Nightmare on Collaro Street

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

So I wanted to start on the Magnavox "New Horizon"
consolette I bought a few months ago.

The amp looks pretty simple, even for me, so
I took the plunge and pulled the Collaro H400
changer out.
It is mechanically the same as an RC-54 or RC-456
from my research.

Right off, multiple problems.
The motor rotor was seized in the top
bearing housing.
No amount of careful heat and cleaner
would loosen it.
Finally had to use a wooden block and
hammer to knock the rotor free, after
removing the bottom bearing housing.
No real damage from doing that, thank goodness.

There was NO oil at all on the rotor at the top.
I figure the lube dried out and the rotor did
a dry seize.
Anyway, some polishing with steel wool and
lube of the felt oil resevoirs and the motor
spun well.

I turned to start to clean the cycling mechanism,
after viewing a video on this type of mech.
I did some partial dis-assembly, and cleaned and
lubed the major assemblies.

When I tried to manually cycle the changer, it
hit a point where it would not move.
Nothing obvious under there, indicating what
the heck the problem was.

I went back and liberally sprayed with de-greaser
the area where the cycling operating bar seemed
to be stuck.
That helped free up more of the cycle, but the changer
still won't work properly.

And during testing with the drive wheel on, I noticed
that the rotor shaft is too high up.
So, the fan and the stepped speed turret mounted
on the rotor are too high up, and the platter cannot turn without
grinding from hitting the top of the speed turret.
This also mis-aligns the drive wheel and
idler wheel heights.

Everything in that top bearing assembly is EXACTLY
back as it was before.
Now I'm thinking I have to try putting a washer on
top of the steel guide sleeve that the
top of the rotor spindle goes through.
This would lower the top of the guide sleeve,
and allow the fan and speed turret to lower.

I'll take a 600 or W800 series Collaro any day
over this one. I anticipate a long haul here.

[electra225]

Mr. Mogul, what LITTLE I know about Collaro changers, based on my limited experience is that I have had three of my six Magnavox consoles that had seized motors when I got them, always the top bearing. The fan/turret assembly can be moved up and down the shaft in almost infinite positions. There is a little wire clip thingy that holds the fan in position on the motor shaft. I failed to mark the first one I took off and had a dickens of a time getting the fan positioned where it did not rub on the motor, and where it was not too high to change the position of the stepped shaft that contacts the drive tire. I typically use acetone on the motor shaft when it is seized in the bearing. I have no idea why the upper bearing is the one to seize. One would think that the bottom one would seize first. Taking a Collaro changer apart and getting it back together again so it will work is a distant dream of mine. I'm still not comfortable with the thought of taking a VM changer apart, and they are miles more simple than a Collaro. Good luck.

Another thing I learned. You don't want to bend the fan working with it. If it is not perfectly straight so it runs smooth, you may get enough rumble in the cartridge you'll wonder if someone is running a jackhammer under your stereo.

My comments are pertinent to the F-200/S-600 series changers, by the way.

[TC Chris]

I have no idea why the upper bearing is the one to seize. One would think that the bottom one would seize first.

Upper one gets more heat by convection, plus it may have more friction from the idler wheel bearing on it?

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Mr. Mogul, I re-read your post. I know you've thought of this or tried it, but.......

Could the binding situation be caused by something as simple as bad mounts and/or a slipping drive tire? My limited experience has taught me that Collaro changers can be more sensitive to these components than other changers. The motor on a Collaro changer is larger than a washing machine motor, perhaps for a reason? Good luck.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Mr. Mogul, I re-read your post. I know you've thought of this or tried it, but.......

Could the binding situation be caused by something as simple as bad mounts and/or a slipping drive tire? My limited experience has taught me that Collaro changers can be more sensitive to these components than other changers. The motor on a Collaro changer is larger than a washing machine motor, perhaps for a reason? Good luck.

Well, I have found a part called the switch-off lever.
When I pivot the lever a certain direction, it will allow the main drive gear to rotate fully
through the cycle.

The Sams does not even address this part in its explanation of the
changer cycle. So, I need to really get familiar with all the myriad
linkages and parts. That orientation just takes time and repeat
views of the mechanism parts.

[William]

I wish you all the best, Mr. Mogul. As I have mentioned before, Collaro changers scare me, they are just too complicated. One of these days I will be forced to tackle one.

Bill