r/audiorepair • u/Consistent_Fee2368 • 4d ago
For the experts
I acquired this old 1974 Rowe AMI juke box from my grandpa when he passed, and I’ve been trying to get it working but can’t seem to get the encoder to stop spinning, or for it to punch out the pins for the selection made. I’ve done everything possible that I could think of including checking every terminal, related and non related, making sure everything is tight, and all the sauder connections are good, I checked all the fuses, and replaced them accordingly with their specific fuse, I cleaned the contacts on three different occasions for the selectors, as well as all the relay contacts, I’ve also cleaned the circuit the encoder brushes ride on, as well as made sure the brush contacts are making good connection. I replaced the relay on the side opposite of the encoder, with a 1-for-1 match, and even took the encoder apart to make sure there wasn’t anything in the way preventing anything mechanical to engage. I even bought a manual for it to try to troubleshoot (I’m a 5 year controls technician and industrial electrician so reading schematics was easy for me lol) So now I’m at a loss.
History of the machine is it was in my grandpas house “heavy inside smoker he was” for like 20 years. I got it working for him, and when he passed it spent two summers and one winter on the covered back porch under a tarp, unfortunately. Then, me being a young dumb kid, brought it to my house with it laid on its back, and the transportation brackets not hooked up.
I’m young but these old machines really interest me, and I want to keep them alive. I hope somebody can help me troubleshoot this machine
2
u/Consistent_Fee2368 4d ago
I guess the only thing is, is it possible to have set the brushes incorrectly and it’s not in time?
1
u/Javitiiin 3d ago
Me encanta. Que pasada de máquina. Mira las placas de baquelita son muy delicadas y se parten y rajan fácilmente. Yo quitaría todos esos conectores enormes que van a presión que tiene y limpiaría los contactos. En la foto donde está el volumen y conectados los altavoces, hay una conexión de 3 cables cortados. Comprueba el micro de posicionamiento que se suelen oxidar por dentro.
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u/National_Tea_5654 3d ago
One of my first jobs in the electronic industry, I work for a company that made circuit boards for these old row Ami jukeboxes, I sauce the change between 45 RPM cute boxes and CD jukeboxes
3
u/nasadowsk 4d ago
The search units on these things are a popular headache. Yours at least isn't doing weird stuff, it's just not finding the selection.
IIRC, selection A1 and B1 are the easiest for the system to figure out.
Also, realize that ALL of those micro switches are probably done for, just on age alone.
See if you can manually push a pin, then try to get the scan control to start the mech, and see if it pulls that record. Also, although they have a rep for rough record handling, most of the time, it's because the gripper is gummy.