Star Tech Journal

Rescue Daniaged
Video Discs
Seeburg SMC-1 & 2
Repair Tips
Matt J. Mccullar
Forum Fair Arcade
Fort Worth, Texas
Mark Gavett
Summit Amusement
St. Paul, Minnesota
PROBLEM
SYMPTOM
Is your.laser disc game down only because the
disc has a large scratch on it, or is full of
scratches? And you can't find a replacement
anywhere? Help is on the way.
Almost all of these jukebox computers have
been switched and reported bad at one time or
another. One of the biggest failures I've seen on
90% of these computers has been the micropro-
cessor socket has become oxidized and has lost
connections with the pin of the processor. This
will cause problems like misreading the 100/
179 carriage home switches to putting up cred-
its on its own as well as playing wrong records.
A few distributors sell some stuff that comes in
a spray bottle that is supposed to heal small
scratches, but 15 to 20 bucks a bottle is a bit
much. You can repair it yourself for about three
dollars and thirty minutes of your µme (and if
the disc is real bad, what have you got to lose!).
SOLUTION
Dash over to the hardware store and buy a can
of Brasso metal polish. It contains a very fine
abrasive that is gentle enough to remove
scratches from plastic. Shake the can well and
clear off a place on the workbench.
Place a clean towel on your working surface,
then put the laser disc on the towel, damaged
side up. Pour a small amount of Brasso onto a
clean, soft cotton cloth (baby diapers are great).
In essence, pretend you are waxing a car. Polish
along the scratch, not across it. In a few minutes
the Brasso will dry, leaving a dull finish. With
another clean cloth, buff this off with strong,
firm strokes. It will take several coats and a lot
of elbow grease, but eventually the scratch will
disappear and the disc will be good as new!
I discovered this when I dropped one of my
prized compact discs and put an enormous
gouge into it. Since CDs and laser discs are just
aluminum with a shell of plastic, I decided to try
out the Brasso trick I learned from an antique-
radio restorer. The disc still works great, and
other people have said their results were good,
too. I hope this tip helps out someone with
similar problem discs
CURE
Remove or replace the 40 pin IC socket located
on the middle board inside the computer. Then
clean the oxide off the microprocessor and rein-,,.--.
stall. Note: Observe chip orientation as the
board is not labeled.
CLUTCH ASSY
On top of this odd failure, I have noticed that the
Seeburg SMC-2 jukeboxes (also called the Phoe-
nix). has often required a scan/play clutch.
, lfyoµ lleaf a SI!la]lti¢kiI1g S()tthd a.s a.
• feccfrcfis beirlg played or ·.·.· .... · ·. . . ·.·.·.·
14hejU~ebox••is • lps1ng.the• cogect.recor4
PP§itipri coµntasthe carriage moves from
play lcFs.catl, or . < > • • . • • . / . •· · •. \ · •·
the sa.rrta.ge n1akes • ayery jt1rnpy or
tta.tl§ition • . fi-plll•·•·pla.y••·to . •. s.can····posi.-
• ·tion~ This clutch should be 1ookedata.sa
•· pdijslbl¢ pfoblerri.
• 1f
J•~r¥Y"•
After replacing or adjusting the four clutch
adjustments we have had very good luck with
the SMC-1 and SMC-2 jukeboxes. Also oiling of
these mech's is a must including the scan/pla~
clutch.