Wurlitzer 1900 selection problem

[jukeboxmarty]

oldjuker, the latch solenoid switch and circuit we've been talking about is Wurlitzer's way of protecting the latch bar solenoid. It really makes additional protection unnecessary.

But better safe than sorry I guess! 🤔

[oldjuker]

Gosh Marty, wish I'd known about that switch on my 1800 before I purchased the free play unit. I should have known if the solenoid hadn't burned up in all the years of use it probably wasn't going to. Oh well. as you say, better safe than sorry. The one thing I don't like about adding the free play unit is the "select" light no longer stays on all the time (I liked that). It only flashes on when a letter is pushed then as the number is pushed it goes back off. I may tie it in to the "return" light circuit to keep it on all the time. Looks more balanced with both lights on. Just me being picky I guess. Later    oldjuker

[oldjuker]

Back on the 1900 today and first job was follow Norman's advice and check the latch bar solenoid switch. And don't you just know it, Norman was spot on again. The contacts looked like they were closed, but close examination showed they were open.Easy adjustment and ,bingo, button bank back working again! Made quite a bit of progress today tweeking small details and finished the day with 1900 selecting records,putting records on turntable.and simulating playing. I say simulating due to, wait for it,...no sound.Big disappointment! Not too worried though as the speakers have been rebuilt and I heard them work. The amp was rebuilt-tho a few years back- new cobra cartridge, so should be able to zero in on the sound problem on next session. Fellows. I can't thank you enough for leading me through the rough spots and you will never know how much I have appreciated your help. Could not have done it without help and you guys came through. What's left you say,besides sound problem, install deck (after putting the 2 water decals on) install title strip holder.put dome glass on and sit back and enjoy music.Can't wait. Thanks again oldjuker

[oldjuker]

Hate it, but no work last Sunday. Owner too busy! Looks like next Sunday to get back at it. Got to deal with the sound problem and finish putting the box together. Should be fun??

[jukeboxmarty]

Did it have sound before? Is this a sudden development?

[oldjuker]

Never have heard a peep from this 1900. First time in 20 years it has been in a position to even play. Certainly when I got the box it was not in playing condition. Have had amp rebuilt(some 15 years ago), speakers have been re-coned (heard them work),tweeter caps replaced,new Cobra cartridge. Sooo, sure hoping it won't be too hard to find the problem...shouldn't have said that. Marty, where would you start first?  oldjuker

[jukeboxmarty]

It would be hard to attempt a repair unless you have some tube amplifier knowledge or experience.

Having said that, I would check the amplifier fuse... and make sure all the tubes are lit up. The 5U4 will only light up while the override relay is energized.

You can also wiggle the fader switch and exercise the volume control.

Beyond that, if the amp is completely silent and everything's hooked up correctly, I would check the amp's power supply voltages.

[oldjuker]

Thanks Marty. Next trip over to my niece's, which looks like a week from tomorrow, I'll start the "hunt for sound". Will report back if I heard any.

[oldjuker]

Wellll,Finally back on the 1900 and looking for sound. To eliminate the obvious, replaced the tone arm wire, replaced both RCA plugs, and checked continuity to make sure signal could get to the amp. The Cobra cartridge is a tested new working cartridge also. So the amp is the most likely problem. I have taken the amp out of the 1900 and brought home and Hooked it up to my 1800. No sound,nothing. Not even a hum, pop,NOTHING. Convinced me. The amp is bad. Sooo, only option is take the amp to my electrical engineer buddy (three hrs.away) and let him do his magic. Don't know when this get together will happen but soon hopefully. In the mean time, I installed the water decals on the carousell surround (deck) and installed in box and basically got the 1900 ready to PLAY A RECORD as soon as the amp repair is finished.This box has fought me the whole way but I will never let a piece of equipment whip my ass...even if I am an old SOB. Later...

[oldjuker]

OK, FINALLY back to the 1900. Took amp to my buddy for his health check. After only a few hours he determined we do in fact have a tube problem. This turns out to be two fold. First, I was under the false understanding that the 5U4 was only needed if a stepper was being used. This is definitely incorrect. I had left it out of the amp even though I did have the tube. My bad. Second, the 12AU7 was bad.Sooo, after installing the 5U4 and replacing the 12AU7...SHAZAMM-we have sound. The only delay now is getting a schedule to travel the 2 1/2 hrs each way to pick up the amp and install in the 1900. Working on that, but probably a couple weeks away. Did I mention that I had a mild heart attack and spent 2 days in the hospital two weeks ago. I'm still alive though and that damn box will not whip me.Updates as they happen. Oldjuker

[jukenorman]

Very pleased to read that you survived your health scare!

Norman.

[oldjuker]

Thank you sir. Feeling good so far.

[oldjuker]

Update on this 1900 that has fought me from the start. I really thought we were closing in on the light at the end of the tunnel. But, alas, I had to hit the reverse switch. We had the box almost entirely put together except for the dome glass. We were ready to hear the first record actually play. Make the selection and everything works as it should except for two things. First NO sound!And as aggravating as that is, a problem that has existed for some time and I was trying to ignore, has finally come back to bite me, as I knew it would. There is a problem with the 11 pin plug and/or cable coming from the junction box and plugging into the amp (chassis plug).Several months ago I replaced the plug itself, convinced that was the problem. Well now it appears it's not the plug but more than likely the cable itself. There must be a wire in the cable that is shorting and causing great heartburn. Sooo, I have taken the mech out of the cabinet,along with the amp and brought it to my house (one hour away) to do what I should have done months ago...Fix the #@%* problem.I don't expect this to be a part of the sound problem, but this HAS to be fixed before anything else is addressed.Sadly, due to other priorities in life, this is going to take a while to address. And the saga of the 1900 continues.... oldjuker (getting older)

[oldjuker]

Update- Have checked continuity on all 11 wires on the cable from the junction box. ALL appear good. Sooo, with that info, I am concentrating on the 11 pin male plug and the 11 pin female receptor plug. A few of the male pins do appear loose in the base so I am going to replace this male plug (for the second time). MY thought is I did not do a competent job the first time. If the problem continues after replacing the male plug, I will replace the female receiver plug that is on the amp.This problem must be solved before I look into the sound problem. And so the fun continues... Oldjuker

[oldjuker]

Long time between working on the ol'1900 but finally did have enough time to get back on the problems at hand. FOUND the problem with the 11 pin chassis plug. Turned out to be a short between two pins on the back side of the female receptacle. I guess if my eyes were better i'd have found it sooner. But problem solved and mech working smoothly. Now on to the NO SOUND problem. This may require returning to my EE friend 3 hours away and letting him have at it again. Don't know when that will happen.So, still no joy in mudville. Sure hope I live long enough to hear a record play on the beast. Later Oldjuker