259B stepper restoration

[viperz]

I cleaned all three gears that I have with alcohol, then filled the cracks with superglue. Waited for glue to dry, then carefully sanded the shaft portion with 100 grit sandpaper. Now the plastic shaft fits into metal frame very well. It rotates with no catching, I can easily rotate the shaft with 2 fingers. Didn't want to sand further to avoid the shaft from being too loose.
Will clean everything again, and try to reassemble.
One issue is that I cannot test the stepper since I don't have 5225 or 5225B wallbox.

In the other news, I have 257 stepper in the mail. I do have a jukebox and a wallbox for that one. But that will be a different restoration and a different thread.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Eugen,
I think you're OK- however I am not sure what "superglue" is, nor how it will react, when the metal swells ? Also not understanding why you're fixing a stepper you can't use, or test ??  Ron Rich

[viperz]

Ron, I have a jukebox for this stepper (Wurlitzer 3010), stepper was cheap, so I bought it. One day I'll buy the wallbox. Not to mention that I actually bought two of these 259B steppers, and traded one for 257 stepper for my 1900 jukebox . It is a long and elaborate plan.

Superglue has zero expansion property, so all we can do is see how the assembly will perform in the long term. I may do a little more sanding before reassembly tonight or tomorrow night, but everything was moving smoothly by hand yesterday evening.

[Ron Rich]

Eugen,
LOL- I sure HOPE your "plan, works out well" !
As for the superglue not expanding-- probably correct-- but that metal still will, which may dis-lodge the super glue, or more split of the "plastic shaft" ? --- Ron Rich

[viperz]

Ron, I hope that after 54 years it won't expand anymore, that's all I can do at this time I sanded all three shafts a little bit more, they are rotating very well now. Will try to find some time tonight to clean the metal assemblies and reinstall at least gears and springs. I took a ton of photos on gear and spider contact positions, but that may be a PITA to get from the first try.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Eugen,
Coodbe?? But I tried EVERYTHING, in the 60's to "fix" the Seeburg gears-- they just kept splitting in another spot-- That's why the black colored non-formed on aluminum were supplied--
As for a PITA-- I thunk you are correct- at least there will be a "learning curve" --LOL ! Ron Rich

[viperz]

Ok, I got the springs installed on all 3 assemblies, and metal sleeves on the other side of the shafts. I guess I will not apply loctite to the set screws for the metal sleeves until spider contacts are installed and matched to the contact rings on the other side. Little steps.

photos.app.goo.gl/XBBbYwsFbeNddDxG6

I have not seen any replacement gears for sale unfortunately.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Eugen,
The gears I refereed to were, as is stated, from, SEEBURG, not WurliTzer-- Ron Rich

[viperz]

Ron, I get it, but if the steppers were not made by Wurlitzer or Seeburg, but rather Guardian, you'd assume there would be some universal-type replacements. If there was enough demand, someone like Victory Glass or another big distributor would surely make and sell the new ones. Oh well, we will work with what we have. One reason I like this hobby is that I get to learn and play with unique stuff like this.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Eugen,
Guardian made nothing for retail sales-- never wanted to "fool with retail"- At one time, I could get all/any parts of parts, thru Seeburg for anything they made for Seeburg- but, I had to get it thru Seeburg. Ron Rich

[viperz]

Good information, thank you, Ron... I reassembled both stepping assemblies today and started to put them back into the stepper. So far everything matches my disassembly photos. I'll adjust visually to match spider contacts to the contact circles, and will leave it until I'll acquire 5225-B wallbox.

257 stepper just arrived - needs restoration too, but at least it uses metal gear, so I still have some stuff to do for my jukeboxes


Of course, put stuff together just to verify that I did not tighten the springs enough. Friction of spider contacts, especially on 4-contact assembly is really something to overcome. 

[viperz]

I learned something today. 3.2A slow-blow fuse from Bussman comes with built-in cap, specific to the fuse holder. Why would Wurlitzer install two regular fuse holders, and then one weird one for wallbox power?? Not to mention how expensive these fuses are. I only had half the fuse in my fuse holder. At least I think it was a half, as I don't seem to find the bottom metal cap. Getting new correct fuses, hopefully they will just fit into that fuse holder.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Eugen,
The reason for the "expensive" fuses, is not that the manufactures wanted to pay extra for them ! It is because of "regulations" imposed upon them. In the case of the wallbox transformer fuse, it is supposed to prevent you from "over (size/type) fusing", an external power source and causing a fire in a wall ! There were 3 versions of that fuse, used-- the first was a "screw-in" type. 2nd, was the N-3.2 type ( which was outlawed as there is power exposed on the "cap" of it at all times if not blown, and correctly installed). 3rd--"Red cap" -GMQ types-- which have an insulated cap --- Yes-- I stock all 3---Ron Rich

[viperz]

It is the red-cap GMQ that I have. I reassembled everything for now. Will wait for the new fuses to show up.

[Ron Rich]

Eugen,
Too bad-- there are two "work- around's" for this, so one does not need to buy a new Red Cap- Next time AXK, before you "do" --LOL--
Ron Rich