Seeburg SMC Mech Problem

Hi. I need help from some of you seeburg gurus out there. After much
lubing I got the mech motor to start turning in my SMC2 that has been
sitting untouched for years. Now, the machines does the classic - "pick
up the record, reject it, and pick it up again" routine. The only way
that I can get the mech to scan is to manually force the trip lever
down. When I hold the trip lever down it willl go into scan mode. The
entire time that I manually push down on the trip lever the trip coil
is energized and fighting me (I know that's not a good practice). As
soon as I let go of the trip lever is goes back into play mode and does
the same thing. My question is - does this sound like an electrical
problem or just a gunked up clutch? I read a post about the safety
plunger - could this be the culprit? Any help would be GREATLY
APPRECIATED.
Thanks much, Russ

On 1 Dec 2005 07:13:17 -0800, wrote:

Hi. I need help from some of you seeburg gurus out there. After much
lubing I got the mech motor to start turning in my SMC2 that has been
sitting untouched for years. Now, the machines does the classic - "pick
up the record, reject it, and pick it up again" routine. The only way
that I can get the mech to scan is to manually force the trip lever
down. When I hold the trip lever down it willl go into scan mode. The
entire time that I manually push down on the trip lever the trip coil
is energized and fighting me (I know that's not a good practice). As
soon as I let go of the trip lever is goes back into play mode and does
the same thing. My question is - does this sound like an electrical
problem or just a gunked up clutch? I read a post about the safety
plunger - could this be the culprit? Any help would be GREATLY
APPRECIATED.
Thanks much, Russ


Unplug the amplifier 6-pin mute plug. If the problem goes away, it's
a misadjusted reed switch on the pickup arm frame or a problem in the
amp (mute/trip relay). If the problem remains, it's probably the trip
solenoid triac on the PCC Interface board. CAUTION! The PCC Interface
board has line voltage present.

Cheers,

Tony Miller

Russ...drop me an e-mail at: Tell me where you are
located and I may have someone who can help...........

Thanks Tony. I tried that solution and it acted the same way. I tested
the triacs and they test okay. I do have new symtoms now after some
fiddling around. Now the mech will scan and eventually find it's home
and stop. When I give a selction, it starts to scan, but never trips
into play position. The only way to get the mech to stop scanning is to
clear the memory. I have a feeling that the issue is in the switch
stack on the front of the mech. Does this sound probable?
Tony Miller wrote:
On 1 Dec 2005 07:13:17 -0800, wrote:

Hi. I need help from some of you seeburg gurus out there. After much
lubing I got the mech motor to start turning in my SMC2 that has been
sitting untouched for years. Now, the machines does the classic - "pick
up the record, reject it, and pick it up again" routine. The only way
that I can get the mech to scan is to manually force the trip lever
down. When I hold the trip lever down it willl go into scan mode. The
entire time that I manually push down on the trip lever the trip coil
is energized and fighting me (I know that's not a good practice). As
soon as I let go of the trip lever is goes back into play mode and does
the same thing. My question is - does this sound like an electrical
problem or just a gunked up clutch? I read a post about the safety
plunger - could this be the culprit? Any help would be GREATLY
APPRECIATED.
Thanks much, Russ


Unplug the amplifier 6-pin mute plug. If the problem goes away, it's
a misadjusted reed switch on the pickup arm frame or a problem in the
amp (mute/trip relay). If the problem remains, it's probably the trip
solenoid triac on the PCC Interface board. CAUTION! The PCC Interface
board has line voltage present.

Cheers,

Tony Miller

wrote:
Thanks Tony. I tried that solution and it acted the same way. I tested
the triacs and they test okay. I do have new symtoms now after some
fiddling around. Now the mech will scan and eventually find it's home
and stop. When I give a selction, it starts to scan, but never trips
into play position. The only way to get the mech to stop scanning is to
clear the memory. I have a feeling that the issue is in the switch
stack on the front of the mech. Does this sound probable?
Tony Miller wrote:
On 1 Dec 2005 07:13:17 -0800, wrote:

Hi. I need help from some of you seeburg gurus out there. After much
lubing I got the mech motor to start turning in my SMC2 that has been
sitting untouched for years. Now, the machines does the classic - "pick
up the record, reject it, and pick it up again" routine. The only way
that I can get the mech to scan is to manually force the trip lever
down. When I hold the trip lever down it willl go into scan mode. The
entire time that I manually push down on the trip lever the trip coil
is energized and fighting me (I know that's not a good practice). As
soon as I let go of the trip lever is goes back into play mode and does
the same thing. My question is - does this sound like an electrical
problem or just a gunked up clutch? I read a post about the safety
plunger - could this be the culprit? Any help would be GREATLY
APPRECIATED.
Thanks much, Russ


Unplug the amplifier 6-pin mute plug. If the problem goes away, it's
a misadjusted reed switch on the pickup arm frame or a problem in the
amp (mute/trip relay). If the problem remains, it's probably the trip
solenoid triac on the PCC Interface board. CAUTION! The PCC Interface
board has line voltage present.

