Reels not spinning

[SilverFerret]

Hello, I'm haveing issue with the left or middle reels on my 873 not spinning sometimes. I've taken the reel unit out and made adjustments as per my book (owners pictorial guide) but what it seems to me to be is that the wiper arm is not falling back so the reel kicker can kick the reels or it's getting in its way at the very least. I've removed the reels and lubed what I could without taking much apart. It seems that the wiper arm sticks on the contacts as its supposed to fall back. I've used contact cleaner and it helps it slide for a short time.
Is the tension on the wipers to great and pressing to hard against the contacts thus not allowing it to fall back freely?
Thanks, Jim

[OldReno]

Pull the reel mech out and remove the reels.  Using the pump arm, give the machine a half kick.  (you may have to put a small screwdriver in the half gears on the right to keep them kicked....  As you do this you should be able to gently pull the wiper arms forward out of their slots.  Adjust the tension to just about the width of the wiper board itself.  Give them a nice oiling while they're out, and also oil politely your reel boards with a little light oil. Oil will keep them from sticking, and it's needed to prevent wear.
Is that an 809 and 873 showing in your page photo? Nice.

[SilverFerret]

Yes they are. Thanks. Are you saying to oil the contacts? Is that okay? I think that's all that it might need but I was afraid to do that for fear of screwing something electrical up. I'm certainly no elechtrical tech and have no idea what's okay in that area.
What type of oil is good?
Thanks, Jim
P.S. I like the posts you been doing regarding Old Bally's. Thanks for those.

[OldReno]

Yes you must oil the contacts or they'll wear out. Any kind of light oil will work.  Use mineral oil if you have it, I've had no problems with it.
Also, be sure to pull the reels as I suggested, and adjust your wiper tension. Once you have the wiper arms moved forward, you can put a couple of drops on your fingertips and oil the reel board buttons very easily and thoroughly from the back of the mech.
Thanks for the good words on my recent posts. I'll keep it up.
OldReno

[SilverFerret]

It happens that I have another 873 that's in my garage that is 17 days newer (according to the date stamp) that the one I'm having issues with. So I'm trying to do what you (Old Reno) suggested and pull the wiper forward out of their slot so I can lube them and adjust the a bit but here's what I found:
The 17 day newer machine I can do just what you said but the 17 day older machine seems to have a different "latch pawl" I think it's called which is longer and doesn't let me pull the wipers foward enough to come out of its slot. Thus not letting me adjust them and making it more difficult to lube. I've included a couple of pics. The first one is a shot of the longer "latch pawl" and the second is the shorter one which allows me to do what you suggested.
Do you have any idea why they're different?
Thanks, Jim

[OldReno]

The longer latch pawl is the newer style.
I do remember a retrofit for the EM's that locked the wiper arms to the lower assembly.  You had to remove them in order to pull the wipers forward.  Wish I knew why. You may have those on your machine. Perhaps it was to keep you from pulling the wipers too far forward, and having the pawls drop out of position, which MAY happen to you BTW, but it's an easy fix, just push it back where it belongs.
If you can't pull the wiper all the way forward, push the pump arm just a bit more and it should go. If the link locks aren't on it.
Or, you can lube the boards by pulling the wipers back.  It works just as well but not as much fun.
Not as sexy.
Nice pics, thanks!
Somebody may have overhauled the machine and installed the newer pawls.  Or swapped reel mechs. The mystery deepens.

[OldReno]

@Silver,
I think the reason they went with the longer latch, is that yes, often the shorter ones would pop out if you pulled the wipers out too far.
I think that's also why they made the link locks I talked about above (made by another source, I think -- both were a fix).
Make sure you kick off the reels with your pump arm before putting it back in the machine, to be sure your pawls are in place.  Otherwise you might get a handle jam (unlikely, more likely the bad reel just won't latch and spin).  If they kick and spin, you're good. Not to worry. I wrote a post here once on unjamming handles.

[SilverFerret]

Thanks Reno, Everything seem to be fine after oiling the wiper board and wipers. Hopefully that was all it needed.
I take it you were a slot tech during the EM era? If so what casinos did you work in? I also collect casino memorabilia... chips, dice and such. Wondering if you have any old stuff you may want to part with.
Thanks for the help, Jim

[shortrackskater]

THANK YOU SilverFerret and OldReno
I just read your thread and it has motivated me to start work on my Bally again. This may resolve the intermittent payout problems that I was not able to figure out. 

[OldReno]

@silver, glad it's working. Yes, I worked in the EM era, started at the Mapes running change for $2 hour. 
Aren't they GREAT machines? Just Diabolical.
@shortrack-first figure out what pays it doesn't pay on.  That's a good start, I'm thinkin'. Then post us.

[SilverFerret]

Hey Reno, Here's something that may bring back some memories.
This is a Craps layout in the design stages for the Mapes Hotel probably from the late 60's.
Does this look familiar?
Enjoy, Jim

[OldReno]

@Silver, that's way cool, thanks for posting.  After losing my paycheck on one of those, that's what cured me of gambling. Well worth the loss as it has saved me 10's of thousands of dollars over the years.  I maybe gamble 20 buck a year....
BTW, the Mapes used to pay 30 TO 1 for boxcars, and the Nevada club payed 31 FOR 1.  That's called marketing, I think.

Glad you got your machine running.

[SilverFerret]

Hey Reno, were you ever at the Gold Dust in Reno as a slot tech around 1978? Foxesslots tracked the serial number on my 809 as originally delivered to the Gold Dust in Reno.
Thinking maybe you might have had your hands on it at one point.
Just a thought, Jim

[OldReno]

I was at the Money Tree, or Silver Spur or Silver Club around then.  Never worked Gold Dust.