash the mech, I recommend using a graphite based lube in its place AFTER, you remove all traces of anything else, otherwise just use the oil in the "grease" spots. Ron Rich

Hi Ron,
Some great pointers....I will give that test a try on the run cap. I read some of your earlier posts about lubricants and thought I saw somewhere where you recommended the 3in1 motor oil. Would Zoom be any better or worse?
I am new to the jukebox world. My wife and kids just love the machine so I hope desperately to get it going again. I'm also new to this chat thing and I would be interested in the Seeburg mechanism guide but not great at navigating this site to find the PM. I'll keep looking for it.

Ron, Thanks again for your continued help. I'm gaining valuable knowledge of my LPC-1.

Chad

Ron Rich wrote:Hi Chad,
The LS-1 is quite different form the LPC-1 in it's selection, and mechanism run design. Yes--the cap above the motor is the motor run cap--
You can test it by removing a record from the rack, selecting that slot, and slowly pulling the clamp arm out, You will hear the AS relay relax, and the turntable will turn, if that cap is good.
That cap is the same on both the LS-, and the LPC models. If you are new to Seeburgs and wish to understand the differences in mechanisms over the years, I have written the "Seeburg Mechanism Guide", in which I attempted to cover that totally ( PM me to purchase, if you'd like).
My advise on the Lubriplate, is to throw the container of it away ! (covered in the Mech Guide also--)--If, you wash the mech, I recommend using a graphite based lube in its place AFTER, you remove all traces of anything else, otherwise just use the oil in the "grease" spots. Ron Rich

I second that advice on Lubriplate!
But I'm not so thrilled about graphite lube, either.
I always hated that stuff, and it tends to "dry out" and get messy.
I've mentioned about lubricating sliding parts with SuperLube w/teflon, and I really like the way it works on gears, sliding assemblies, and for packing ball bearings.
The stuff is slippery as hell, and makes things function perfectly for decades - without attracting dirt or gumming up.
And all you really need is a smear on contacting parts.
Mechanical assemblies I've lubed with it back in 1992 are still like new with no wear.
A 1965 Rockola I restored back then is still rockin' on.
Harbor Freight, among other hardware joints, has it for a cheap $7 a tube, and it goes a long way.

Hi Matt,
Yea--I agree--graphite can dry-out, and be messy--a DROP of it, goes a loooooong way ! --and if/when dry, a drop of 20 wt.will re-constitute it.
Ron Rich

Thanks. I will get the proper lubricant. I'm also going to spend some time on the various contacts and properly clean them. I found another issue that was there from the start. The mech continues to travel back and forth until a selection is made. This also sounds like a contact issue. The mechanism was pretty dirty with dust buildup from the existing oil/grease. I have a feeling this could be causing some of the grief. I'm also reluctant to start throwing parts at this until I'm better able to pin point the problem. It's a little difficult with no troubleshooting manual but I was able to take a look at a Seeburg LPC 480 manual online. It's helped to narrow the possible problem/s. I did purchase the 4mfd/400vac capacitor though as it was pretty inexpensive.
I sure hope the problem isn't with the motor capacitor (0.75/1.65mfd 400vac). It's pretty expensive and harder to source, at least from my end.

Chad

Ron Rich wrote:Hi Matt,
Yea--I agree--graphite can dry-out, and be messy--a DROP of it, goes a loooooong way ! --and if/when dry, a drop of 20 wt.will re-constitute it.
Ron Rich

That's just it, Ronnie.... the SuperLube stuff is synthetic grease - it **never** dries out, or needs "help" years later.
And the fact that it contains slippery Teflon molecules adds to its performance.
25 years later, the sliding tape guides in my VCR are still like the day I overhaulled it with SuperLube.
I love the stuff!

Chad,
I guess I was not clear enough--If you do the test I explained above and the mech motor turns--It is about a 90 % positive factor that the 45TASU is having problems, with the oil filled cap--BUT--other things within the AS can be bad also--If the motor does NOT run, chances are the motor itself, and/or the mechanism is in need of proper lubrication--try the following--Heat the motor with a hair drier --get it nice and warm--then scan the mechanism several times prior to selecting a record--if it now moves at all, with a 45 rpm mounted, it IS a "lubrication problem" ! Ron Rich

Matt,
"Teflon" in brass bearings is a "no-no", as it plugs up the oil path through the bearings.
Guess we will havta agree to dis-agree here-- Ron Rich