Repair Instructionals and Parts for Ragtime Roll operated Machines

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These videos contain trouble shooting tips for Ragtime Roll operated machines. There is a buy now button below each video. Please be sure that this is the part you need by following closely all instructions.

Before you can trouble shoot a Ragtime O roll machine you must remove the front panel as shown:

If you are having rewind or play problems you will need to trouble shoot the Roll Frame as shown in this YouTube video:

If your Ragtime Machine goes into rewind when you turn it on you may need to replace the Lock and Cancel valve:

This is a diagram of how the tubes from the Lock and cancel valve hook up to the Suction Motor and the Trackerbar.
Follow this YouTube video to replace your lock and cancel valve:
This is the Lock and Cancel Valve shown below:
If you have determined that you will need a Lock and Cancel Valve you may order it here below:

Pneumatic Elbows:

If you find broken elbows at the pneumatic, you will need these:

This is a Drive Dog:

If you need a Drive dog, this is what it looks like and you may order one here:

This is our Rewind Pneumatic:

If you have determined that you need a rewind pneumatic you may order it here:

If your Ragtime Machine is more than 20 years old you may need to upgrade with a new take up spool. The new one tracks better, helps eliminate tearing rolls. It also has a hook on both sides making it twice as easy to change the roll:

Other parts that may be needed are the following:

Rewind Lever:
This is a new and improved rewind lever. Units 20 years old or older have a lever that will loosen. The old one does not have a shoulder or hub like the one shown in the photo.

Spool Frame Motor with sprockets:

Spool Frame wiring harness. If your spool frame speed control is erratic or does not adjust the speed, or only goes in rewind you will need to replace the entire wiring harness.

On Ragtime Machines older than 30 years, you may need to replace the complete spool frame. The old ones don't have speed regulation, injection molded takeup spool, leather lined adjustable breaks and many other features. The metal frames were subject to bending when the pianos are moved incorrectly. They were attached to the bottom of the piano which will flex when dropped roughly while on a piano dolly or in a shipping crate. This flexing bends the metal spoolframe which would not return to it's original shape. The new polymer spool frames have a memory and return to the correct shape after being flexed because they are flexible. They are made from a material which has rubber added to it. This eliminated a lot of problems for us since we ship our pianos all over the world and have no control over how they are moved once they leave the factory.

Sometimes the little tubes on the back of the trackerbar break, or the tracker bar gets bent. You will need a new one. $180 each. Choose the button below:

The sprockets may need to be replaced.

A155c - The upper clutch and shaft wears out after about 150,000 plays. You may need to replace it:

A178 - This is the Lower Clutch and Transmission. If the bottom takeup spool is forced or held in place, the transmission can be broken. You may need to replace it if it binds on rewind.
Our pneumatics can be tested with 3 pieces of tracker bar (1/8") rubber tubing. Take a 15 foot piece and attach to the nipple. Attach vacuum to the supply nipple and then tape over the other side. With vacuum on, place and remove your finger over the end of the tubing. The pneumatic should work ok, maybe a little slow but it works. If it doesn't work, or is very slow, try it with a 10 foot piece and finally a 5 foot piece. If it doesn't work with a 5 foot piece of tubing, it is bad. 15 feet is the desirable amount. All pneumatics here can be tested in this manner except the no bleed pneumatics used in the Glockenspiel and the cymbal. They must be paired with a normal bleed pneuatic using a small T. Then test as the others are tested. Both pneumatics should work at the same time. Below are the various pneumatics you will need. All the no bleed pneumatics are piano pneumatics without a bleed. We also use piano pneumatics for some instruments. The only difference is the amount they open. The large skins open a little further for a longer stroke.

This is our Piano Pneumatic.

This is our No Bleed Glockenspiel and O roll Cymbal Pneumatic.

This is our Large Skin Pneumatic, used for rewind and some instruments.

This is guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele, bailalaika, mandolin Fretter pneumatic.

This is guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele, bailalaika, mandolin Plucker pneumatic.

This is a piano stack of pneumatics. Our current pianos come with 54 notes and a special tubing arrangement which sounds better than the previous 66 note stacks, costs less and stays in tune longer. If you have an older nickelodeon or Ragtime nickelodeon made before 1986 you will most likely need to upgrade to the new design and tubing arrangement. The older designs show signs of failing after 20 years, however the new design, since 1986, has not yet shown signs of failing. If you do not know the age of your conversion, there are some signs. Tan pneumatics, pneumatics with ridges across the back, purple skins, aluminum bodies or pianos with soldered together brass T's.are all between 1971 and 1986. Order either upgrade here.

This is a pair of Spool Ends for piano rolls not made by Ragtime so that they can fit a Ragtime O roll piano. The left side as a hex drive, the right side is round for a spring loaded pin.

This is a normal Ragtime Vacuum motor. If you have and older unit and need a replacement, it will probably be taller and painted black. For the last 20 years they have been white with black top and black bottom. They have mostly been round. Some ultra quite boxes were built for pianos with the room. They are square with this round motor inside for sound insulation. Ultra quiet motor not shown. This is the replacement for the one inside. If you want to upgrade, order the Ultra Quiet. Be sure you have plenty of room for it. There is a third option and that is the commercial model. It is a brushless motor with a liftime of 30 years. It is very expensive, but necessary for 24 hour continous use.

This is a photo of a Ragtime Pressure motor. Note the pressure elbow on the side for 3/4 inch pipe. These are used in pianos with pipes, calliopes or some pianos with accordion if it is on pressure. Accordions may run on pressure or vacuum depending on what instruments accompany it. If with pipes, the accordion will run on vacuum to balance the system.

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Last Update: Nov. 25,2012
Web Author: Ken Caulkins

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