Location: Henderson, CO
Symptoms: Both record lifting arms jammed into the record carousel. The carousel was unable to rotate. Trip switch not working.
I spent a good half-hour trying to unjam the record arms from the carousel and realized there was no hope without total dis-assembly. Both tips were bent over facing the rear of the jukebox. I’m not sure how they got that way, possibly when the jukebox was moved to the basement. I’m surprised the plastic tips hadn’t broke. The only option was remove to the record playing mechanism from above the carousel, then remove the carousel. I advised the owner that this was going to take several hours. I got the go-ahead.
Once everything was disassembled, I noticed the three rollers that support the carousel were frozen. A generous dousing of WD-40 didn’t solve the problem. I finally took a pair of pliers and rocked the rollers back and forth sideways to break whatever corrosion or gunk kept them from turning. That worked. Then another dousing of WD-40. I followed up with regular oil and all three rollers were spinning freely again.
The tips on the record lift arms needed to rebuilt after being jammed. They are spring loaded and should open up as the arm rises into the carousel. I disassembled each tip, cleaned, readjusted, and lubricated with silicone.
I put the mechanism back together and did a couple of trial runs with no records installed. Everything seemed to be working great.
Once again, another bad trip switch. I encounter these a lot on later model Wurlitzers. As I have described here in this log before, I broke open the cover and flushed with contact cleaner. It’s pretty much all one can do, as you really can’t get to the contacts themselves with any kind of abrasive. I reassembled the trip switch, adjusted it, and played several records. Seemed to work okay after that. On the jukeboxes I have done this, they are still working after nearly two years. But still, it would be nice to find a replacement switch.
The tripoff microswitch used in the Wurlitzer carousel changer is similar on all
juke models ranging from the model 1700 up through the 3300 which was the last
carousel-type model. The micro-switches themselves are unique as the particular
switch type used for this function requires a minimal amount of force to trip
it.
Here are the solutions I’m aware of to your problem:
Find an original replacement switch from one of the juke-parts salvage guys.
The older jukes (2300 included) used an old-style larger body microswitch for
this function. You’ll find a newer smaller type microswitch used on the later
60’s model jukes. If you find the older style large body switch it will be a
simple bolt-in change. This will probably be the simplest solution. Hole
spacing on the most recent switches are different, which will require
drilling/fitting.
Microswitch is still in business (now a division of Honeywell) They still make
these styles of switches. (called a half-rotation type–contacts make on
closure–certain model Wurl jukes (incl. the 2300 models) require a switch
contact closure when the switch is not tripped—
Honeywell does have a big catalog of switch types, none of which will
physically line up with the switch style–bolt hole mountings on your 2300.
It’s a question if you want to plow through the switch engineering specs in the
current catalog to come up with the closest match. Purchase microswitch products
through their parts distributors.
manufacturer’s website: http://www.microswitch.com
I’ve modified some Wurlitzer carousel jukes, when tripoff switches failed, to a
system that uses a magnet and a reed switch mounted on a terminal block. If
this is done there will be no “pushback” force on the phono stylus to operate
the tripoff function. I’ve generally installed this modification for jukes
that were updated to lighter, sensitive magnetic phono cartridges.
Makes for reliable 3 to 4 gram tracking with no needle skip.
This switching technology was used by Seeburg and Rowe in their later
vinyl-playing juke models. US Wurlitzer kept using the microswitches on their
machines up until the company closed in 1974. This in my opinion is the
technically best solution, but you’ll need to retrofit the components to make it
work.
Reed switches and magnets can be found at Digi-Key, a US based electronics-parts
wholesale distributor.
web: http://www.dkc1.digikey.com
Yes, I have previously done the research at Microswitch and didn’t come up with a drop-in replacement. In a field service environment, working on other peoples jukeboxes, I don’t have the time to be be drilling holes and redesigning the trip switch design. So far the method I’ve used at refurbishing the switch (which takes about 5 minutes) seems to last at least a couple of years. Time will tell. But the important thing is that it’s working.