Some days it’s one step forward, one step back. I had to take the cashbox enclosure off for the third time. The first time was when the SMC2 cabinet was torn down for cleaning. I re-installed it. The second time was for when I found out it is impossible to put the back screw in for the coin cup with the enclosure in place. I pulled the mech, the cashbox door frame, took the enclosure out, put the one damned screw in, then put the enclosure and all back on. Since I’m at a loss on the MCU problems I’m taking time to do small stuff to the SMC2. One of those was to put the coin gear back in. There is a frame that the coin mechanism holder slides in and out of. It fit so tightly it was a fight to try and slide it out. So I removed the holder-weeks ago. Today I found out it is impossible to install the holder with the enclosure in place. By now I knew what to do and what curse words to use and when to use them. The enclosure came off quickly. So after a few judicious hits with a hammer and punch to weaken the clamping on the holder ( jukeboxes are not rocket science ) I installed it and put the blessed enclosure back on. The coin mechanism holder now gently slides in and out as it should. Another small step for a man….

This batch of gray boxes got their final test, new security stickers, and added to stock. I spent the evening putting up tools and parts and re-organizing a couple of the parts drawers; something I’ve put off for too long. I used to repair a lot of arcade games and pinball machines. Now that I do just Seeburg jukebox work a lot of the electronics components I have are not needed and I’m slowly winnowing them out. It always feels good to get better organized.

The latest on the SMC2 circus. The mech will not consistently pick up both 179 and 279. When it misses 279 the mech will go left and “bang it’s head” against the left side. This has traditionally indicated a PCC problem but I have two good PCCs and neither fixes this. Then another issue cropped up. It will not pick up 100/200. If I select 101/201 it will pick both. No matter where I put the 100/200 limit switch ramp. And then the mech continually scans. I think the fact that the 100/200 selections are in memory and for whatever reason they’re not being read out is what’s causing the continual scanning. The mech is “looking” for them. There is a factory reset function-the “undocumented” factory reset that apparently won’t clear out current selections. I’ll test this by making a few selections and then doing the reset and see if they’re picked up or cleared. Selections the box will make. Despite the mssing 100/200 everything else plays. Here’s the kicker. The original MCU will pick up the corner selections and come to rest. I’m convinced the Gen2 board is bad. I called Ed Fischer because I couldn’t get the factory reset to work. Turns out the directions leave a little to be desired as to the steps to take to do this reset. With his help I did it. He thinks his Gen2 board is OK despite the evidence. At this point I’m not certain of much on the SMC2. I’m at a dead end.

I finished the TSR6 receiver yesterday and it has good voltages. Bruce W. from Rockwall came by and picked them up. I installed the new tubes he needed and went over what I did. He’s a super nice fellow.