Rock-Ola 451 keeps tripping out

[dave1966]

Hi, I've got a 451 that hasn't really been used much for a couple of years. We've just moved house and it has a new home in a pub room - pool table to join it after Christmas.

However, having cleaned it up and adjusted the cut-off (it was too late and some 45s were just sitting in the run-out groove) it worked fine for half a dozen plays and then the mechanical trip started cutting out whilst playing a record, nowhere near the end.

Resetting the trip worked for a while, the record would finish and another would play. The problem then worsened and it now cuts out a few seconds after being reset, but the record seems to play fine during those seconds. (no obvious jams)

We haven't serviced the jukebox since we got it, and I can't speak for the previous owner but it apparently had fallen into disuse with them.

I intend to service it myself when I get a chance and have read the manual properly but does anyone have any ideas for the immediate problem?

Thanks,
Dave

[Ron Rich]

Hi Dave,
That's an open bladed (VERY "flimsy"--by necessity) switch- is it "clean" ? ( if you don't know how to clean it, check our FAQ's section) Is one or more of the leaves broken at the point where it's held into the insulators -- The adjustment for that switch is in the manual, and it should not ever change ? Did you check any/all other reject switches, in the phono--all are wired in parallel ! Ron Rich

[dave1966]

Hi Ron, thanks for the advice.
I have tried cleaning the contacts with contact cleaner spray, but I don't think that is the source of the problem and it hasn't helped.

The mechanical cutout is tripping very near the start of the record (and anywhere else for that matter) when the contacts are clearly open. It makes no attempt to lift the arm or mute the amp so I don't think it is the cut-off mechanism to blame. I played several records successfully before it started failing.

I've attached some photos, as I know they can speak volumes to the right person.

Thanks again for the advice, I'm new to Jukeboxes and appreciate your help.

Attachments:

[Ron Rich]

Hi Dave,
I think my mind may have gotten off track here--when you said "tripping" I (wrongly ?) assumed that you meant the tone arm extracted itself from the record. I now think you mean the circuit breaker, you circled in red, trips. If that is happening, the gripper motor is probably still attempting to turn, while the record is playing. If that's what is happening, either the switch that controls the motor is failing, or the gripper itself, is binding--lacking lubrication. Check the switch, check the sticky above this post on "Grippers". Ron Rich