Troubleshooting Bally EM's

[HadYourPhil]

This thing is still kicking my butt...

[Op-Bell]

Without having a wiring diagram, or better still having the sucker here on my workbench, there's very little help I can give you beyond repeating what I said before. It is most likely a faulty microswitch, either on the Starpoint cam timer or the randomizer. The Starpoint drives off home to start the game, then one of its switches changes over and passes control to the randomizer. The randomizer switch makes and breaks to drive the Starpoint intermittently through the cycle, then after the reels stop the first Starpoint switch changes over again to complete the cycle. Somewhere in that sequence is the problem.

[HadYourPhil]

THANK YOU for at least explaining the sequence of events! That all makes perfect sense. I checked the switches on the Starpoint, even writing down where on the 0-360 dial they closed. It seems ok, so I'll thoroughly examine the randomizer.
One odd thing is the machine works normally with three quarters but not with one or two.

[Op-Bell]

One odd thing is the machine works normally with three quarters but not with one or two.

That's another troubleshooting clue, though I don't know what it means.

Since the known item affected is the motor on the Starpoint (it stops turning), that's the place to start. Trace its wiring. One side should be simple, it will go to one side of the supply. This would traditionally be an orange wire on EM Ballys. The other side will have a complicated and branching path through microswitches and relay contacts to the other side of the supply, traditionally a yellow wire. There's going to be one route from the motor, through a relay (coin in), through the start switch, to get it off home. There's another through a cam switch that changes over immediately off home, that runs it through getting the reels started. There's another route through a cam switch that changes after the reels stop, through the win relay, that gets it back home at game over. Then there are paths that run through the randomizer. One of those is the problem.

 From your remark above, I would expect to find one route through the max coin circuit, possibly a relay or a contact on the step-up unit, and another route not through the max coin circuit.

[HadYourPhil]

Well, here we are in late May. And the slot machine works fine. The problem was in the coin step-up unit... Actually it was two problems. One was the 'spider' disc had a couple of contacts that looked like they were making contact, but weren't. And, on the back side where the leaf switches are, there was an almost invisible strand of wire shorting out a couple of the contacts! Not at the leaf ends but where they were assembled!
The very helpful Barry Fox was insistent that the step-up unit was a likely culprit, and although I had checked it before, I did so again. And that was it.
Finally.

[Neonkiss]

    
It's always nice to here when you get your machine up and running again.

Yes, Barry is very knowledgeable on the E and EM machines.
He is always willing to help out members with problems and is usually right on the money with his diagnoses.

[HadYourPhil]

I did a little research on these Classics. Turns out there were around 100 made and the MGM fire claimed over 60 of those. The rest were out for repair and out of that bunch, supposedly less than 20 survive. This comes from a usually reliable source.
I must say, the one I fixed is working better than it ever has.
(Goes back to fixing broadcast Beta decks, audio gear and jukeboxes...)

[FOXSSLOTS1]

then I must be a lucky guy - I have had 10 of them and I know another dealer who had just as many - should have kept them and cornered the market.

[HadYourPhil]

Like I said... A Usually Reliable source. Believe it was whomever sold my friend his Classic.
To me, a run of 100 seems low. But having 20+ still around seems reasonable.

Hope you kept that cool car, Barry!

[FOXSSLOTS1]

still have the 442 - no plans on giving it up in my life time.

[shaunb]

this may be a silly one to some people but how can i fine out which model of bally one arm bandit i have got i know it says 1968 on the hopper motor but there is no number plate on it, the name on the front is lucky twins but that about all i can fine on it   
thanks
shaun

[CVslots]

Since no one more knowledgable than me (which isnt saying much) has responded, look around inside the machine. I've seen them engrave, stamp, or more commonly written in felt marker, the model # in such places as: inside the cabinet (front and center), somewhere on the inside of door, outside of hopper bowl, and almost always written on the reel mech.  You've got something funky going with that top box (just saying its different, not saying its bad). I can't really read it with the glare, but does that say "Change"??? Is the top box a change machine? If you get a chance, snap a pic of the inside. Where's Barry Fox when you need him?

You might want to drop this thread and post in Reel Machines - General Chat with a "Help ID this machine" topic...This thread is 2 years old and at this point, you're not really troubleshooting, like the thread title implies. 

-Roslyn

[shaunb]

thanks roslyn and yes it is a change machine on top i have 2 of them like it the other one is fully working the 1 in the photo needs a lot of work doing to it

[Op-Bell]

It's from Britain and the change top is not original, so there's a very small chance it bears any resemblance to the machine that left the Bally factory. Since it used to be a hold and draw machine, the chances are it started life as a Sir Prize. You should find model numbers stamped on the switches at the back of the reels, it's very unlikely the mod crew had the patience to change those.

[gpapania]

Hi and thanks in advance! I have a 809-b. I can pull the handle down with no power and the reels will turn, I can power the unit up and insert nickles and nothing but the reels will still spin wheel i pull down the arm.
I took out the coin hopper and put 110v on the motor and it will spit nickels out no problem.
Any help is always appreciated, Yes I checked the fuses there not blown.
And the transformer shows Orange -common   Yellow 50v Blue & Red 50v (front pins)
rear pins  White 25v jumped to next pin on right , Black 25v jumped next red 25V and empty pin right rear.
geopapania@yahoo.com