Need help getting a tournament coin-disabled Universal slot to allow handle pull

[stoporder]

I recently purchased a Universal slot game that has its coin entry blocked and the coin payout parts removed - it was a tournament slot game. The only way to play it is to press the "max bet" button - none of the other buttons do anything. The handle is always locked.

I'd like to make the game more 'interesting' by at least getting the handle to work when you press one of the 'bet' buttons. Can anyone advise as to how to do this? I can provide pics of the in/outside of the game if needed. Thanks!

[uniman]

You need to pull the board & case out and remove the cover. There should be an eight-pac dip switch near the center of the board.
Look at Dip Switch #7, it should be on. Turn Switch #7 off.
Now the SPIN button or the Handle will start the spin. With #7 on only the MAX bet button works, which is what you have now.

When you put the board back in, perform a RAM clear. Bottom center of the case should be a small round hole. In the hole a small flat black button. Hold button in while turning on the machine, hold button for about 3 seconds and release.

Now when you first use that handle it may be stiff and sometimes sticks pulled down. You need to excercise it a bit to loosen it up.

Here are the Dip Switch settings for Tournament Play;

DIP#1       DIP#2        DIP#6      AMOUNT OF TIME
OFF           OFF            ON             5 MINUTES
ON            OFF            ON            10 MIN
OFF           ON             ON            15 MIN
OFF           OFF            OFF           30 MIN
ON            OFF            OFF           45 MIN
OFF           ON             OFF           60 MIN
ON            ON             OFF           UNLIMITED

DIP#3        DIP#4        DIP#5        DIP#8      CREDITS ALLOCATED
OFF            OFF           OFF            OFF            1000
ON             OFF            OFF           OFF            1500
OFF            ON            OFF            OFF            2000
ON             ON            OFF            OFF            2500
OFF           OFF             ON            OFF            3000
ON            OFF             ON            OFF            3500
OFF           ON              ON            OFF            5000
ON            ON              ON            OFF            UNLIMITED

OFF          OFF            OFF             ON              250
ON           OFF            OFF             ON              500
OFF          ON             OFF             ON              750
ON           ON             OFF             ON             1000
OFF          OFF            ON              ON             1500
ON           OFF            ON              ON             2000
OFF          ON             ON              ON             2500

Not sure why there are two tables above where 1000, 1500, etc., are repeated?

As stated, DIP #7 sets MAX bet button or SPIN button/handle.

Hope this helps!

[stoporder]

Wow, thanks for the detailed info. I tried doing what you said and now the MAX BET button adds credits and the SPIN button spins - great. However, the pull handle is still in a locked position. It doesn't seem 'stuck', but locked. Next steps?

[uniman]

Never easy, is it.
Ok, what game do you have? Magnificent 7's ??

With the machine on, open the door and press the green test button (to the right of the reels) nine (9) times.
Then with the door still open write down the five flashing numbers in the WIN meter. Each number should start with 9.
Post the numbers seen. They will repeat over and over until you close the door.

 

[uniman]

I'm going to jump ahead here. Assuming you have a normal run of the mill tourny game than the handle needs to be investigated.
Look at my pic below. Inside the door you should see the two grey wires leading to the release solenoid. Make sure it is plugged in at it's connector.
When you push the MAX bet button there should be a click from the solenoid as it unlocks the handle.
You can pull the tab towards you to simulate the solenoid drawing it in. This will unlock the handle for one pull. Look at my pic and make sure you have all the parts seen.

[stoporder]

I have a Magnificent 777 machine. After changing the dip switches, the win display keeps alternating between showing 50 and 13. Then I tried pressing the test button 9 times, but the win display did not change.. kept showing the alternation 50/13. I checked the wiring connected to the solenoid and found that someone had clipped the two gray wires - they were just dangling. I tried pulling the solenoid tab, but although it moved back and forth, it did not unlock the handle -still locked. See pics below:

[uniman]

Not only are the solenoid wires cut but your missing the release optic. There are two more optics underneath, I bet they're gone too.
Pulling that tab towards you should unlock the handle, but really doesn't matter because you need those optics.

See pic below to see the other optics. (optics are grey U-shaped with three small wires attached)

[uniman]

The pressing the test button 9 times normally displays the game and system chip numbers, it might not work on tourny chips, been a long time since I tried.
The 50 and 13 are normal, 50 means door was/is open and 13 means just powered up.

I don't think I have any hopper optics and you would need the connectors too as I don't see them in your pic. They could be tied off somewhere.
Right now it won't work even with the solenoid wired up.

[stoporder]

My machine does not look exactly like the picture you posted. You've seen from the top- below is the view from under the handle assembly. Is it possible that the optics are inside that metal enclosure to the right (handle hinge)?

[uniman]

My machine does not look exactly like the picture you posted. You've seen from the top- below is the view from under the handle assembly. Is it possible that the optics are inside that metal enclosure to the right (handle hinge)?

Nope, your handle is same as mine except yours is gutted!
It's missing cams, springs, optics, etc. No wonder pulling the tab doesn't work.
That really sucks! Bad enough the entire coin assembly is removed, but they gut the handle so it's all show.
My advice is to watch Craigslist, local papers, etc, for a broken Uni and pick it up for maybe $50 and rob the parts needed so you can enjoy the machine.
Guessing you are in the Mid-West as I saw those machines at the ChicagoLand show a few years back. Guy had a bunch of them. I knew the coin assemblies were gone, didn't know the handles were no good.
Sorry I couldn't help anymore,

Jim

[stoporder]

Ah, now I see the family resemblance between your game and mine. I guess I'll have to live with the 'for-show' handle for now.  
If anyone out there has the parts for this mechanism, please contact me through this forum.  

Thanks uniman!  

[uniman]

Your welcome, sorry we couldn't get it going.
Don't have many older Uni parts anymore, just some Ultra Series stuff,

Jim

By the way I really like the looks of that tournament machine! One of the better ones!