[Jukebox-list] Help! Rock Ola Tempo 2 Jukebox speed is about 40 RPM

[Ray Finch]

The first thing I would do if you think the idler wheel might be slipping 
is to clean the motor shaft, the idler wheel and the inside rim of the 
turn table with isopropyl alcohol on a clean cloth.  In particular, scrub 
the idler wheel with the cloth and isopropyl.  If there is any slippage, 
that will most likely clear it up.

If still you think that perhaps the spring might be too weak, disconnect 
the spring on the side opposite of the idler wheel and gently pull the 
spring a bit tighter.  Then anchor the spring by slightly parting it a bit 
down from the spring hook and pass the slightly parted part over the metal 
tab where the spring would normally be hooked on to (if that makes any 
sense).  This is only temporary to test to see if a tighter spring would 
make any difference.  Try testing the spring tighter and looser.  What you 
want is to have the spring as weak as practical while still reliably 
turning the turntable without any slippage.  Actually you want spring to 
be just a bit tighter than that so that it will not slip if the idler 
wheel gets a little dirty over time.

If you decided that things would work better with the spring a bit 
tighter, then using a pair of dykes, cut the spring at the point where it 
was slightly separated.  Next use needle nose pliers and bend out the last 
loop of the spring of make a new hook and rehook the spring.

There really is no magic tension for the spring.  It is more trial and
error and getting a "feel" for it.  Too loose and the turntable drive
slips.  Too tight, and while the turntable drive doesn't slip, mechanical
noise will be transferred to the turntable and be picked up on the record.

What I wonder about though is the slow speed consistent or does it vary a
bit?  I mean if you have slippage, usually the slippage will not be
constant.  It will vary with the slight mechanical inconsistencies of the
mechanical system. If the record is playing at a solid 40RPMs and never
varies in speed at all, then the problem does not sound like slippage.

If only they had made all turntables belt drive...

Ray



On Sun, 4 Nov 2007, Bill Signor wrote:

> Thanks you all for your suggestions to increase my Rock - Ola 
> turntable speed. Well, here's the latest...I did what Jim M 
> suggested first and it worked. I put electrical tape on the 
> inside rim of the turntable as a temporary fix to see if that 
> would speed it up and it did the trick! Speed is good...30 
> record plays later. But that means it's either the motor or 
> idler wheel spring being too loose?. What do you guys 
> think...  Spring or motor? Your comments really appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Bill
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "James McClave" 
> <Trollmasters at webtv.net>
> To: "Jukebox mailing list" <jukebox-list at lists.netlojix.com>
> Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2007 4:37 PM
> Subject: Re: [Jukebox-list] Help! Rock Ola Tempo 2 Jukebox 
> speed is about 40 RPM
>
>
>> Bill, a couple of possibilities here. Are you sure you 
>> replaced the
>> idler wheel with the correct size ?  Also ,  you might try 
>> plugging in
>> the turntable direct to 115V  to see if there is any 
>> change, thus
>> eliminating anything in your power supply.  For a temporary 
>> fix you can
>> increase the diameter of the motor end piece which engages 
>> with your
>> idler wheel by neatly wrapping some cloth-type electrical 
>> tape around
>> the end piece. To get 5 more rpm, one time around or two 
>> times around
>> should get it.  You can achieve the same effect by putting 
>> a layer of
>> the same type tape on the inside rim of the turntable 
>> itself.  These are
>> just temporary "fixes" to get it up to speed. The motor 
>> itself may be
>> going bad , possibly a complete dis-assembly of the motor , 
>> cleaning and
>> lubing may be required.   Jim
>> 
>> E-mail us at: trollmasters at webtv.net
>> 
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