Jackpot bell struggles to ring

[SilverFerret]

Hello again,
In my 873, the bell struggles to sound when a payout is hit. I'm wondering if it's a cleaning thing, solonoid of some sort, or it's a ringer replacement issue. It does ring sometimes but not with the strength that my 809 does.
Thanks, Jim

[CVslots]

Over time, the hammer tends to wear a spot in the bell housing. I have remedied this by simply rotating the bell housing 1/4 turn or so. You can do this by hand, no tools required! Let me know if it works for you!

-Darrell

[SilverFerret]

Thanks, I'll try it and let you know.

[jay]

Different bells use different voltages. Its possible this bell is not made for your slot.
Some people have dampened their bells by wrapping the strike with cardboard and tape.

[SilverFerret]

My daughter is sleeping so I can't try it yet but there was a big dent right where the striker meets the bell so I rotated the bell and am waiting for my daughter to wake up so I can try it.

[OldReno]

If nothing else works, try opening up the clapper a little bit.  Just politely bend it open a smidgen.

[SilverFerret]

I did both those things, rotated the bell and opened the clapper and no luck. Forced a payout with door open and it didn't seem to even move. Thats what it sounds like when it does work... like it struggles to even start striking the bell.
Is another bell assembly my best bet?

[OldReno]

Does it ring on all pays, or just high pays?  Set up a jackpot, and feel the clapper for any vibration.
You may have to close the clapper a bit...gently with pliers put a bit of extra bend in it, but not enough so it touches the bell.
Of course you could just call it a 'no bell' prize.
You may have a switch open somewhere.  If it is supposed to ring on all pays, check your payout relay switches (I think).
You may also have the reel wiper fingers lifted, so put more tension on them, especially the lower ones, they, I recall, do the 6v bell circuit...?
6V is your blue wire on the reel boards -- wish I had a schematic.

[Frank A]

Another way is to use a battery with the correct voltage and test the bell. Simple, but it works. Disconnect the machines power source and use wire on clips (Test Wires ) to connect.

[SilverFerret]

It rings on all pays (or is supposed to). I adjusted the clapper but it doesn't seem like it's even working at all. I like the idea about testing it with a battery. I'll be working for a week and wont be able to get to it for 7 days.
Thanks for the info, I'll let you know what happens when I can get to it. Thanks again, Jim

[Jim]

you could try one of two things.  1= swap the bell from the 809 into this machine and see if it is the bell causing the problem.

if it is the bell, remove the bell, hook up two temp. wires from any yellow wire, and a blue wire  6.3vac source  usually the 25 cent lamp should have these wires on it, that bulb is on when the machine is on, it has 6.3vac going to it all the time.

then run the bell out side of the machine and compare the working to the nonworking one, should reveal the source of your problem.

Hope this helps

Jim

[OldReno]

It's been awhile since I used one, but if you have a long jumper wire with alligator clips, you should be able to clip onto the yellow (common) wire and run it to the NON BLUE side of your bell. However I don't have a schematic in front of me, tho' Darrell is kindly sending me some.
There's lots of nice ways to use jumpers to check out your machine.  Just take the bell coil cover off, and you'll see the wiring. I think you should be able to do this with the reel mech out.
This is assuming you don't have any 'intentional' shorts put into the machine, so don't touch the case while you're doing this.
You should be able to come off the yellow wire on the coin switch.