AMI Continental 2 selector button help

[vice108]

Hello,

I have an AMI Continental 2 from around 1961.  Lately I’ve noticed that the selector buttons don’t pop back out after making a selection. As a result the subsequent song selections get screwed up.  If you push another button in the same row the original will pop back out but then the button you just pressed stays depressed.  If I lower the front panel where you can see the backside of the selector buttons I can push what looks like a plunger of some sort that causes all of the buttons to reset as they should be.  I assume this plunger is supposed to cycle on it’s own and is failing to do so.  Is there anything in particular that tends to go bad or something I should try?  Not sure if it’s that plunger itself or wiring or what to check.  I can provide pictures if that would be helpful.

Thanks,

Bill in Maine

[jukenorman]

Hi Bill,
You will find details of the latch bar including how to adjust it in the manual beginning om page SSS-7.
Norman.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Bill,
From what you have written, I would suspect that this is not an "adjustment problem" ! I would suspect some foreign object is stopping the linkage from operating properly. Turn the power off-- press down on two buttons, and watch what happens when power is restored --- Ron Rich

[vice108]

Gentlemen thanks for the suggestions.  I checked the manual per Normans instructions.  It says that the latch solenoid should be “pulled in” by default until a credit is established.  In my case the solenoid doesn’t seem to be operating at all so it just stays out which means the buttons don’t spring back unless I manually move the latch.  My machine is set up so that it doesn’t require coins to operate.  You just turn it on, make a selection and then the selection buttons would always spring back.  

I also followed Ron’s suggestion and made selections with the power off to see what would happen when I turned the power back on.  It would just immediately play the selected song but the latch solenoid showed no movement or any indication that it was trying to do anything.  Everything moves very easily by hand and there’s no sign of obstructions.  I should also note that the “ push button release switch” on the far left of the selector panel doesn’t work either.  Although as far as I can remember it never did anything the past either.

suggestions of where to go from here?  I’m assuming one of the electrical  components is bad?  

[jukenorman]

Hi Bill,
If you look at page SSS-5 in the manual, you will see the latch relay on the button bank. When you have credit (or free play), that relay should pull in - so when you switch your jukebox on, you should see that relay energise. Does that happen? Assuming it does, when a selection is made, that relay should drop out and then come in again, can you see that happen? FYI the latch relay operates the latch solenoid, when the relay is energised, the solenoid is de-energised and vice versa.
Norman.

[vice108]

Thanks for helping Norman. No, the latch never goes in at all nor is there any noise or any indication that it’s trying to go in. It will move in freely if I push it in though and then all of the buttons spring back out as they should.

I’m guessing something is bad whether it be the relay or solenoid or something else? There’s also an associated fuse that looks fine and I tried a different one also just to eliminate that simple fix. Any advice moving forward?

Thank you

[jukenorman]

Hi Bill,
I am a little bit confused here - when you say "latch" above, do you mean latch solenoid? If you look again at the picture on page SSS-5, you will see that there is both a latch solenoid and a latch relay. It is clear that the latch solenoid (which is what releases the buttons) isn't operating when it should but is the latch relay (which is what operates the latch solenoid), as referred in my previous post?

Norman.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Bill,
One can not always tell if a fuse is good or not with human eyes-- You need to test the fuse, or in this case, both fuses with a meter. Were they both the correct size and type ? I suspect the contacts on the control relay have failed-- if you do not know how to service them, I suggest you read our FAQ's section post on Contacts and the one on switches too ! Ron Rich

[vice108]

Mar 16, 2021 21:58:04 GMT jukenorman said:

Hi Bill,
I am a little bit confused here - when you say "latch" above, do you mean latch solenoid? If you look again at the picture on page SSS-5, you will see that there is both a latch solenoid and a latch relay. It is clear that the latch solenoid (which is what releases the buttons) isn't operating when it should but is the latch relay (which is what operates the latch solenoid), as referred in my previous post?

Norman.

Yes, when I said latch I was referring to the latch solenoid.  It never moves or makes any indication that it’s trying to move.  There are no obstructions and I can easily move it by hand to release the buttons.  What should I be looking for in order to tell if the latch relay is working?  One thing for sure is that those old fashioned resistors get pretty hot!  Thanks for the help.

[vice108]

Mar 16, 2021 23:10:19 GMT Ron Rich said:

Hi Bill,
One can not always tell if a fuse is good or not with human eyes-- You need to test the fuse, or in this case, both fuses with a meter. Were they both the correct size and type ? I suspect the contacts on the control relay have failed-- if you do not know how to service them, I suggest you read our FAQ's section post on Contacts and the one on switches too ! Ron Rich

Thanks Ron Rich.  I’ll check out that section of the FAQ this weekend.  When you say the contacts on the “control relay” are you referring to the latch relay?  

[Ron Rich]

Yes--

[jukenorman]

Hi Bill,
There are two sets of contacts on the latch relay both closed when the relay is not energised or the jukebox switched off (normally closed, NC). When the relay energises, the contacts will open. As Ron says, clean them. If a depressed button gets released when you turn on the jukebox, then you will know that you have been successful.
Norman.

[vice108]

Norman and Ron thank you both so much!! Cleaning the contacts worked! I can’t tell you how happy I am. 🙌

Its working like it’s 1962!

[Ron Rich]

Do NOT tell it that !!-- Glad it's working--enjoy your music ! Ron Rich

[vice108]

Mar 20, 2021 21:47:10 GMT Ron Rich said:

Do NOT tell it that !!-- Glad it's working--enjoy your music ! Ron Rich

Lol!  Good idea.