Cheers,

Tony Miller

oops. Anyway, here is more of a general question for Tony or the group
in general. When a seeburg of this vintage (SMC2) has an issue where
the computer seems to be working, but yet the selector does not make
the selection, is this generally an issue with the CPU or the Phono
Control Center? I'm not sure how this circuit works. When I make a
selection it starts scanning but never finds the record. I found the
Traic on the Phono Control Center interface board that controls the
trip coil. I grounded one of the legs and it tripped the coil and the
selector made the selction and worked okay. So, given that, what is
your best guess? I'm wondering if I should track down a Phono Control
Center. Thanks, Russ
wrote:
Thanks Tony. I tried that solution and it acted the same way. I tested
the triacs and they test okay. I do have new symtoms now after some
fiddling around. Now the mech will scan and eventually find it's home
and stop. When I give a selction, it starts to scan, but never trips
into play position. The only way to get the mech to stop scanning is to
clear the memory. I have a feeling that the issue is in the switch
stack on the front of the mech. Does this sound probable?
Tony Miller wrote:
On 1 Dec 2005 07:13:17 -0800, wrote:

Hi. I need help from some of you seeburg gurus out there. After much
lubing I got the mech motor to start turning in my SMC2 that has been
sitting untouched for years. Now, the machines does the classic - "pick
up the record, reject it, and pick it up again" routine. The only way
that I can get the mech to scan is to manually force the trip lever
down. When I hold the trip lever down it willl go into scan mode. The
entire time that I manually push down on the trip lever the trip coil
is energized and fighting me (I know that's not a good practice). As
soon as I let go of the trip lever is goes back into play mode and does
the same thing. My question is - does this sound like an electrical
problem or just a gunked up clutch? I read a post about the safety
plunger - could this be the culprit? Any help would be GREATLY
APPRECIATED.
Thanks much, Russ


Unplug the amplifier 6-pin mute plug. If the problem goes away, it's
a misadjusted reed switch on the pickup arm frame or a problem in the
amp (mute/trip relay). If the problem remains, it's probably the trip
solenoid triac on the PCC Interface board. CAUTION! The PCC Interface
board has line voltage present.

Cheers,

Tony Miller

On 3 Dec 2005 15:48:40 -0800, wrote:

oops. Anyway, here is more of a general question for Tony or the group
in general. When a seeburg of this vintage (SMC2) has an issue where
the computer seems to be working, but yet the selector does not make
the selection, is this generally an issue with the CPU or the Phono
Control Center? I'm not sure how this circuit works. When I make a
selection it starts scanning but never finds the record. I found the
Traic on the Phono Control Center interface board that controls the
trip coil. I grounded one of the legs and it tripped the coil and the
selector made the selction and worked okay. So, given that, what is
your best guess? I'm wondering if I should track down a Phono Control
Center. Thanks, Russ

Hard to say. Without more information it could be either one. Take a
jumper and connect one end to +12 VDC on the PCC Interface board (tab
of VR1) and connect the other and touch it to either pin 6 or 8 of U8
on the PCC Interface board. If it trips, it's probably the MCU board
at fault, otherwise it's the PCC Interface board.

Cheers,

Tony Miller

wrote:
Thanks Tony. I tried that solution and it acted the same way. I tested
the triacs and they test okay. I do have new symtoms now after some
fiddling around. Now the mech will scan and eventually find it's home
and stop. When I give a selction, it starts to scan, but never trips
into play position. The only way to get the mech to stop scanning is to
clear the memory. I have a feeling that the issue is in the switch
stack on the front of the mech. Does this sound probable?
Tony Miller wrote:
On 1 Dec 2005 07:13:17 -0800, wrote:

Hi. I need help from some of you seeburg gurus out there. After much
lubing I got the mech motor to start turning in my SMC2 that has been
sitting untouched for years. Now, the machines does the classic - "pick
up the record, reject it, and pick it up again" routine. The only way
that I can get the mech to scan is to manually force the trip lever
down. When I hold the trip lever down it willl go into scan mode. The
entire time that I manually push down on the trip lever the trip coil
is energized and fighting me (I know that's not a good practice). As
soon as I let go of the trip lever is goes back into play mode and does
the same thing. My question is - does this sound like an electrical
problem or just a gunked up clutch? I read a post about the safety
plunger - could this be the culprit? Any help would be GREATLY
APPRECIATED.
Thanks much, Russ


Unplug the amplifier 6-pin mute plug. If the problem goes away, it's
a misadjusted reed switch on the pickup arm frame or a problem in the
amp (mute/trip relay). If the problem remains, it's probably the trip
solenoid triac on the PCC Interface board. CAUTION! The PCC Interface
board has line voltage present.

Cheers,

Tony Miller

Okay. I tried what you said and it appears to be a problem with the
MCU. I did the above operation and it did trip the mech. So, I guess a
have an issue somewhere on the MCU. At this point this is getting deep
for me. I think it may be time to send the board out to someone with a
test fixture. I'm thinking of Using C&C Electronic Restoration out of
Columbus Ohio. Anyway, thanks so much for the help.

Russ

By the way, has anyone had any expereince with C&C Eelctronic
Restorations? They seem like nice folks, but I'd like to double check
before sending my items. Thanks again, Russ

Thanks, but no need. i have already sent the boards out.