Rowe AMI R-81 not giving credits

[jeepers128]

I have a JB that is having credit issues. When pushing the credit button and then selecting a record number nothing happens. Using a quarter does not do anything either. The needle needs replaced and the black wire and the red wire has become detached so i am wondering if that is why it isn't working. Any suggestions to look for and where do I get the needle?

[ami-man]

Hello jeepers128,

Are all of the leds lit on the power supply there are four of them.
The mechanism would still select if you had problems with the cartridge wiring, so that is just another fault.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

[jeepers128]

I will have to check when I get home. What light might not be lit? It displays 200 when you first turn it on, so I know the display works.

[jeepers128]

Then 28vac does not light up.

Edit- it sometimes lights up

[ami-man]

Hello Jeepers128,

You need to remove the power supply board from the power supply and make good any dry joints (cold Joints USA) to the six pin molex socket that connects the PCB to wiring of the power supply, the other end of the board with the connection to the transformer tends to be ok, but check it out as well.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

[jeepers128]

I need help with the wire colors that go to the back of the cartridge.

[ami-man]

Hello Jeepers128,

What is your name?

What is the amplifier model number in the amp? this determines how the cartridge is wired up!

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

[jeepers128]

My name is Cliff. I want to thank you for all of your help. I re soldered the power supply and plugged everything in and still nothing. The lights now light up. After messing with the needle are it started working and selecting records! My am is a r2179a and its a sure m44 cartridge.

[ami-man]

Hello Cliff,

Thank you for that.
The 601-02179 or 2179A  is the standard amplifier in the R-74 to R-82 jukebox. It requires that the cartridge is wired one side out of phase. Please consult your manual for the wiring diagram. You need a black wire on the right lower connection with the red out of the same sreen above it, red is on the botton left connection with the black out of the same screen above it.

The wiring of the cartridge will have no effect to your problem of not selecting. You will have dry joints on the connection pins of the boards or a board will be faulty.

I suggest you contact a engineer who repairs Rowe Ami boards in your country. If you were in Europe you could send your boards to me for testing/repair. Bruce wentworth in the USA used to do these boards but as far as I know no longer repairs them, he may however be able to suggest a suitable engineer. I have repaired some recently from the USA, Belgium, Germany,France and Austraila.

If you send boards to anyone I suggest that you send the following boards to be tested as a set of boards:-

Memory Unit 601-07666 (301-07855 on R-82 & R-83)
Mechanism Control Unit 401-06905
Selector Logic601-08060

keep the boards in their plasic covers and metal backs, these protect the boards from mechanical damage and static discharge.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood (ami-man)
Games Unlimited & Datex Systems
Units 4 & 5 Lion Park
New Street
Halfway
Sheffield
S20 3GH
UK

alan-hood@datex.co.uk

[jeepers128]

I am still not sure I am clear on the wiring for the cartridge. Does the screw on the arm that touches a metal plate. What does that do?

[ami-man]

Hi Cliff,

The screw and cable on the arm form part of the auto cut off on the mechanism, the purpose of this is to reject warped or missing records.
With a good record on the turntable set the gap between the plate and the end of the screw to about 25 thou (spark plug gap).

All these adjustment are show in the manual.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

[jeepers128]

I know this is an old topic. I haven't used the Jukebox in months and turned it on tonight and 200 lit on the display and nothing happened.  After more then 45 minutes I was finally able to select records. Does this make any sense?

[ami-man]

Hello Cliff,

A long time since your last message I guess you got the R-81 working.

From what you say in your latest post, I would say you have a dry joint on one of the boards, this could be on the Memory Unit, Mechanism Control, Selector Logic or be power related.

Regards
Alan

[jeepers128]

Do you think it has to do with a capacitor that needs charged?