[Jukebox-list] Seeburg Q-160 selection button issue

[Aaron Heverin]

Evening all,

Fuse resistors aside...I got the amp and selection receiver working on my brother-in-law's Q-160. Everything works and sounds great except for one little annoying issue. Whenever I make a selection - say A-1....the buttons latch, the selection is made, and the mech takes off to play the selection accurately. However, the number button - which is the last button pressed in the sequence - always stays down. To make another selection, I have to press another number down very slowly until the depressed button pops back up. The number button won't stay down if I make a selection and press a letter then a number button down very lightly so that it never bottoms out. I couldn't find anything in the service manual about this and I'm completely unfamiliar with these Seeburg models to know if this is what's supposed to happen or not. I'm guessing "not." It's really bizzare because if you don't realize that one of the number buttons is still down and you go and press a letter, there goes the mech to play that mystery selection.

My second question is more for all the guys who repair jukes for a living or on the side for cash. My brother-in-law wants to pay me for my time working on the amp and receiver. Since he's family, I'm not going to take anything, but I am curious as to what a fair hourly rate is. In the old days, I would quote a price for an entire job but then always...ALWAYS wind up getting screwed because the juke has so many hidden problems above and beyond the original quote. I've heard that a lot of guys charge by the hour...but then you have to keep track of your hours. Regardless, what's considered fair? $25 an hour? $75 an hour? More or less?

Thanks again!

Aaron