low battery message Players Edge and Deuces Wild

[trueheart]

Hello,

I'm new here, so if I'm not following proper protocol, please point that out to me.  Thanks.

I have two IGT machines, a Players Edge Video Poker 1070C and a Deuces Wild Video Poker 1070C.  Both were manufactured in 1988.

They have sat in the garage unplugged from current for a few years, and now I've reconnected 110 power to them and I'm getting a "low battery" message.
I see the 1/2 AA battery on the circuit board, and I'm suspecting this needs to be replaced.  The original battery was an SAFT 3.5V lithium, and the closest I can come to that today is
a SAFT 14250 ST, which is 3.6V.

Here's my questions.  Is it okay to simply de-solder the old battery from the board and install a new one?  Are there any precautions I should take .... memory retention?
Is this battery the only problem I will likely face?  When it says "low battery" is it really true that it is only low and not kaput?

I can and have cycled through some of the test functions, like 10 coin out, and I can get the hopper to roll and go through this test.  But when I close the door, it's back to the call attendant and then to the low battery message.

One of my screens is vivid blue background, the other one more challenged on vividness.  Any easy way to enhance this?

I guess lastly I'm curious as to what these machines are worth if working.

Thanks for your input.

Steve

[jay]

Value .... I will save you the trouble of changing the battery. Give you $50 for the pair sight unseen as long as you cover the shipping...  

Unsoldering and re-soldering a battery in won't give you any grief and then you will probably be good to go for another 15-20 years. Make sure you are using a soldering iron and not one of those clumsly welder guns (which run way too hot) and you will be fine. The boards are designed well enough that the battery is on the corner of the board away from anything too important.

A word to the wise is to buy the industrial battery with the leads on each end. If you get just the battery (Ie from Radio Shack) - trying to solder a piece of wire to the end of the battery is difficult. You would need to scratch up the end real good and use tons of flux. Putting heat on the battery isn't great as too much and the battery can explode or be damaged. Much better to buy the ones with the leads on them.

Getting back to the value. It really depends on what market your in. If you are in Nevada you can get a newer Game Maker or Game King in the $750 range, putting your older units at the $250 - $350 range. If your in Kanasas without another machine in 1500 miles of you, you can probably get $750 for yours or more if you list it on CraigsList. Your arguement is sure you can buy one online for $600 bucks but when you add $300 of crating and shipping it makes yours a down right value.  Make sure you check out the slot ownership laws where you are. Ie California will nail you for posession of an illegal gambing device regardless if it works or not. PA has a 1941 law saying machines older than 1941 are legal. Other states have a 20 year law so anything older than 1996 are now legal...  Ohio is a free for all.

[trueheart]

Jay,

I did replace the battery (myself) with a SAFT 14250 ST 3.6 volt.  Not difficult.  Machine (Players Edge) came right back to life.
As for value, I can sell it for $350, which is probably decent?  It is working well for a 25 year old machine.
Next up is a Deuces Wild also from 1988 (same model - IGT 1070C).  I have the new battery to do the same thing to it.  Same value?  $350, maybe a touch more?
I was trying to get $400 for the Players Edge, and likely could have, but have it lined up to go to an acquaintance, so gave him a break.
I'm out NV way.

Thanks for your input.

Steve