Bally E2000 Hopper/Agitator Jam

[Chiro6262]

I just bought an E2000 and when I play the machine (during the payout) the quarters get jammed or pinched between the hopper and the agitator resulting in a tilt. I open the machine and unclog the jam (sometimes it's pretty tough to get the pinched quarter out) and it works for a few payouts until another jam. How do I adjust the hopper so it fits and doesn't pinch quarters causing a jam up? Any help would be appreciated.

[jay]

I am not sure about this particular model, however most of the hoppers that I have seen have a fiber/plastic hopper knife that guides the coins. When these get aged the jams become more frequent.

This auction might be over but it has a good picture of what a Hopper Knife looks like.
http://cgi.ebay.com/IGT-S-PLUS-SLOT-MACHINE-HOPPER-KNIFE_W0QQitemZ250315007910QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item250315007910&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[blueridgeslots]

The E-2000 should have a Metal knife in it, the early Bally's were this way, don't buy that knife in the pic above, but if you need the correct one we have them

[jay]

BlueRidge is right. That is a IGT knife and NOT the correct one for the machine.

 I just wanted to give you a picture of what you are looking for to ensure you can troubleshoot your hopper issues.

[Chiro6262]

I'll look when I get home tonight. Where does the knife attach? (I don't recall seeing one)

[jay]

It would be Inside the hopper. Its probably what your coins are jamming up behind.
Sometimes its just an adjustment as they may loosen up due to transport.
Other times they need a replacement.
I had one warp on me and another just kind of fall apart.
Of course the IGT ones are plastic. I found pieces in my hopper.
BR says yours is Metal so less likely broken but bent is always a possiblity.

[paul]

Feel the ends of the agitator and see if they are sort of getting soft and easy to get a coin under it. If it is install a new agitator what i have had happen is the ends get soft and a coin starts in and the next coin pushes ferther in where it is not soft and it finaly jams hopper. I have opened up some games and agitator was like mush dont know what causes this

[stayouttadabunker]

The coin hopper's worse enemies are tiny bits of paper, pennies or canadian dimes and/or you wont believe it...human hair.
Any of these items can easily get between the coin shelf and the start to lift the knife away from the wall - thus allowing larger items such as nickels or quarters to get in there.

Best thing in the world to do is:  ditch the old bent outta shape knife and install a brand new one.

Clean the crap outta your hopper too...make pretend it's your baby's behind...take good care of it.

[jay]

Oh sure pick on the Canadians....

The reason for the Canadian dimes is that we put in Canadian Quarters then feel guilty and make up the difference in the exchange..... 

[stayouttadabunker]

Hey!
I used to live in Montreal! Tabernac! They had more coins than paper money!-
loonies ,toonies...but the best there ever was???...was "Canadian Tire" money!

[blueridgeslots]

Feel the ends of the agitator and see if they are sort of getting soft and easy to get a coin under it. If it is install a new agitator what i have had happen is the ends get soft and a coin starts in and the next coin pushes ferther in where it is not soft and it finaly jams hopper. I have opened up some games and agitator was like mush dont know what causes this

The 6 Star agitators that Bally made and reproduced by Wico had Natural Rubber in them that turned to goo after time and heat got to them, a mess to clean up, I have had brand new ones in the bag turn to a glob, new ones haven't been doing it and they are also made in a hard plastic now as well

[Jim]

Have worked on many of these hoppers. If in fact that the agitator is the problem and it is soft and gooey ,you have to clean this hopper thoroughly or else you will get that black tar on everything. Once it gets on the coins it gets on the pinwheel, the shelf wheel, the coin knife, the coin bowl  and finally on you and your guests. you can.t wash it off, lacquer thinner doesn.t phase it, only finger nail polish remover will cut this and then it still stains your hands, so wear plastic disposable gloves.  If you have to disassemble the hopper to do this (which I recommend) pay attention when you take out the three screws holding the agitator in place.Two should be the same size and one is longer, this longer screw serves as the other half of a stop for the motor pin. It prevents the pinwheel from being turned full circle.If you don't disassemble  and only change the agitator you still have to pay attention to the screw size.

Jim   

[Chiro6262]

It doesn't appear to be the aggitator. Seems solid. However, I do not see a knife or where it would attach (course my head's too big to fit inside the cabinet. This picture shows where the coins are getting jammed. Any help?

I do notice that the hopper has writing on it that says 5cents only?

[Jim]

I see the knife in the picture. Its right under the silver coinical wheel  at approx. 11o'clock  position.  if you follow the point where the coins are dispensed  right up thru that channel to a chisel point that rests on the shelf wheel.  that's the knife. You might have a wrong size shelf wheel in the hopper.  your quarter should rest on the pin wheel  and fit between the shelf wheel and coin bowl.

P.s.   to take hopper out of machine  lift up on wood panel holding the coin tray . if the wood is warped you might have to work it. then you can pull the hopper out to examine it

[FOXSSLOTS1]

Thought I had answered this earlier - IT IS NOT THE AGITATOR OR THE KNIFE!!!!!.  now then - the bowl is not centered properly!!! Loosen the spring loaded screws along the bowls edge and the last screw with the cam - move the bowl so that it is centered.. 

[stayouttadabunker]

quote[Thought I had answered this earlier....]quote

You did!....but you forgot to put on your glasses I made for you and your finger missed the "post" button

[stayouttadabunker]

You know I'm just kidding right?...lol...I like picking on our newly crowned GOLD MEMBERS!!! congrats Foxslotts1!

[Chiro6262]

Foxslots,

I'll try that. That makes the most sense to me since the agitator seems strong and it's not the knife that is pinching the quarters. Should the hopper be loose at all (it seems to wiggle a bit)?

[FOXSSLOTS1]

I told you all - that I need new glasses!!!!

[jdkmunch]

It may be the knife.

[whtwolfden]

I do notice that the hopper has writing on it that says 5cents only?

That is a nickel pinwheel, and since the hopper says "5 cents only" on it, I think it has obviously not been converted to a quarter denom.
I suggest throwing a handful of nickels in there and see if the problem still occurs.

[stayouttadabunker]

oh MY god, does it say "5 cents" on the sticker on the front of this machine?   

[Chiro6262]

Thank you all for your help. I pulled out the hopper, checked the knife and agitator (both in good shape) then i pulled off all the screws that hold the hopper to the agitator, repositioned it and reinstalled everything. Works and pays out great now!!

However, I have a new problem. Now every time it pays out, it spits a bunch of quartes out then tilts (even on low jackpots). There's no jam. I can replay and hit a jackpot again and it pays then tilts. Everything seems to be running smoothly. Any ideas on why it tillts?

[jay]

This sounds like your hopper brake is not working.
I am speaking from experience on IGT but most hoppers I have seen are basically the same.

When the appropriate number of coins have been paid out, power to the hopper motor is shut off.
However the motor keeps spinning a bit from left over momentum ....
This causes another coin to be seen by the optic and then you get your coin-out tilt.

The hopper brake is located on the back of the hopper and is controlled by a spring.
Its possible that the spring is missing.

How it works is that when you have power to the hopper a solinoid extends keeping the brake off. When power is removed the spring pulls the leaver back in and the hopper locks up.
When mine broke I simply took an old click-pen and stole the spring from it. I think I ended up cutting it in half and using a pair of needle nose plyers to create a loop at each end.
Fixed me right up.

Hope this helps.