Expert: Rodger Knutson - 2/9/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi, Roger -

I have a Bally 873-ZC 5-line nickel that is in great aesthetic and working condition.  After a pull the first two reels lock in sequence but the 3rd reel doesn't engage and free-wheels.  I've heard there may be an issue with the plunger being full of grease?  Can you give me some ideas on things to check to rectify this issue and what's your opinion of value on this machine?

Thanks,
- Mike

ANSWER: Hi Mike,

I am not sure if I have this right in my head just yet, so correct me please if I don't. You are saying that when you pull the handle, all three reels kick off and the first and second reel will index or stop but the third reel doesn't index and keeps on spinning right? This is most likely the most common problem I run across with Electro/Mechanical slot machines, and on others. Also let me explain this in length so I the information is here for everyone who needs it, and also so I can refer to it in the future when answering question along this same line.

These Bally 700, 800, and 900 model series slot machines are 40 years old now, and maybe have been off the Casino floor for 30 years or more. For most machines, this was the last maintenance the machine has ever seen for 30 years and counting. Then it does this, or it was working fine and we shut it off for a year or two and now it doesn't work, same problem. Its caused by OLD sticky oil, grease and dirt. You my hear that slot machines need to be in a warm area, or turned on for awhile fist, same thing, as warm sticky gooey grease works just a little better then cold hard sticky gooey grease, I am sure you get the the idea.

Please time out here, I have to complain here in public to allexperts once again, first and I hope you don't mind. I was just about finished with answering your question here Mike, earlier, and then I see something in the answer that needs to be corrected, I click my mouse to add the cursor to the area needing attention and hit backspace to fix a word or fraze, and sometimes it backs up a page instead! causing the browser to back up one page, So I hit the page forward again, and everything I wrote is gone, with a page reading: expired page notice! a window pops up with a button that reads explorer needs to resend, I hit that and it's all gone, and I can't retrieve it. We answer on a page that you can't recover when this happens, it drives me nuts, it's a huge waste of my time, and my complaints to allexperts about this, gets me no help, SO NOW, I have just posted it Public for them and all to read.

OK, I am off my soap box now and we start again Mike

You now have to pull the reel mechanism out of the machine and remove the reel bundle and set that aside. Now you can see all the levers, arms, latches, and trip levers, rods that operate in the mechanism. Reach in there and get some grease between your fingers and thumb, feel it, and notice just how sticky this stuff can get after 30 or 40 years. You can see how slow parts move, some of the spring loaded trips for the reel stop levers may move out by hand but will not snap back, crisp and clean as they should, or may not move back on their own at all. This is where I find most of the reel stopping or kicking problems with slot machines. Most machines just need service, should of had service decades ago, but not living in a casino any longer, they do not get a visit from the Casino's friendly slot service technicians anymore, and they just run until they cant run any longer, and stop as yours has, assuming this is what is wrong with your slot machine.

Now the machine needs to be serviced, the proper way to to dissemble everything and clean and oil or grease each part as it's reassembled, so once again all this hardware will operate quick and clean, spring loaded parts will snap back as they should, and most or all of the timing will be back in tune as it all should be, this is the proper way. Now you can try to spray down the mechanism with gunk cleaner from the auto parts store, take it to the high presser wand at the car wash, and try cleaning all this gunk and sticky grease off, and then try to oil the moving parts, but this does not do any good for the bushings, sleeves and closed off areas, but sometimes it will free up enough parts so it will all work somewhat proper again. This is a quick easy fix for a service call for someone who doesn't want to pay to have it done right, but would love you if you could do something, even anything, just to make it operate again for awhile, and you want to do your best to help them get what they want.

Before you start your repairs you should have a good manual at hand to refer to, If you need one you can get one here at:

http://jackpot7.freeyellow.com/page21.html

Look for the Bally Electro/Mechanical manuals, the 1100 manual is a good one showing lots of illustrations, photo's, and some very good other information for understanding your machine. Covers leaf switches, what each one does, and where each one is located, Bally wiring color codes, which wire color caries which voltage, and for what circuits, step up units, counters, hoppers, adjustments, where to use oil or grease, you name it, it's in there, a very good factory manual.

If you are still having problems, or after inspecting it closely, you find something else, or just any questions at all, feel free to write anytime Mike.

Cheers and good luck Mike!

Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com

P.S. while writing this answer I lost everything 4 more times, but I copied and saved it every so often this time, so I did not have to rewrite everything again.   

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

QUESTION: Thanks again!!!  P.S.  What would you guess as the value of a machine in very good condition and, ultimately, working properly again?

- Mike

Answer
The Bally model 873 is a fine machine, and in the classic size cabinet for a great size, a five line criss cross all fruit and 7's machine. One of the most wanted games. Value in these times are hard to guess, at one time these sold some places up to 2,495.00. In these times I would guess value around 1,000.00 low, but there is no set values on these antiques machines. But, just for information if you needed to sell it right now, you might be able to get 1,000.00 for it without waiting to long. Also you may be able to get more if you are willing to wait some, or sell it right, at maybe a store front, and maybe around 1,500.00 somewhere.
Thank You
Rodger
http://www.coinslots.com