Continental AMI Juke Box Fault Finding

[rob1948]

Thanks Norman ! I am going to do just that and will let you know.

[rob1948]

Hi Norman,
All the best for the New Year ! I have been spending most of my time rebuilding a Conti 2 and now need to do some trouble shooting to get it working after having been in storage for nearly 30+ years. Just to report back on the Conti 1 and the transfer motor. I have fitted the motor and gearbox and lined it up as shown in the manual and all looks good and in line. Just need to switch on and now see what happens ? Will give you feedback when I stop procrastinating and switch it on.
Regarding the Conti 2. When switched on the lights and amplifier come on. But nothing happens when I push the 'Cut Off Toggle Switch' on the control box forward to the 'on' position? I think normally the 'Latch Bar Solenoid' should pull in ? When I pull the toggle switch back to rotate the Record Magazine, again nothing happens. Faulty toggle switch ? I have checked all the fuses and they are ok and sprayed all the relay contacts with Deoxit 5 equivalent(Liqui Moly Pro-Line Elektronik-Spray Made in Germany). I am also going to clean each relay contact using 'Silicon Carbide Waterproof Abrasive Paper P 600. Any other suggestions ?

Thanks Rob

[Ron Rich]

Hi Rob,
I'm not Norman-- my suggestion would be to read our FAQ's on contacts ! IMHO, NO "spray" that leaves any residue, of any kind, is appropriate for relays, or any "make-break", type contact. Also, not sure, but I don't know what that "paper" will do to silver contacts ? Ron Rich

[jukenorman]

Hi Rob,
In the Continental, the latch solenoid only energises to release the latched pushbuttons after a selection is made so I can't see why it would operate from the scan/off/on toggle switch. The magazine motor should run with the toggle switch in scan provided CS2 (cam switch) is made. It's possible that the toggle switch is faulty but much more likely to be a cam switch issue.
Norman.

[rob1948]

Hi Norman/Ron,
Thank you for your feedback. I will read the FAQs on contacts and I will check the CS2 cam switch. On my Conti 1 when I switch the toggle switch forward to the on position you can hear a relay pull in ? Not sure what relay that would be ? Thought it was the 'Latch Bar Solenoid' Thanks
Rob.

[Ron Rich]

Hi All,
If my great, but not too loooong memory is correct-- On Conti's the latch bar coil energizes briefly whenever phono power is turned on- This "clears" any pushed down keys that a little brat, may have pushed--- therefore, it MAY energize, if/when the service switch interrupts power ?
Ron Rich

[jukenorman]

Yes you do hear something drop out when you operate the service switch to off. It's not the latch solenoid but it might be the latch relay though.

Norman.

[rob1948]

Thanks Norman and Ron .

Rob

[rob1948]

Hi Ron,
I have gone through the Conti 2 Service Manual to try and find out how you put the JB on 'Free Play' ,that is if you can ? But I can't find anything ? Can the JB be switched to 'Free Play' and if so how would I do this ? Something to do with the Selector Latch Relay ? Thanks

[Ron Rich]

Hi Rob,
Go "through" our FAQ's section -- you'll find the first part of your question answered there (How a jukebox works)-- Yes, it can be done-- find the two subtract (credit) coils in the pricing unit-- open the link that binds them together in such a manner as to allow it to be easily re- connected, if wanted sometime in the future. Ron Rich

[rob1948]

Thank you Ron !!!

[rob1948]

Hi Ron, As per your posts I have have read my AMI Conti 2 Service manual and have compiled 5 pages of notes,(together with the electrical wiring diagram)following in sequence the operation of the JB from switch on to the stage when the record is placed back into the record magazine. As you have said this is the only way to effectively 'trouble shoot' and it is certainly helping me. However I think I have a 'frozen' gripper arm and I have read your post on how to 'unfreeze 'it and I am busy with that process.
BUT, if you could please confirm, I have disconnected the transfer motor crank link from the gripper arm mechanism and with this done, I should be able to manually move the gripper arm through its cycle placing a record on the TT and manually returning it back over the record magazine? The mechanism is solid and cannot be moved which confirms that the gripper bow has frozen ?? The gripper arm lifts approximately + 1/4" off the outer shoe support which tells me nothing else in the mechanism has seized? I am regularly beading the gripper bow with Q10 PENETRATING OIL SPRAY. You did say that you have come across maybe 100 frozen mechanisms and have never had to remove one to fix it? Could there be a mechanical failure inside the mechanism which would need me to remove the entire gripper mechanism ?
Thanks Rob

[jukenorman]

Hi Rob,
In the past, I have had to strip a gripper assy because it was seized. I suspect that a bit of grit or something similar had found its way in there somehow. I was able to dress up the area that was binding (file, emery paper), reassembled, lubed and all was fine!

Norman.

[rob1948]

Thanks Norman,
I think I am going to have to remove the gripper assy, strip it, fix the problem and re assemble as you have done. The penetrating oil is not having any effect, there must be something inside the mechanism that has jammed. Thanks for your reply.

Rob

[rob1948]

Hi Norman,
I am going to have to remove the gripper assembly. To get to the two allen screws holding the assembly in place I would assume I need to unplug and remove the search unit(is that correct?). The search unit selector gear shaft at the back of the search unit has a crank arm fitted with a plastic extension that engages with the crank arm pin on the pin pusher shaft?(is that correct?). Is there any thing else I need to be aware of when removing and replacing the search unit ? Like don't turn the selector gear or the pin pusher selector arm ? Thanks