bally em 873 air cylinder rubber cup, where to buy or how to make????

[bob in phx]

My bally 873 5 coin 3 reel machine had its handle stuck. A little bit of poking around found that the rubber in the air cylinder had gone south and created a tar like glue. I realize that this is normal with rubber this old, just like the hopper agitator!!!!

so, where can I get a new one, or how can I make one, or do I really need the rubber cup?????

thanks in advance!!
bob in phx

[Neonkiss]

No need to replace it.
Run the machine without one.
It was only used as a damper to keep the handle from flying back if you let it go.

[brichter]

Yeah, just don't let the handle go or it'll fly back!

[StatFreak]

No need to replace it.
Run the machine without one.
It was only used as a damper to keep the handle from flying back if you let it go.

   Be sure to clean out all of the gummy residue in the shaft and on the piston.


Here's a trick: If you want to add some resistance to the handle after cleaning it out, you can put a piece of packing tape over the hole at the end of the cylinder and then poke a smaller hole through the tape with a pin to reduce air flow. However, it is really not necessary.

[stayouttadabunker]

I don't know a thing about these...
but what if you wrapped the pin with a thick rubber band?
Would that work? 
After all, rubber is...well,... rubber?...

[bob in phx]

thanks for all the responses.

I am a little concerned about the handle spring  back not being controlled. My kids love to play this machine and they can be told to guide the handle back easy, but some of the cousins that like to play this machine are,,,well,,,, how do I say this.... TOTAL MORONS with no respet for anything......

I think I will try and find an old school drum brake wheel cylinder of the same size and try to buy a cup from that. The outside diameter of the piston is almost 1 inch. The hard part will be to cut a hole in the center, but that hole measures out at 1/2 inch.

I am thinking about the rubber band idea, I would have to spiral wrap, with glue between the layers,,, I am not sure it would hold up to the stress on the coils... side to side would be fine, but the back and forth would do it in fairly fast I think.... I just might try it anyway...

stay tuned and lets see what I can come up with... both what works and what does not...

bob in phx.

[Neonkiss]

Ya, If your really hell bent on installing something in there.
I have kicked around the idea of using a leather cup and the wheel cylinder rubber cup.
You might even get away with just an O-ring. Find a thick one that will fit the cut in the piston.
Be sure it doesn't fit too tight in the cylinder. It only need to supply a little damping of the handle.

[cp]

Here's an idea... try using leather for a damper in the cylinder.  Easy to cut and fit in...perhaps try oversize to cylinder diameter sizing. Also try  using an oil to keep the leather pliable.

[bob in phx]

follow up fix!!!
I took some scrap leather (really thin) and put a 3/8' hole in the middle. I oiled up the leather with 3 in 1 and then stretched it over the center of the piston. Then I took a razor blade and cut the leather about 1/16 of an inch larger then the piston. I put it all together and it works great!!!! it slows the handle well and after a couple of hundred pulls,, does not appear to be wearing out...

[stayouttadabunker]

That's great bob!
Thanks for following up on the fix!