Seeburg DS160

FrizzleFried

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Oh what have I gotten myself in to? >grin<

That's pretty much my feeling right now. I picked up a Seeburg DS-160 today that is most assuredly a project.

I warn you (especially you Ken)... I know nothing about jukeboxes so I am sure I will be asking a lot of stupid questions.

Anyway, please give me your honest opinions of the condition of this juke. Again, I know nothing... so I don't know if I got a good deal, a bad deal or a fair deal.

Here is what is claimed. The seller claims he's had the juke for 17 years. He claims it worked when he had it in his house but his wife wanted it out so it went in the garage where his kids dicked around with it. He claims he hasn't plugged it in for 15 years. Now... as for the accuracy of the story, having just met the guy once... I'd say my gut feeling is that it's a load of crap. My best guess is that the guy got it... tried to get it working himself and failed... then put it up for sale. But what do I know?

What I DO know is this:

(A) The serial number has been scratched off. Just the serial number... not the model... not the amps... just the serial. Strange, eh?

(B) There is a cluster of wires that have been cut off at the plug (you can see it in one of the pix)... why in the hell they would do such a thing, I have no idea.

(C) There is a single loose black wire hanging.

(D) The door is broken and falls out... which sucks.

(E) What appears to be the power supply (?) isn't held down in the back.

(F) The left speaker has a broken back plastic part...which sucks as I know how hard these speakers are to acquire.

That is about all I know of the machine. It did come with a couple extra styluses... there is a tube or two in side as well.

I paid $150.00 for it. If I got shafted... I can take it because it's only $150... what say you?

What's it going to take to get this bad boy working?

Where do I start? Can I get the manual online (PDF?)? If so, where?

Etc... etc... etc...

Now, on to the pix:

JUKE_RIGHT1.jpg

JUKE_FRONTFULL.jpg

JUKE_LEFT1.jpg

JUKE_FRONT.jpg

JUKE_FRONT2.jpg
 
Note: In the close-up of the back-door photo, you can see three red circles. One shows the cluster of wires cut (left most circle)... one shows the plug the wires were cut from (top most circle) and the last (middle) circle shows the black wire hanging.
 
The first thing you'll absolutely need is to BUY the manual. You get it from either www.victoryglass.com or www.alwaysjukin.com

# 60-1127 (R-299) Seeburg DS-100 & DS-160 Service, Parts, & Troubleshooting Manual, 216 pages, $39.95

Don't flinch at the price. This is not a cheap photocopy or scanned copy. This is a professionally offset printed manual and the schematics & halftone photographs are crystal clear. This manual is worth every penny.

You'll also want to jump over to the jukebox forum at www.phonoland.com and talk to Ron Rich, the defacto Seeburg expert who took over from the late Tony Miller. Ron has written several excellent Seeburg repair books. You'll want to buy his "Seeburg Mechanism Guide". Be sure to mention I sent you.
 
The first thing you'll absolutely need is to BUY the manual. You get it from either www.victoryglass.com or www.alwaysjukin.com

# 60-1127 (R-299) Seeburg DS-100 & DS-160 Service, Parts, & Troubleshooting Manual, 216 pages, $39.95

Don't flinch at the price. This is not a cheap photocopy or scanned copy. This is a professionally offset printed manual and the schematics & halftone photographs are crystal clear. This manual is worth every penny.

You'll also want to jump over to the jukebox forum at www.phonoland.com and talk to Ron Rich, the defacto Seeburg expert who took over from the late Tony Miller. Ron has written several excellent Seeburg repair books. You'll want to buy his "Seeburg Mechanism Guide".


I assume you recommend I purchase from those folks rather than the $19.95 version available via EBAY? :)

This isn't gunna be a 1 week restoration... is it?

:D
 
How much would a strobe disc be separately? The price difference between the ebay and from one of the links above is only a couple bucks, but if the strobe disc (they call it a strope... typo?) is worth taking the chance on quality I'll go for it.
 
