USC-1 curved upper grill

[fbody]

Hi all!  I purchased a Seeburg USC-1 about a week ago, and am in the process of getting it in working order.  One thing that has been giving me a problem is the upper grill on the cabinet has a foam insulation behind it that has dry-rotted and likes to rain crumbs down on the lid and mechanism when it is open.   Also, I believe there is supposed to be a plastic diffuser between the lid and the upper grill, and I am missing this piece. 

I have been unable to find a referense to the diffuser in the service/parts manual, I don't see much reference to parts related to the cabinet at all!

So I guess the opening questions are, is there an easy way to remove that upper mesh screen to clean out the debris? ...and do I just need to make my own diffuser?  Thanks in advance for any input.  I just have the manuals right now, I will be hopefully ordering some of the "guides" shortly.

[Ron Rich]

Hi George,
If you are speaking of the formed plastic (purple) diffuser that fills the space between the lid and the curved grill--rotza ruck--that went NLA in 1971. I can gar-un-tee you it is shown in the parts book. If you happen to have a USC-2 book, it was re-designed, and has another number, which does fit the -1--slightly different "purple" color. As for the "foam"--yep--you will need to find a source, or replace it with something else. If by "guides" you are speaking of the two I wrote--contact me off list at: [e-mail]. No need to pay ePay prices ! Ron Rich

[fbody]

Thanks Ron. It looks like I may have an issue with my "parts catalog"...it doesn't seem to exist in my bound manual .   The cover of the bound reprint I purchased indicates a parts catalog as well as service manual on the cover, ...but there is no indication of the No 497778 parts catalog inside... just some parts lists after the sections.  I even wonder if my manual is complete. 

Anyway, does the original repair manual give a breakdown of how to remove components such as the Digital Electronic Selector from the upper grill?  It looks like there are blind screws on the bottom, as if the entire spring loaded shell needs to come off to get to them !  Please advise.

I will contact you(Ron) directly for the mech book once I get my factory documentation in order

Thank you

[paradisecs]

When I tore my USC down and painted everything, including the grill, I replaced the layer behind the mesh grill with fiberglass screen for screen doors. One of my other USC units had the same thing and it worked well.

Taking apart the lid is pretty easy but the detailed parts list for the USC-2 is a must. I had to get the service manual, the parts list manual, and the electronic parts list manual all three manuals are sold separately (and have copyrights). With those you can see everything and then be specific when asking Ron questions  .    I have both of Ron's guides as well as a few others and they are full of knowledge not available in the factory stuff.

Stephen

[Ron Rich]

Hi George,
IF, you purchased that manual from one of the sources listed in our FAQ's section, contact the seller, and see what he says. IF he won't "make it right", please post it there, so no one else gets "taken" ! If you purchased it on ePay, you should have the protection plan, and you should contact them to enforce it !
As for the DES-- No--the parts manual shows a pretty good description--but no advise, of this nature. Early USC-1's had 2 "blind screws" on the bottom holding this unit. Later versions corrected this, with (about) a 2 " stand-off screw". The early versions are a "bitch" to remove--but it can be done--- Look at the top two screws holding the "white plastic"-- I would advise you not to "work on" the DES until after, you have read the two pages in my "MicroLog Trouble Shooting Guide". Also--the "white plastic" will probably be brittle, at this time, so exercise great care here !
Ron Rich

[Ron Rich]

George,
Information such as this is included in the"Information and Operation" manual to some degree--not the "service Manual", which is why I suggested what I did in our FAQ's section-- Ron Rich

[fbody]

Thanks for the responses guys, ...the plot thickens.  I have an original "installation & operation" manual that came with the unit.  My service manual (not from a vendor listed in the FAQ, bought it earlier) also included an installation & operation manual, which is different from mine, same part number, but it has at additional info and illustrations.  One being the existence of the lid relief lever, which was not illustrated in my manual and gives me an idea of how to separate the grill without "total disassembly".  The main reason I wanted to know how remove the DES at this point was to remove the mesh screen.

Anyway... what was that "foam" layer behind the screen for, anyway, ...vibration damping? heat shielding?

Thanks again.

[Ron Rich]

Hi George,
Very often Seeburg "updated", or revised manuals, during a production run--the "one with more info" normally had a note on the cover stating "Issue 2"-
That "Krap" behind the screen, was damping so nothing "rattled"-- real thin, open cell, "weatherstripping" material. Same stuff was used around the horns--self stick, this time, for the same purpose--
I have never removed that screen-- nor did I ever go on the cabinet line when they were assembling that model--so I have no idea as to what's need to remove it--let me know, what you find-please --
Ron Rich

[fbody]

Sorry for the delay, I did manage to remove the screen from the upper grill.   It definitely seemed more difficult and fiddly than it needed to be, considering how accessible most of the machine is.  I pretty much loosened up all the screws on both of the curved support struts, then supported the weight of the panel that the amp mounts to, than cocked the assembly just enough to wiggle out the wire mesh past the supports.  (sideways). 

[Ron Rich]

Hi George,
OK--what didja find to stop the rattle ?? (Or is that a "work in progress"? --LOL)
Ron Rich

[fbody]

Definitely a work in progress Ron, although the grill is back together. I put a layer of electrical tape around the the perimeter of the grill, where the remains of the old adhesive was. The machine has a few rattles, and I'm replacing the open cell weatherstripping everywhere else. If I have to add some damping later I can go through the tweeter openings, the Seeburg plaque, or something thin on the edges. I just wanted to be able to thoroughly clean the grill and stop it raining down debris.

George