Rowe AMI MM1 Issue

rikitheshadow

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Got a 1967 Rowe AMI MM1 that I'm looking at. For some reason it won't reset, and perform the cycle in which it picks up the tone arm/record/insert the record back into the carousel and then allow another selection to be made. In fact if we set the mode into "on" add a credit and make a selection, it just resets the switches and does not bother even trying to find that record selected.

Now this thing runs fine otherwise, we can set the tone arm back to the beggining of the record and hold the mode switch in scan and the audio sounds great and everything. We even get the little click off of the amp at the end of the record, but like I said it won't sense te record is finished and needs to be changed.

Anyone here have any experience with these machines?
 
At this time we think it is the mode selection switch, some of the contact prongs are beat up and dirty. Probably going to need a new switch.


Basically we've figured out there is something wrong entirely with the service control center, when it's disconnected from the turntable/carousel the audio will play without the need for the switch being held in scan (which flips on a relay). We figure if the switch wasn't shorting connections it may possibly unjar it. Like the carousel assembly would begin to start it's cycle by picking a new disk and etc. Then again we aren't entirely sure........only if we had a manual. Haven't found any free scans online, just real ones for sell that are like $40-50.
 
Purchase the manual set from either Victory Glass or Always Jukin. These are expensive because they are not cheap photocopies. They are professional offset printed manuals with crystal clear halftone pictures, razor sharp schematics, heavy archival stock paper, and lay flat binding. Plus they are authorized & licensed printings.
 
when you make a selection, watch the unit at the right side of the turntable. It should spin clockwise and push a pin that coresponds to the record selected. Once the pin is pushed, a second armature spins to find the pin that was pushed from the selection. made. As it hits the pin it should shut the motor off that turns the record basket and pull the record up for play.
 
Well see the problem is it won't respond. When you hit the cancel button it should stop the record, lift the tone arm, grab the record, and then place it back in the carousel and allow you to pick something else. Not even when you do add a credit and then pick a song, it still won't bother with the records. The selection button mechanism resets the buttons, the tracking mechanism in the clear plastic case begins its cycle and then resets.....then nothing. It will still stay on the one record, even when that record is finished. The carousel will not spin, and that unit below the left of the turntable will not do anything.

As far as we are concerned there is a short due to some damage to the service switch components (on top of that sparks and smoke). If we reset the tone arm by hand and allow the record to play we can not hear anything from the speakers while the service switch is in the "on" position, only while we hold it in scan is when we can hear anything. We ordered a used replacement for $25 and will see where it goes from there.

Sadly there just isn't enough reference out there on the internet. We would buy a manual if it could really point us where the problem lies but we have no guarantee of that.
 
Hello,

Ken is correct you need the manual for the Rowe Ami MM-1 in order to chech the voltages out of the power supply, at the service switch and at the molex plug on the mechanism/carousel. You need 30 volts AC & 30 volts DC so check the fuses and only replace with the correct type and rating.

Regards
Alan Hood
ami-man
UK
 
Hello,

Ken is correct you need the manual for the Rowe Ami MM-1 in order to chech the voltages out of the power supply, at the service switch and at the molex plug on the mechanism/carousel. You need 30 volts AC & 30 volts DC so check the fuses and only replace with the correct type and rating.

Regards
Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Well we do have the switch, my jukebox guy is out of town for a bit. I'll have to talk it over with him. But if anyone possibly knows the pinout of that power supply or the connector on the carousel then please could you help?
 
Ok today we have swapped the switches and at least get some sort of response from it. It will now for some reason still only play music in scan but will now allow you to cancel that record and it will pick it up and put it back in the carousel and rotate the carousel. However it will still not function properly in "on" mode. Pretty much the first diagnoses I gave it before, but sometimes switching it back and forth will make it flip on the turn table in on mode, flip it to scan mode and it will pick the disc it was stopped at and attempt to play it.

I think it may have something to do with the assembly that searches and sets the memory for the next set of records to be played. Along with many other things......

I'm purchasing a CD version of the manual, it has the MM1, MM2, MM3, MM4....and so forth
I'm headed back over today to give it another look through at that search and memory assembly.
 
Hello,

The 1100 mechanism on the MM-1 can be set up using any of the manuals that use a 1100 mechanism with regards to mechanical adjustments so you could use the 1963 Model L through to the 1976 R-80 manual.

You need to get the service switch correct so that when it is placed into the on position that it scans around a revolution and a third. If this works then push out a pin (by hand) on the search unit and see if the mechanism stops at the pushed out pin and opperates the transfer motor to place a record onto the turntable.

With regards to the search unit you need to clean the open contacts on the open relays S1 & S2, this is best done using a taper of copy/writting paper pulled through the contacts (close the contacts to help with the cleaning) do not use any contact cleaners, WD40 or abrasive sand/emery papers all will give you grief in a short while.

Check out the pins on the search unit push them all out and back in to make sure they are not ceased. Put a spot of oil on your finger tip and run over the pushed in pins, now work them again to put a tiny bit of oil on the pins. Keep working the pins in and out so they are all free, now wipe away any trace of oil from the surface of the plate.

If you wish to clean the slip rings on the back of the stop plate assembly this is best done with a pencil rubber (eraser) the same ceaning method can be used for the credit unit and the printed circuit board on the search unit, when all tanish is removed wipedown with a lint free cloth.

Regards
Alan Hood
ami-man
UK
 
Ok actually I think our problem is this.

