[Jukebox-list] Rock-Ola 445 does not remove the record

[John Robertson]

Ron Rich wrote:
> Klaus, and Gary,
>   I hate to dis-agree with anyone, but in this case I must. It is my feeling that "adjusting" is NEVER the correct proceedure, but the "last resort". In the case of a Rock-ola that's having this problem, it's about a 99.99% chance that it's a lubrication problem, and that "adjusting the gripper bow"  (for which there are no "adjustments") can and will cause serious problems.
>   My very simple test is to play a selection, reject it, while holding down with a slight pressure on the outside front of the bow. Use the other hand to turn the "service switch" off/on.  If , when running the motor slow, you can see the bow "grip the record", PRIOR to starting upward, your problem is lubrication...You can also do this test by turning the gripper motor by hand. 
>   
I find that just turning the gripper motor by hand is best to catch 
these problems. There is a knurled shaft that sticks out of the of the 
end that allows this.

As for taking apart vs lubrication, my suggest a simple test first. When 
the gripper arm has just grabbed the record and has moved about 1/2 inch 
up on its way home -  turn the machine off. Now remove the record by 
pressing on the piston clamp. This should move freely with no grittiness 
or sluggishness at all. Secondly try pushing the gripper bow (the arm 
that wraps around the record). this too should move freely (spring 
action on both of these by the way) without any sluggishness. If you 
push either item to the opposite extreme and release, it should SNAP 
back to the clamp position.

If the action is not a SNAP then I really think it is best to take the 
unit apart if you want a long term fix (say ten years before you have to 
look at it again). Putting fresh oil or penetrating oil is s short term 
(one year or so) fix, plus penetrating oil is thinner than the original 
and will not lubricate as well. Plus doing it right doesn't take more 
than about 1 hour to take apart, clean and then reassemble. Only one pin 
holds the thing together. A small pin punch (1/8 - 3/16 inch as I 
recall) and a nylon hammer and it pops apart in a minute or two.

John :-#)#

>   I almost never find it necessary to dis-assemble the gripper--just use a good penertrating oil, and "exercise" it for 20 to 40 minutes. I find that it is most important that once it is free enough to work on both sides of a record, it MUST be totally re-oiled with a 20 wt ND motor oil, then be run for a few hours. (they begin to work right on one side of the records faster then on the other side)
>   Hint, when you first put the pen. oil on it---remove a bunch of records, and short out the end of record trip switch. You can just let it run that way, without worring about busting records--Ron Rich
>
> Gary Young <gazzyoung_uk at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>   Klaus, it could be something as simple as the height
> of the turntable being too low or the final resting
> position of the gripper bow being too high. I am not
> familiar with this machine, but if you have a manual,
> it should tell you how to adjust these correctly.
>
> Good luck
>
> Gary
>
>
> --- klaba at klaba.net wrote:
>
>   
>> Hi,
>> I've been offered a Rock-Ola 445 for a reasonable
>> price, I guess.
>> It plays and selects ok, but when the record has
>> been played it won't be 
>> removed but instead
>> a new record is being dropped over the previuosly
>> played.
>>
>> I'm just wondering what kind of fault this is (write
>> in, read out) and 
>> is this difficult to fix?
>>
>> Thanks
>> -Klaus-
>> ___________


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