Gripper Motor Replacement

[johnlivo]

My Gripper Motor on my 1958 Rockola Jukebox (Model 1458) has a serious issue.


This machine probably sat for years, and then someone probably tried to run it with no repairs after all those years, and I am wondering if it damaged the Gripper Motor, because after opening up the motor I found that it would seem the bronze bearing in it had perhaps swelled from overheating or something, so that it will barely turn in it's raceway. 


Both the bearing and raceway were cleaned, and there is no old hardened lube that is causing this issue. My impression too is that the bearing is permanently fixed to the axle that it turns on, and therefore cannot be replaced?

If so, I think I need to replace the whole motor? I went on Ebay and found a Rockola Gripper Motor for a 454 Rockola that looks similar to mine, but which of course was made many years after mine, so I wonder if it could be a good replacement or not?

Is there any way of knowing which years used the exact same motor? Because if I have more than 1958 motors to search from, I think my chances are better of finding a good replacement for it. 

Or does anyone else have a handle on where I might look for a replacement gripper motor?

Thanks as always guys and gals!

John

[Ron Rich]

John,
SLOW down--you are putting too many posts here, too fast----board can't organize them-I just got this one-- I assume you figured out that that bearing was pressed into the housing and should not have stuck to the shaft ? If you have not already done so, remove the bearing form the shaft, clean the inside of it--and the shaft, replace that bearing in the metal end housing --use some epoxy to hold it if needed--do NOT block the oil hole with epoxy !! I don't know which motors are interchangeable --RO used bot PM and FC type motors as gripper motors-- those are NOT drectly interchangeable. Ron Rich

[johnlivo]

So, I removed both the Gripper Motor and the motor for the Record Magazine. Both were frozen or near frozen with old lube, but now seem to be turning very freely.

I need to re-install them now into the machine. I made marks to show me where the Gripper Motor goes, but this wasn't possible for the other motor.

I assume when I install them again though that they need to be snug, but not so tight that things don't move?? No big gap between the gears, but just touching each other all the way around?

John

[Ron Rich]

H John,
There should be a slight amount of space between the motor drive gear and the driven gear--also, use graphite grease on those gears.
Ron Rich

[johnlivo]

Got you, thanks Ron!

John

[johnlivo]

While my gripper motor was still removed, today I replaced the three important micro switches that work in conjunction with the gripper motor and complete gripper system. One was clearly bad, and I didn't want to take a chance of them throwing off the whole machine and even causing some damage. It was rather a pain to have to do so much soldering work inside the machine, but it feels really good to have them done.

And so at last I think I am now about ready to power up my Jukebox for the first time. I have one more micro switch to check out and and lots of things to put back in the jukebox that I have removed till now, but that won't take me too long!

It's been a long road, but worth it. Thanks everyone!

John in Portland, OR