When you switch the unit to On, add a credit, the credit counter mechanism counts up, the reset solenoid activates for the selection buttons, you make a selection, the selection registers, the search unit adds the selection to the memory by setting the appropriate pin for the carousel reader to catch, and then the reset solenoid resets the selection buttons, and the credit counter mechanism counts down.................BUT....generally it does not engage while on. The carousel will not spin and check the memory for what is to be played next. If there is a record on the carousel while the unit is in On mode it will not bother even trying to play it through the AMP and speakers, much less perform the cycle to grab the record and place it back on the carousel when the record is indicated as finished.

I think there could possibly be shorts along some of the components that drive the unit in On mode.

What we have gotten it to do so far since we replaced the switch is to actually engage a response from the unit intermittently is to hold the unit in scan. It will pick up the record on the turntable and put it back in the carousel and the carousel will continue to spin. If we switch the unit a few times back and forth between the Scan and On settings it will eventually turn the turn table back on when you flip it into On mode, but it will do nothing else. However, after that if you hold it in scan, the arm will grab a record and place it on the turntable and start playing it, but upon finishing it the arm will attempt to pick it up and place it back in the carousel but will fail because the turntable is still spinning and it can't grab the record properly.

I'll be able to make sense of some of it once I get the manual anyways lol.
 
Until I can get a look at the unit again I'm not a 100% sure....I've got copies of the manual now to aid in this little endeavor

For one I don't recall there being a sensing wire on the turntable.....could possibly be causing an issue with it being in "On." But that wouldn't explain why it won't bother searching because if the switch isn't on then it knows there isn't a record there and it should start searching given.....but then again the switch could be wired wrong like tying the cables to the com and the nc on typical micro switches.....

I may need to check the Scan Control switch, see if there is a short with it or if the toggle shifter coil is somehow out of whack.....though that wouldn't explain it's behavior by toggling the mode between Off and On and then it magically shifting into play while you hold it in Scan.

This all seems redicilous I must say because this symptom is a combination of failures all over because its not something specifically listed in the troubleshooting portion of the manual...

I'll see if I can get a hold of my client and get another look through of that crazy jukebox of his....
 
Hello,

The sencing wire on the turntable is part of the speed shift circuit, it was used to play records at 45 and 33 1/3 unless the wiring has been altered this should not be part of your problem.

Regards
Alan Hood
ami-man
UK
 
I had a breakthrough for only 30 minutes. Either I tapped something or whatever.....
Anyways I went to look at Cam 1 on the Left side of the Unit and just tinkered with it for a minute to see if something was caught. AND BAM!!!!! it started working in "On" mode like it should.

but like I said for 30 minutes....

We made a few selections and it played them fine, it was just not picking up the records properly when it was finished. We disconnected the unit, pulled it out of the cabinet a tid bit, I took a look at the CAM assembly and checked that all the switches were functioning. Also was checking for anything that may have been causing interference with the AMP, but it appears it might be the amp itself when it is switched on it makes this loud pulsing noise before the record music starts to play. I cycled the cam assembly by hand to see if it was out of calibration but it was fine, the grabber arm just needed some lubrication to properly grab records off the turntable again. Put it back together in the cabinet and it worked fine for a few more minutes but when I went and made a selection the search unit registered but the carousel didn't start scanning. So we are back at square one......again......

I checked the detent assembly and it was in the locked position but moving it simply made the solenoid just re-lock it. Possible the carousel motor is not energizing?

Everything will cycle properly between the arm picking up a record and placing it on the turntable and putting it back when you can trick it into doing it. The amp won't powerup though so you can't hear anything........there is a mute I know that.
The selection system will powerup and cycle properly even though that large reset solenoid beats the hell out of it's holding plate because it's shock absorbing feet are dry rotted.

The power supply checks out..
the 6VAC reads 6VAC
the 30VAC reads 30VAC
the 30VDC reads about 29VDC.....would that 1v drop be causing any trouble?

I just don't really know where to start........
 
Bumping to see if anyone has a clue to what is causing this thing to act that way.

Sadly this side of the forums is pretty dead
 
Hello,

Sorry still do not know your name.

You are trying to do too many things at the same time. Forget the amplifier and sound at this time and check through that manual re the operation of the jukebox.

Establish credit.
Make a selection.
Make sure that the search unit pushes out the correct pin.
The S1 & S2 open relays on the search unit make to start the scan process, check with the manual that the results are per the sequence wiring schematic's.
The mechanism should scan and the stop plate assembly should stop at the selected pin and start the transfer.

Regarding the lubrication of the gripper bow, gears and trunion, all this lubrication needs to be removed it is meant to be run lubrication free. Strip down the gripper bow assembly down and wash it in soapy water. On assembly just put some grease into the sockets at each end of the trunion casting.

Regards
Alan Hood
ami-man
UK
 
I sware I've said this a few times already....

The unit will coin up.
You can make a selection and it will register the correct pin for the stopping plate to read. BUT the carousel will not engage with the stopping plate to look for the next record to play. Nothing happens after the Search Unit has registered a selection to play....it just sits there and you can add like a million records in the unit's memory....

I'm just asking for what relay or cam switch is supposed to engage the unit's carousel and stopping plate? That way I can test it and clean it. I mean I've cleaned S1 and S2 with paper......

I'm not worried about the AMP right now, I'm just shooting the breeze to see if anyone knows if that is just a common issue for older AMPs to have that type of interference. May need a cap kit.......

I'm not worried about the Gripper Bow right now, that I will handle later. The Slight lubrication we used did not get on anything that touches the record, nor does it eat a way at plastics (WD-40).
 
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