Seeburg USC1 -

I've acquired a USC1 Bandshell (gorgeous juke all lit up). It does not play. I ordered the Tony Miller / Ron Rich books to help me try to repair it. These manuals have tons of information in them and are a terrific resource, however I'm definitely not an expert in mechanical repairs (I'm more comfortable with electronics & arcade machines) and some of the info seems over my head, but I'll press forward. With the manuals, I was successful fixing the keypad (would light reset on any number prior to cleaning), removed the pricing cartridge for freeplay, but now have the major issue to deal with. The mechanism doesn't move at all. I enter the code for selection, get a "click" but no movement. I've been told that I should be able to manually turn the shaft to move the mech, but it just will not move (or maybe I'm not turning the correct shaft?) My first thought was that the motor was seized, but I hear nothing, no hum or anything. I do see a fuse on the back of the mech, it was blown, but i've replaced it. I'm guessing it needs lubrication, but didn't think it would stop me from manually moving the mech.

Some background on the machine before I got it. The guy I got it from said "it had just worked a few weeks earlier, played one last record and then just stopped" ..I'm finding that hard to believe but I suppose maybe. He brought it to my house in his pickup. I didn't think anything of it at the time as this is my first experience working with jukes and I had no idea it was a bad thing to do, but the juke was lying on its back (one of the first things I read about ...always transport upright... GREAT!). Is this hopeless or no...and if not, how difficult is it (or is it not recommended) to pull the mechanism outside of the juke to work on it? I see the instructions to remove the mech but it doesn't seem as simply as the manual suggest (connected cables and wires seem to be in the way)

Any suggestions or help are appreciated.

Thanks,

Tom

Hi Tom,
First ==thanks for buying the books !
I am real short on time--will respond further later--
Mech is no problem to remove--just un-plug the wires--they were sort of long on that model--but it will come out--
I would however suggest that it would be best to wait till after you have read the books, prior to doing anything.
Ron Rich

Hello Tom,

Welcome to the forum.
Ron is your best bet for advice with your jukebox, you have bought the books and as Ron says read them fully so you are familiar with where all the parts fit, the terms used and a background knowledge how the jukebox works.
The above will aid Ron or any other members who may be able to assist you.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Thank you Ron and Alan for the quick responses. I've read portions of all 3 books that I've received (Seeburg Black and Gray Boxes, Seeburg Microlog Jukebox Troubleshooting Guide and Ron's Seeburg Mechanism Guide) as the juke has been in my possession since last March...which is when I ordered the books. Due to life's interventions, I haven't had a chance to work on it again until now but began reading Ron's mech manual from the beginning last evening. I also do have the manual to the USC1. I'll post again when I complete my reading.

Thanks again,

Tom

Ron, I've read the three manuals I have. First, I'd like to thank you for the immense amount of information you and the late Tony Miller have provided in these books.

Second, I'm glad I started with your Microlog Troubleshooting Guide. Your humor in the Acknowledgments area eased the tension from what felt like "the daunting task ahead". Much appreciated.

Now, my intention is to go through them again before starting as I suspect things may make a little more sense the second time around after reading all three, but you mention that you strongly suggest using these in conjunction with the USC1 service manual. Would that be the "installation & operation" manual or is there another I should grab? (the installation & operation manual was actually inside the Juke when I got it)


Thanks...

Tom

Nevermind... I'm pretty sure it is not the service manual. I've ordered one from alwaysjukin..

So onto my second round of reading...

Tom

Hi Tom,
All Seeburg phono's, from at least 1958, came with some type of I & O manual, the service, and parts manuals in the machine--except sometimes they would run out of one, and in those cases, a coupon good for a free copy was in included for whatever was missing-- Ron Rich

OK, I could not get the carriage to move at all, removed the motor and it is seized (well..almost). Needed pliers to actually turn the shaft (and it makes a nice high pitched squeal when turning). I suspect it needs serious lubrication (I can certainly go pick up some SAE 20 oil). I have not disassembled the motor as of yet, but I did notice the 4 wires are brittle and chaffed where it enters the motor ..maybe even burned a little plus one has been pulled out.



Considering time/materials and future performance, Is it worth disassembling and attempting to fix or am I better off just finding a working one? Is there a source for these motors.

Also, I received the USC1 Service manual which also has the parts and I/O manuals included. It does a nice job of breaking down all the parts to each component.

Thanks,

-Tom

Tom,
Read the "motor portion" of the my Seeburg mechanism guide--I think that the motor can be saved--if not, I do have working ones for sale. Contact me off list-- Ron Rich

Well, looks like I'll need a new motor...






Two of the wires are barely hanging on, but my biggest problem is, there is no evidence as to where the blue wire actually connects to the windings. Ron, I'll be in touch

Tom,
That's the first one I've seen like that--it must have been left on-powered up for days---I have "felt them" so hot that it burned my hand--but they always ran after cleaning---
Ron Rich

Ron,

hopefully a new motor is the cure as the rest of the mech seems to be moving freely without the motor in place. thanks for the help.

Tom

Yeh that motor looks rough. Definitely seen better days.

Weren't these BODINE motors? I've heard Bodine will rebuild their old ones.

Ken,
That one is a Bodine- I am un-aware of that--if fact, I don't know if they are still in business ? Seeburg used several different brands at different times. All, except for the very last version NIDAC, are directly interchangeable--
Ron Rich

Bodine is definitely still in business:

http://www.bodine-electric.com/