Ami Continental

Hello, can anyone help?
My AMI has developed a few annoying faults over the last few months. The main one being when i select a record it scans then when the record basket should move nothing happens. If i leave it eventually it will click in and work. Sometimes after 5 minutes or up an hour. I am suspecting a bad contact or similar but don't really wont to poke around in the dark. Any advise would be much appreciated.

Hello, can anyone help?
My AMI has developed a few annoying faults over the last few months. When i select a record it scans fine but when it finds the correct number the record basket should move but nothing happens. If i leave it eventually it will click in and work. Sometimes after 5 minutes or up an hour. I am suspecting a bad contact or similar but do not really wont to poke around in the dark. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Hello lashlaru

If I understand correctly, the selection is registered correctly, but the record magazine does not immediately start the scan. This function is handled by the Scan Control Unit. On it is mounted a microswitch, which is probably faulty. If you do not know where to find it, a little description. You must remove the green (or white, if it is a Conti2) mechanism cover. Then you see on the left rear corner, right in front of the record magazine a small unit with two coils and the mentioned microswitch. The switch is pressed in standby. After a selection, the two coils are energized and the switch is released. After a little more than one turn of the magazine, the switch is pressed again.

Best regards - charly49

Hi charly49

You are a genius!! That is the problem, if i press the switch in and out a few times it fires in to action. Is it worth getting the switch off and trying to clean it or is it a sealed unit?
Can you answer my next question?
For sometime now the sound has slowly got worse, i'm still getting sound but very poor to what it used to be. Thinking it might be the cartridge i took the phono lead out of the amp and plugged it into a hifi amp that i had spare with a set of speakers. The sound was fantastic! therefore i know its not the cartridge. My question is untill i can afford to get the amp repaired could i use the hifi amp and wire in the jukebox speakers? Is that safe??
Thanks for your help so far
Paul

Not sure on connections?

Hello Paul

I think you should buy a new microswitch. A repair is only successful for a short time. Unfortunately, the switches in the shop have 6.3mm connections. The originals have 4.8mm. The matching switches are available in a well-stocked electronics shop.

The amplifier should be repaired by a specialist. Only in this way can the original sound be restored. If the sound is poor and distorted, it indicates serious errors. You should stop operating the amplifier, because otherwise further damage (eg defective transformers) can occur.

HiFi amplifiers are not suitable for the jukebox. They have neither a mute function (to suppress noise during the record change) nor an AVC (Automatic Volume Control - to compensate for different recorded music). The speakers are optimized for relatively low power tube amplifiers (about 22 watts). Transistor hi-fi amplifiers usually have much more power and the speakers can easily be damaged.

The connections seem to be correct, as far as you can see in the photos.
C1 - C2 are the speakers> OK
C3 - C4 is for mute> OK
B1 - B2 - B3 are the terminals for the volume control. The connection is correct when the wires are connected to the corresponding terminals on the volume control.

Best regard - charly49

Hi charly 49

Thanks for the advice. The jukebox is now selecting every time, i started to remove the switch but noticed the top screw allows the switch to be moved. Like you said in the rest position the switch is engaged but in play it was only just disengaging. Moving it back slightly and it works great, a proper click!!

As for the amp, i will have to start saving my pennies!! Can you recommend anyone in the UK?

There is one other thing. It used to work only when i put a coin in, the coin light would come on then go off when a record selected. The button bank would then disable. Lately it seems stuck on freeplay. The coin light is out but the button bank constantly active. Having looked at the credit unit in the back the wipers are all the way round to the left. Its not a major problem but i did like the novelty of the coin. Any thoughts would be appreciated, thats my last ask for now i promise! Thanks for all your help.
Paul

Hello Paul

The key lock works differently than other jukeboxes. If there is no credit, the lock solenoid is energized and the lock relay has dropped. The lock relay is the small relay next to the large solenoid. I suspect that the Latch Relay works correctly, but does not attract the Latch Soelnoid. when it falls off.

In series with the latch solenoid is a resistor that limits the current through the coil. The current is then sufficient to keep the solenoid attracted but too low to attract it. Therefore, the resistor is bypassed (by the latch switch) as long as the solenoid is not energized. Once the solenoid pulls in, the contact opens and the resistor becomes effective. Sometimes it happens that this contact is dirty and makes bad contact. Some versions also have a fuse (0.6 A) for the latch solenoid (mounted next to the solenoid).

For the repair of the amplifier, there is a very competent member from the UK here in the forum. It's Alan Hood, nickname "ami-man". You can send him a private message.

Best regards - charly49