Rock-Ola Starlet 429

[smellyoscar]

I just got a 1965 Rock-Ola 429 Starlet for $100 on craigslist. I’ve done some minor stuff, I took the whole mechanism out of the jukebox and cleaned the grabber arm. I re-oiled it and also did some general cleaning around the gears.

After putting it all back together I seem to be having problems that I think are electrical. Switching the power on with the jukebox in “operate” the turntable spins, the grabber arm sits as if it would be dropping a record on the turntable. The write-in side of the selector assembly moves and finds the selected numbers however the cage does not move and the read out side does not move. There is also no movement of the grabber arm to get the record.

I thought maybe cables were plugged in wrong but switching them around I only could get either both write in and read out working but no grabber arm or write in and grabber arm but no read out. When I did get the cage to spin during scan after messing with where it was plugged in it moved really slowly.

If you have any ideas whats wrong I’ll take any advice I can get.

[clintd]

This may sound stupid, but I had a unit with a similar problem and what had happened was the gripper Motor was plugged into the carousel motor socket and vice versa. I don't know if the earlier units had the same plugs like the later unit's (77-80) but its worth a look.


Sorry, I didn't read your whole comment before responding and realized you already tried my suggestion.

[Ron Rich]

My advice is read the "Hi Newbies" post in our FAQ's section. If you don't have one, purchase the factory Service Manual, and READ it.
From what I read here, your problem is either a jammed gripper ("grabber") assembly or a bad cam switch. The gripper problem is addressed above in the red-pinned sticky, and the switches are addressed in our FAQ's section. Ron Rich

[smellyoscar]

I've now read through the site pages. I also have a manual. Looking around the gripper assembly I noticed the part of the gears where the tone arm is moved there is a small pin that follows a groove. The pin is supposed to follow the groove however it was bent. When I manually spin the motor to put the gripper back over the magazine and switch the machine on in operate the gripper lifts up and rotates over as if to place a record but it gets caught up.
I removed the two gears that drive the gripper and disconnected the motor so I could freely move the whole assembly. Moving the gripper back and forth while it is in between the position over the magazine and placing the record it feels stiff and hard to move. I am thinking it has to do with the parts that move the tone arm.

I've got to run to a meeting right now but if you have any ideas on how to get the tone arm to stop jamming I would greatly appreciate the help. Peter F

[powerplus]

Hi I also have a 429

I cannot find my manual at the moment

Anyone got one on pdf ?

I have a problem with the selector buttons

They stay down and the fingers turn but do not select the fingers just keep running
around

If I select a record by moving a little leaver on the drum it plays that record fine

Any ideas

Barry in england

[Ron Rich]

Hi Barry,
PLEASE-- read the stickies above-- this problem is covered -- Also,Please read the "Hi Newbies" post in our FAQ's section.
Thanks, Ron Rich

[powerplus]

Hi all

Just a quick update whilst staying safe here in cold wet England

I have spent some time cleaning the contacts on the big select ring but still not selecting all the odd number records

In the end I looked at the keyboard selector switches that would be a nightmare to get to
So I decided to put some tissues under them and with the power off sprayed them with some surgical spirit also known as denatured alcohol and pressed all the keys quickly before it dripped or evaporated away

Well what a difference its perfect now and selects all the records

I also had a muffled sound on the speakers and fixed this by tightening the connectors and putting them back on the speakers

I just wish I could find a way of putting a mp3 player through the ceramic input of the amp

Keep safe

Barry

Keep safe barry

[Ron Rich]

Hi Barry,
Glad you have music ! IF, you had looked at the stickies posted, above, and in the FAQ's section,on this forum, it may have saved you some time/work ?? Ron Rich