Rockola 498 Questions

I bought a couple rockola juke boxes over the weekend. I have owned a
rockola 490 juke box for several years so I have some knowledge of how
they work. One of the Juke Boxes I picked up over the weekend is a
Rockola 498-2. When the juke box is turned on the bill acceptor makes
some kind of initializing noise, the selection display lights up and
displays 100 and the turn table just keeps on spinning. It appears to
me that the record carrying basket should do one rotation upon startup
but doesn't. The switch that is located on the inside of the machine
to load a new record doesn't do anything. Usually I can put this
switch in a position to move the basket around but it does nothing.
I'm guessing that because the basket never goes around that it never
reaches a point when it stops and turns off the turn table. I thought
there may be a fuse that just controls the power to the basket but I'm
not sure. It could also be the case that the motor that drives the
basket may be shot (not sure I know how to check to see if it is bad).
I did try and move the gears that move the basket but everything
seemed to be locked up. I have a manual for a rockola 490 and possible
a 494 but I think they are different. Anyone have any ideas for me?
Thanks!

Dimperio,

First thing to do is dismount the magazine motor and see if it can be articulated by turning the shaft protruding from the end of the motor housing. This will tell you if your motor is locked up. Then, try applying power to the juke (with the motor still dismounted) and this will determine whether the motor is capable of driving itself under power.

Next, try rotating the record magazine by hand. DO NOT grasp the record dividers to apply power. Only use the magazine gear to attempt the turning process. If the mech is locked up, grabbing the record dividers and applying pressure may bend them in an unforgivable way...

Let us know how you make out.