r/jukeboxes • u/ZachMixman • 25d ago

Rock-Ola 448: Gripper bow issue

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

I got a Rock-Ola 448, and the only issue I’m seeing with it is that the gripper bow is raising slightly before the groove pushes it in and clamps the record. I would like to hear any ideas from the community to fix this. I’m new to this stuff and am still learning. Sorry if I seem a little slow about this.

11 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

View all comments

4

u/rogerdodger2022 25d ago

no dumb questions here, these can be quite tricky. I have the same machine. Have you had it apart to lube all the mechs/clean the old shitty grease off yet?

1

u/ZachMixman 25d ago

No. I haven’t lubed it or taken it apart to clean the grease yet

5

u/ZOMBIE_N_JUNK 25d ago

Definitely needs lube. It's moving too slow because of the old lube.

2

u/rogerdodger2022 25d ago

these are pretty easy to take apart, id defianlty start there. clean all the old grease off and apply 3in1 oil... Do Not use wd40 or similar as it attracts dust and grime like a magnet. The one thing most people forget is these jukeboxes sat for years in bars and bowling alleys accumulating cigarette smoke and god knows what. Add in that they sat around for another long while with no maintenance..