This morning I ran the SMC2 for the first time using the working MCU from the Hideaway Unit. The PCC had already been tested in the prior SMC1. It all works great! Selections are made and the amp has great sound with really good tight bass. It works but there’s still a long way to go.

Last night I had put the MRA4 amp on the kitchen table that doubles as the “inside” bench to see if I could find the source of the hum. I like to do an hour or so of amplifier work before turning in. Usually 9-10pm. I ran a new ground to a couple of high voltage axials that were mounted on stand-offs. I couldn’t see where they were grounded as the caps obscured the view. I resoldered two other grounds in the high voltage circuit and found another ground that has several leads mounted to it. The leads were twisted around and the lug had never been soldered. One of these findings just about has to be the source of the hum. I installed the big 15 inch speaker and then the amp. With crossed fingers I turned the juke on, selected a record and….NO HUM. I can’t run around in circles patting myself on the back just yet. There was another time when the hum went away. Still, considering what I had found the night before I was fairly confident it was gone for good.

Eric S. from Ft. Worth dropped by to pick up the beautiful tear drop. It’s going to a good home where it will be lovingly admired. I pointed out the pair I have on the wall telling him they weren’t connected and never would be. I just like to admire them. He grinned and said that is pretty much what he would do too. There’s something about that style I really admire. He told me of a very recent aquisition of another tear drop needing restoration. He took a picture of the color code on the can of paint I had used. I’m certain he will make a match to the one he got from me. I’m gonna offer him the left over grill cloth I used so he really can have a match.

I didn’t do much to the SMC2 today. I removed the CPA unit, cleaned the top, lightly sanded it, taped it off, and sprayed it with a hammertone silver. These also have a small circuit board in them that gets a little attention. This boards’ sole function is to reject a record if the jukebox had been turned off with a record clamped or playing. One capacitor gets replaced and then solder joints are inspected. I’ll usually find a few that need to be reflowed.

Tracy L has said his R mech was moving jerkily and the needle was landing way late or into the song instead of the run-in space. The motor did have a pretty bad vibration. The motor couple was marginal as well. I called him explaining what I had found and got the OK to proceed. I replaced the old motor with a good used late model motor and then installed a new motor couple.

New G…..it is time. Got the loud ass hum when in Play. I disconnected the speaker plug and using a couple of test leads I connected a speaker to just the ground and signal out of the amp. No hum!!!! This told me the hum was originating somewhere in the high voltage field coil circuit. I also pulled the big speaker to replace the crossover capacitor. When I pulled it several pieces of the speaker ring stayed behind. I gently removed them to reglue. The gigantic old capacitor, 4uf, got replaced with two 2.2uf in series to meet the value. I broke out all the small clamps I own, glued and set the speaker ring pieces and laid it all aside.

I took the mirrors back out of the New G, pulled the mech, and slid the R mech into place. I want to run it to get an idea of what else it might need. I almost immediately saw why the tonearm was landing so far into the record. The trip wire was pushing back against its reset bracket forcing the tonearm forward as it moved toward the record. I wanted to wait until Tracy was here to go through these adjustments with him hoping to help him learn a little about these jukeboxes he collects.