Selector Assembly/ Search Unit

Sooo. been since before the winter that I have been out to the garage to play around with my R-80. Since I have owned it t has had issues with selecting the right song. While it did weird things here and there, I got it to the point where it would almost consistently pick the right song or the location right next to it.

Now I go out to play around with it and it it doing a whole myriad of weird things with 0 consistency at all. The only thing it is doing consistently is not working right .

Here's what I am running into.

Selector Assembly - Sometimes making a selection works as intended. Rarely.

--The first letter bank is working pretty well. Buttons are latching but not releasing all the time. I will have to press other buttons slightly to get the stuck one to kick out.
-- The second letter bank (L-Z) is pretty much not working. Buttons are pressed but the solenoid is charging and kicking them immediately right back out. If I can get them to register they most likely will get stuck down.
-- Number buttons seem to be working fine but not always releasing.

I end up having to make more selections to get the buttons to finally release. Which leads me to how things on the search unit are reacting.

Search Unit -

--The search unit seems to have kind of a "hiccuping" going on for lack of a better term. It seems to be sticking while rotating. I posted a video of it here.
http://youtu.be/K0_2cUkeJQs

I don't remember it doing that before.
-- A lot of times it will spin endlessly until I make a few more selections. Then will work.
--Obviously it is not making the correct selections. Ever.
-- The juke is playing whatever the heck it wants and seems to pick 3 or 4 songs when even just one selection is made. Also seems to be playing a lot of the same songs (locations) at random.

Hope this all makes sense. I have been reading the manual to get a better idea of how the process works from selection to getting the record onto the turntable but any advice from those with the know how is always appreciated.

My goal is to get the system to pick the right song, every time by the time my yearly 4th of July party comes along. Nothing is a bigger bummer then people coming over, seeing the jukebox and not being able to pick a song they want to hear!!

I don't have the service data on those but those E-M Rowe machines are all pretty similar.

What you describe is typical of a machine that was never thoroughly washed and rebuilt.

The stop switch hopping in your vid is most often either tarnished ring traces, or failing stop switch (micro) on that assembly.

The gummy keyboard is just that -dirty and sticky. This also accounts for faulty selections -along with other factors such as dirty circuit traces and worn chase wipers in the search unit and pitted contacts on the relays there and in the keyboard.

So if possible, do the following:

1) Remove and wash the keyboard assembly. I use diluted floor stripper in this case 50/50water-stripper. Ron Rich suggests diluted ammonia. In either case, it is best to remove the latchbar solenoid and rinse thoroughly in warm water and blow dry as quickly as possible. I use an electrolux vac with a clean hose on blower for this purpose. Then apply a drop of oil on all metal sliding surfaces ---but not contacts--.

The search unit can be washed also but simple cleaning of the traces and relay contacts will probably do. Same with the stopping switch.

Once you have things clean and dry, you can start testing. First test the selection system with the search unit off the mechanism but plugged-in. This will allow you to determine what it's status is.

At any point remove the stopping switch unit and test the microswitches using an analog meter. A low voltage bulb and battery are good for this purpose too. The idea is to have solid contact with no "bounce" IOW: the meter or bulb should not flicker once you press the switch actuator-just steady on or off.

This machine probably has a 5mfd capacitor on the keyboard assembly near the relays. This determines the length of pin punch when the search unit finds the active traces.

Check the contacts of all relays for pitting and be sure there is a slight wiping action ( slight overtravel).

--Do NOT adjust anything in the search unit other then relay contacts unless you have the proper doc's.

What service info do you have?

I do have the MM-2 and some earlier service data I can scan and send you. The adjustment protocols are essentially the same on all the E-M machines from that era. This site is skittish about posting so-called copyrighted material (eventhough none of this ever was reserved) so if you need it, P-M me.

These machines are quite simple but require a thorough go-over after some many years and being in public places.
Rob/NYC

Hello nline24,

After looking at your video of your search unit and stop plate assembly, I have sent you a PM with what I think the problem may be and how I think you should address it.

Please let us know the outcome.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man

Wow. That's a lot of great information. Definitely appreciated.

I have the manual and I feel I am going to need it to reference and figure out what you guys are talking about.

I will definitely keep you updated and post my results as I go along.

Thanks again for the help.