496 wont reject

[albert]

just bought a 496 david rockola and I started putting it together. I changed battery, replaced bad carousel motor, cleaned contacts to the 7 segment led displays to where I can read them even though some segments are out. have yet reprogrammed computer but can select one play at a time. cleaned gripper and everything works great except it wont eject either when record finishes or pressing reject button in the back. I switch to off and manually turn gripper to move record to carousel and listen for the microswitch to click to its detent position. turn it back on and carousel quietly moves to its detent position. I moved the record to a dozen different positions. gave it one credit and punched in the number to it. it grabbed the record perfectly, played it but when done wont reject, neither will button on back allow it to reject. when I push the button it kills amp as it should but wont eject. in middle of play pushing button amp cuts out when I press it but amp comes back on while record is still on plate and continues to play. Is that turntable controller with those relays suspect???  anything will help.  thanks guys

[Ron Rich]

Al,
You had better HOPE the phono NEVER "Ejects" a record--causes a big mess when they all pile up somewhere !
As to "REJECT", or "cancel", at records end, if muting the amp ( sounds as if that's what you are saying) you will need to look at the schematic and see what is supposed to start the motor at that time -- ? Mute relay contacts, do it on Seeburg products--but I don't know on RO's ?? Ron Rich

[albert]

yes Ron, I meant reject... does not mute when tone arm comes to the end, just spins at the end of the record and doesn't do anything. only when I push the reject button in the back it will mute in the middle of a song but record keeps playing. sound comes back on when I let the reject button go. I'm looking for a contact on the tonearm that adjusts for reject position but cant find one.

[albert]

the manuals for these 496-1-2 and the 498's are very limited. gives you some topical information and no more. the board (just a square disc with metal etching on it) that handles the no record cut-off is the same board that handles the reject switching. The pin that adjusts for tonearm height and the no record scenario hits the metal pad that is connected to one black wire that goes back into the controller, grounds it and starts the reject process. on the same board there is a bead, like a bead of solder so that same adjustment screw touches at end of play and again starts the reject process. In all three scenarios, no record, end of play reject and pushing the manual reject in the back I hear a nice click coming from a relay somewhere, amp cuts off as it should but no movement of the gripper motor??? I'm going to clean all contacts on the plugs and change out the motor relay board. (which I have). again gripper motor works fine in the loading and placement of record and plays it fine.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Albert,
If it mutes from the rear switch, I would assume that the relay you hear "clicking" has a dirty set of contacts on it-- I am not sure on that model, and don't have the docs, but I am assuming it's the same as all RockOla's were- the reject switch has don it's job, if the audio mutes when it's pushed ?? Ron Rich

[albert]

yes Ron as I said I believe every scenario is working properly except the last step, that is reversing the gripper motor to pick up and replace record. when I screw it by hand and move the gripper that way, it gets to the end, releases the record to carousel and when microswitch clicks, carousel spins to its detent position and stops awaiting next play request. will get back to you on this one.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Albert,
My guess is contacts on the mute relay or, contacts in the plug going to that motor ?? If you are not sure how to clean/adjust contacts, see our FAQ's section-- Ron Rich

[albert]

My gripper motor has 2 wires +24vdc. I assume when it is set to "cancel" the voltage gets reversed to a -24vdc through a relay on the small control board. This should reverse the gripper motor and put record back. It all works in association with the microswitches attached to Cam on gripper gear. This is not happening. I can insert my tester probes into the molex plug to the gripper and when it loads a selection (any selection) I get 24vdc until record is released. Then voltage goes to zero. I'm guessing but I think a relay is not switching voltage to the -24vdc to reverse the process of the gripper motor. I'm thinking maybe a wire is crossed on one of the micro switches or I have two bad control boards? both of which do the exact same thing. Previous owner bent contacts on the microswitches. I have since installed all new and get it to play great. just no "cancel"  Al

[Ron Rich]

H Al,
Well, if someone has put "Molex(brand)" plugs on it, I dono what would happen as RockOla used the other (A-MP), brand for most of their stuff-- Does this model still have the "locking relays" in the can under the mechanism shelf ? That's where the motor reversing takes place. Check that they are working and the contacts on the relays are good--- Ron Rich

[albert]

im sorry ron, by molex I mean simple 2 prong plastic plugs that snap in. all original here. the plug itself measures +24 volt when loading a record..  need it to switch to -24vdc when canceling. need a simple answer from a rockola guy.  like I said maybe wires reversed n a micro switch or bad control board. I will send a pic of board.

[Ron Rich]

Al,
Do you have the schematic ? I don't know RockOla's of this vintage, at all-- need to follow the schematic to the power source for the motor --
Ron Rich

[albert]

I have multiple schematics that came in the big envelope. nothing like I got with my rowe/ami's. I would love to get wiring diagrams

this unit I was told is hard to get.

[albert]

here is a pic of the control mechanism.  Hopefully someone can set me in the right direction.  All contacts clean, not getting negative voltage to gripper motor. need to check color coded wires to the two microswitches.

[albert]

everything fixed, microswitch had wires reversed. thank goodness I took pictures of wiring before taking it apart. saw a wired part for sale with wires attached. reversed wires to proper set points and now it cancels with no problems and plays great. thanks all.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Albert,
Funny, how those wires "switched themselves"--ain't it--glad it's fizzed !! Enjoy your music ! Ron Rich