Expert: Rodger Knutson - 2/11/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello. My mills  escalator moves the coins across for about 5 spins. Then they quit moving and the coins fill up till I cant fit anymore in the slot. I then manually remove the coins by pushing certain levers on the left side of the escalator. I'm sure your familiar with that method which will cause each coin to slide across the escalator one coin at a time until all the coins that filled up the neck work there way across the escalator. I then put the reel mechanism back in the slot cabinet. the coins slide across the escalator with each pull. Acting normal no problems. then after about 5 spins. The coins stop moving across the escalator again. and then I repeat the process all over again and again. taking the reel mechanism out so I can get to the escalator and manually work the coins across the escalator again. Also you can pull the handle whether you have money in it or not. you get free play but the machine pays out the money thats still in the machine if you hit, I watched the coin detector. It touches the coin thats in the escalator barely, pull the handle .It spins the reels. but  when you dont add a coin and the coin detector senses no coin because there is no coins in the escalator. The slot machine still spins when you pull the handle. What gives. how can I fix these problems?  Best re-guards  Rob. thankyou.

ANSWER: Hi Robert,

The mills coin Escalator is in my opinion the most important part of the Mills machine. If it's not working just right, it can be a nightmare, even causing a machine to jam up to where you can not pull the handle all the way down and locking and jamming the mechanism up to where it is almost impossible to remove it from the case!

As for yours, you escalator sounds to be in bad shape, it needs to be removed, it only takes three screws to remove it, dissembled and cleaned, even removing the corrosion from the outside of parts if any is found. Missing or worn out parts or springs replaced, using no oil around the coin path, and reassembled. If this does not fix the problems, its possible that the coin escalator is just worn out and needs to be rebuilt or replaced, as with heavy use they will ware out, and the coins will shingle up in the coin path going across inside it. The coin detector lever's spring must pull back or return this lever all the way each time. If it doesn't coins will not pass by the detectors sensing pin and cause jams, free play and such. Free play can also be caused by a broken or missing arm on the reel mechanism, or miss alignment of the reel mechanism to the coin Escalator lash up. If you need a manual for parts identification or part numbers or instructions you can find one at: http://jackpot7.freeyellow.com/page21.html

Try doing all this first and see if this fixes your problems, if you need more help just ask, as I am here OK?

Thank You

Sincerely
Rodger Knutson

http://www.coinslots.com

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

QUESTION: Hi Rodger. Finally just had the time to take your advice and work on my escalator. i took it completely apart and cleaned it all up. I put it back together and ran 15 coins thru it and it works great!! Thankyou for the advice Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed that when I'm done here and I run another 10 coins thru it still works great. But it still gives free play. I've only looked at the escalator though and nothing else yet. I also pushed the detector pin arm  in manually  to act as if theres no coin detected in the escalator and you still gives free plays.Thanks again Rob

Answer
Hey Robert,

GREAT JOB my friend!! Bravo! Now to the next problem of no coin lock out. See the attached photo as it will explain everything you need to look at. If your missing these parts I can help you. If you still have a problem, maybe you can email a photo to me at Jackpot7@q.com so I can have a look. This arm is what locks the mechanism so it can't be played without a coin, it could be missing or broken, or the spring could be gone. Look it over and see if this does the trick OK? Oh.... Please don't forget to live some feed back here for me if you would, it's by only pay and my report card.

Thanks Robert

Rodger Knutson

Http://www.coinslots.com