Seeburg DS

Note: In the close-up of the back-door photo, you can see three red circles. One shows the cluster of wires cut (left most circle)... one shows the plug the wires were cut from (top most circle) and the last (middle) circle shows the black wire hanging.

Hope you have a lot of Excedrin for this project ! LOL A Seeburg,especially with a TSU series control center, it can be very difficult for someone who has never worked on them. Then you have wires to the keyboard that have been butchered to boot ! There isn't anything worse that getting a machine that the MAYTAG repairman was into before you got it ! If you decided not to fix it ,,,you could still come out on selling the parts, especially the EARS ! Good luck & let us know how you are coming with this project ! Ryan
 
I have seen the strobe disc sold seperately for between $15 to $20.

That ebay mention of the "strope" is a typo. It should say strobe.

The ebay manual link I mentioned has MORE manual pages than the Victory Glass/Always Jukin reproduction.
 
At least now when the manuals show up, you can trace out what wires went where. If you need more help, Ron Rich can advise you also.
 
I was in your situation about 8 months ago, I bought the same era juke. It's working 100% now, but there were honestly 2 times where I was about to part it out.

My biggest mistake was everyone told me to re-cap the amp and I did, however after the amp was rebuilt after working great for 20 minutes the TSU unit burned up because I didn't realize it too needed to be re-capped. The transformer would have been $300. to re-wind however I waited and got lucky and found a new unused NOS transformer on ebay for $100.

The other thing on the mechanical side, if you think something needs adjusting WAIT....you are probably wrong, most mechanical issues are from dried up oil and gunk that needs to be cleaned properly and re-oiled (using the correct oil).

As Ken mentioned Ron Rich is the man, make sure you buy his book, he can pretty much answer any issue you have.

If you have any simple questions on where things go I can check mine for you.
 
It was suggested that I attach a 60w lamp in series with the power cord before powering on. Is that as simple as running the power cord to a lamp then from the lamp to the juke (sounds like that's what it means)?

I also will be buying Ron's book as well.
 
The incandescent light bulb will be connected in series with one side of the power line (like a giant resistor). Never use a compact fluorescent bulb for this application.

This is called the "dim bulb tester". When you power on the juke, the bulb should glow dimly (that's good). If it glows brightly, then that means there's a short circuit somewhere in the juke.

You go to the hardware store electrical department and buy one of those rubber covered light sockets that has two wires sticking out.
 
The incandescent light bulb will be connected in series with one side of the power line (like a giant resistor). Never use a compact fluorescent bulb for this application.

This is called the "dim bulb tester". When you power on the juke, the bulb should glow dimly (that's good). If it glows brightly, then that means there's a short circuit somewhere in the juke.

You go to the hardware store electrical department and buy one of those rubber covered light sockets that has two wires sticking out.

Pardon my being a dumbass...

How I am reading this is that I am to get the rubber covered light socket with 2 wires... and then wire it to which of the two wires coming out of the jukebox... hot or neutral (I'm guessing hot?). Is there a way to do this without sacrificing the power cord?

Maybe I need a visual... I wonder if there is one online somewhere.
 
You chop up an el cheapo extension cord, wire the light socket into it, then plug the jukebox power cord into this newly wired extension cord/light bulb tester.

The antique radio forums have gone down for some reason today. They have instructions on building the "dim bulb tester" if you just search there once the site comes back up again.

http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/
 
Welp... I just built and used my dim-bulb tester.

Unfortunately a 15w bulb lit up like a Xmas tree.

:(

I'm still waiting on the manual though Rich's guide is here as of today.

How much more difficult did this project get knowing there is a short somewhere?
 
Does the bulb wattage matter? Earlier, you mentioned using a 60 watt but tried it with a lower wattage bulb. I have no clue since I have never heard of this method, but I have to assume the wattage would make a difference.
 
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