Expert: Rodger Knutson - 11/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I just picked a Bally's dollar slot and not having ever worked on one have some questions:

1)  I can get the game to power up, add credits and spin the wheel.  The 1st problem is the wheels are not stopping.  I can stop the wheels if I hit the solenoid's by hand.  Is this a board or cpu problem?  The outside error code is flashing 41 000 and 3 000, does this help or tell us something?  

2)  The coin dispensor is a little rusty, any suggestions for cleaning?

3)  The metal frame of the outside of the game is also rusty or tarnished, same questions as above?

ANSWER: Hi John,

Well for picking a slot machine, you did well as the Bally "E" Series can be a nightmare! But, if you study the manuals and get to know this machine, they can be made to work and work well. Most dealers you my find want to run from them as they can be a bear and parts are getting harder to find everyday for these. I have a lot of parts for them as does Barry Fox in Florida, and he knows these machines better then anyone I know at this time, he's got the answers and parts also. The Bally "E" series 1000 was the first model in the "E" series and was only used for a bit with changes being made and coming out as the Bally E-2000 series. Your machine is showing a code 41, on the read out after a tilt and this can be any one of several problems! Do you have manuals for this machine, if not, you better get some as your going to need to make friends with this guy and need to get to know him well. I can help you with obtaining manuals if you need any for these Bally "E-series" and others. Here is the manual information on the 41 code:

6. REEL HELD OR CANNOT BE READ - Play suspended, feature flashed, TILT lit.
example: 41_005
Flashed alternately with
example: _2_005
The 2 is the number
of coins played for
this handle pull.
The 41 means the position reader on the
1st REEL has sensed one of the following
(A) No motion, (B) 3 positional errors during
this spin. 42 means the 2nd REEL is
at fault; 43 means the 3rd REEL; 44 the
4th REEL and 45 the 5th REEL. The reels
are numbered 1 thru 5, from left to right.
005 is the number of coins paid out in
previous game. After determining and
correcting the cause, spin by hand any
non-indexed reels, press the RESET
button and close the door to complete
the game in progress. If necessary,
the game may be terminated by pressing
the TEST button one time.
Note: See Part 3 of standard options on Page 24.

Now, if your trying to fix a machine that is broken and you know no history or anything about it then you have to start fresh. First I would do a reel reader test to see if the MPU is or can reed the reel symbols. If so then maybe it's a burned out reel reader board. I would move the number one reel reader board to reel three and put three back in ones position, and play the machine. Do you get a 43 code now instead of a 41 code? If yes, then that reel reader board is bad and needs to be replaced or repaired.

Also if the number one reel never indexed or locked just before the tilt code of 41 it could be something else. If reel one did lock and then tilted my money would be on the reel reader having problems. Also, if the reel mechanism parts under the reels are gummed up, "RE: old hard sticky grease making parts hard to move, little levers and lever locks stiff and slow, will not snap fast and quick, gummed up and dirty, this will all have to be cleaned and lubed before you can go anywhere on this problem as this will also cause the held reel tilt code. I am willing to bet John that we are going to be hearing more on this from you in the future, good news I hope for you. Feel free to ask away my friend, and maybe we well get-er-done. Some Slot machine Manuals, and More being added all the time, "Bally manuals including the E Series are next on the list and will show up very soon" can be found at:
http://jackpot7.freeyellow.com/page21.html

Thank You and....

Cheers!

Rodger Knutson
Http://www.coinslots.com

Forgot (question 2), and 3 of yours. Cleaning the coin hopper, I would disassemble parts of it and wire-brush the rust off and clean parts with maybe a cleaned like simple green or 409, any good cleaner should work and if any of the electronics gets wet I would leave it in a warm place for a few days to make sure everything is good and dried out first before plugging electrical power back into it. (Question three), the chrome on the outside, metal or chrome polish like a tube of simichrome or anything like that, and a good coat of wax when she shines again will help the shine last.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your quick response Rodger!

A few follow up questions:
  I do not have a manual, so please bear with me!

1)  Where is the reset button?
2)  Where is the test button?
3)  The reel test, is this moving the reels to check for the error code or is there actually a test function that the machine will perform?

Thanks again,
John

ANSWER: Hi John!

The reset and test buttons on the Bally E Series machine are located down at the coin hopper, there is a small printed circuit board attached to the payout hopper and right on top of this board are two red micro push buttons. The one on the left, (the side of the board were the wiring plug is located) Is the Reset button, the one on the right is the test button, they are labeled on the printed circuit board if you can see it closely. The reset button is used to reset tilts, and the test button is used for a number of different things like testing the hopper, testing the solenoids, the lights, testing the reel readers, options, and book keeping and many more things. this test button is vital to testing and repairing your machine. In the reel test mode, using the test button and with your reels free to move, you can move the reels and the machine will tell you what symbol should be lined up with the reel readers, if it doesn't or some are out you can see if you have a burnt out reel reader or maybe the wrong M-1 thou M-3 programs in your machine, it happens! But you need manuals to know how to access all these neat testing abilities of the Bally E Series slot. If you need manuals they are posted now at:
http://jackpot7.freeyellow.com/page21.html

I would recommend the package of manuals as there is a really nice easy to use manual included as a bonus for the set, and it is not listed but is included in the set. Items are:

Bally E-1000 & E-2000 Series Manuals, All manuals in one package, and one low price, plus a Bonus!, Contains the three manuals listed right below this, Plus another great and easy reading, easy to use, operaters manual not listed. About 150 pages of information about using and repairing your Bally "E" Series slot machine, emailed to you, all for a great price of only 29.95....
   


Bally "E" Series "Operators Instructions Manual" Number FO-650-12. This is a Bally factory manual for the Bally Series E-1000 and E-2000 Series slot machines. You have to have this manual if your even going to look inside a Bally E Series machine, 47 pages of information emailed to you. 16.95....
   


Bally "E" Series Parts Manual. This manual shows the parts and part numbers and break down drawings and location of parts, 20 pages and is a factory Bally manual. Comes via email to you. 9,95....
   


Bally "E" Series Schematics Manual FO-650-14. This is a schematics manual for the Bally E-1000 and E-2000 machines. It contains wire drawings of circuits in the Bally E Slot machine, great for finding where that broken wire is, or was going. emailed to you with 15 pages of wiring information. 9.95....

I hope this answers your questions up to now and maybe you will be writing back with some more? Please don't forget to leave feedback for me at allexperts, this is my total pay and reward for helping people here, just my feedback and the feeling my time is helping you.

Sincerely

Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com
   


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Rodger, I purchased the manual 3 pack and look forward to learning more about my machine.  Hopefully I will get it up and running!
John


Answer
Thank You!

These will really help you and when your asking someone about something you can refer to a page number or use a bally part number, which helps you to get the part or right information your looking for. Hopefully this will help you learn about how these slots work and function, and what kind of built in tools they have, and how to use them to complete a repair.
Sincerely
Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com