Bally EM Bertha Project

[OldReno]

Hi
Forgive my non-posting lately.
Got laid off from my job, and am slowly getting my things together, here in Nevada, with the highest unemployment.
But, at least we drink and smoke more than any other state.  Lol. And got worst education, highest teen pregnancy, etc.
Trying to fix an old Bally Bertha for a guy.
It's an E/M conversion I suspect, and the cabinet and handle are huge. It's a big-ass machine.
If anyone's familiar with these monsters, or has schematics or other information, please let me know.
It has a board full of encapsulated relays, 48V and 120V, which I suspect have to do with the very odd pay structure.
But don't know. It's too convoluted. Someone was trying to redo something that already worked, IMHO, when they (re)built this monster.
It's a 4 reel fruit/bars machine, and if anyone wants to help calculate the odds, give a reply and I'll send data.
I've got the reel strip readings and pay structure if you think you can figure the %....

On a personal note, I'd like to thank Darell of CVS who gave me an old Bally 742A conversion, for his generosity.  Thanks. I'd like to post about this machine later.
BTW, I used an odds reset coil for the bertha.  It was blowing 50V, and the old one was fried. You got more?

I'll be glad to post any data gleaned about this machine to NLG, to further our general knowledge on gambling machines.
Thanks, kids, and I'll try not to be such a stranger....
Still unemployed, and I'll admit, not working is sure harder than working.
Thanks,
OldReno

(attached file of image as attachment, but don't know how to embed it into my text...<IMG_0821.jpg>)
Edit, well I'll be damned, the photo popped up by itself.  Ain't electronics amazing....

[FOXSSLOTS1]

I have worked on several Big Berthas before and be prepared for hair pulling sessions.  The major manuf of these beasts was J+L  if I remember correctly out of Reno.  There are no wire diagrams to my knowledge - they did make a bunch of them - most were 25c and $ (IKE)  machines - some later ones had BV.   Only standard item used were bally hoppers but then the rest was their own design - timing units - and payout units were difficult to deal with.   I think I still have some reel assemblies in my warehouse.   Good luck with your project.

[Amachanic]

OMG... That's one big ass machine. Lol  How is heck did you move it, with a fork lift.. My wife would kill me if I brought one of those home, but on the other hand it's cool as heck too.    Good luck with you new project, at least you can work on this one standing up.. 

[OldReno]

Foxslots, thanks for your info on this monster.  Glad to know some reel parts are still around, too.  In fact, the 2nd reel kick is pretty lame, and it appears someone tried to replace it.
It looks like a simple machine, but those accursed encapsulated relays mystify me.  I have the feeling they're largely for payout structure, since everything else is straightforward.
Also, having an overabundance of yellow wires everywhere don't help much.  Reminds me of 70 wire Sam....
I've noticed right away the unit seems to have a tendency to fry coils.  Replaced one and saved one already just by paying attention to sounds, and smell.
I'll see how serious the guy is about getting this elephant fixed, and it seems to me to be simpler just to put in a new wiring harness for coinrelay,handle, and odds step up, and then figure out how to deal with the payouts. I could probably bypass that Relay board, and rewire the thing to give coin accept, handle release and odds step in a couple of hours, but the payout situation will take some time.
Anyway, I'll try to get as many photos as I can so we can put them somewhere here on NLG for posterity, and in case anyone else ever gets stuck with one of these.

Thx.

[stayouttadabunker]

Out of PURE curiosity - how much does it weigh?