Expert: Rodger Knutson - 4/10/2010

Question
QUESTION: I have a Mills Poinsettia Nickel slot machine in good condition except it is missing the back and metal top plate.  We have been able to get it to work fairly well.  We still however cannot get the big wheels to turn fast and freely despite wd  40 to the main axle/spindle and tensioners.  So how should we lubricate or clean and what kind of value for the slot machine?

Kirk

ANSWER: Hi Kirk,

It sounds like the reels kick off OK on this machine, I am guessing, but then slow down to fast. You can remove the tension wires off all three reels for now if you like, as it sounds like your reels are slow and don't need them. You may have to take the reel bundle apart, and clean and shine up all the separate Axel housings and shafts. This is a complicated process, and I would like to tell you NOT to do this, unless you know what your doing, as setting up the reels and reel bundle again to stop on the right symbols can be challenging to say the least. There is a large pictorial manual that can help teach you how to do this, but you could still run into problems setting it back up. One way to check your reels to see if they need some work, is right after you kick off the machine reach in and stop the clock fan, then hold it in place with a screwdriver or something. Then you can spin each reel by its self. Spin all three reels and then stop one of them, if the other two reels drag right down to a stop right away, it could be gummed up. You should be able to spin any one reel without it stopping right away when the others are held. But again, don't dissemble a reel bundle unless you know what your doing or you will be in for big mess, as each reel has to be bolted to the reel Axe when it's lined up properly with the index disks. If you are interested in getting a copy of this book, write me at Jackpot7@q.com and I can give you some more information on where to get one. Also if you can make sure your reel kicker lever is nice and free, and kicks the reels fast, if it does but the reels come to a stop right away, it might be what we are talking about here, gummed up reel bundle. If the reels spin freely by them selfs, and the reel kicker is nice and free, but doesn't kick the three reels very fast, then it could be the operating bar spring, or the kicker arm spring. You may want to find someone who knows how to work one these to find and fix this problem. The back lip and back door for this machine has been made in a reproduction, and can be found.

Good Luck,

Thank You

Rodger Knutson

http://www.coinslots.com

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

QUESTION: What kind of de greaser, liquid wrench should I clean with and then what kind of lubricant is recommended?

Answer
Kirk,

Lubrication:

As for grease and oil, the oil I like is made by Blue lake products, in a package called a Zoom Spout, it contains highest quality finest all-purpose turbine oil in a 4 oz plastic bottle with a long spout you pull out to reach those deep areas and is able to place just a drop or two there, great stuff, and it doesn't smell or stink like 3 and one oil does. For grease I like a synthetic multi-purpose, heavy duty grease called Super Lube made by Stmco Chemical corporation. It's a clear grease much like Vaseline in texture but much better. For a high presser point like where the handle arm comes in contact with the reel mechanism to kick the mechanism off, I might use just a dab of wheel baring grease there at that point, so it will stay there.

Cleaning:

Cleaning the whole mechanism or just the reel bundle? I use a solvent tank for cleaning parts after the mechanism is dissembled and maybe some beed blasting or wire brushing if needed. If you want to clean the slot machine mechanism, remove the reel bundle first! as the reel strips are made of paper and after 80 years they're very dry, and very thirsty, and they will suck up anything wet, and this may or could ruin them. As for the reel bundle that is another story, if you take one of these apart, you need to polish almost all the axle surface's as they spin on each other. The steel axle it's self needs to be clean and shiny, sand and nicks or corrosion or rust off it so the reels can spin cleanly on the axle. You may want to try shoving a rifle bore cleaner, or bore wire brass wire brush through it axle housing or tube to clean anything out of there that can restrict the spinning of the reel bundle on the axle shaft. Only use a very light oil on the reel spinning surfaces, and between the reels and between the reel disks and just a drop of oil at each spot. If you dare to take a reel bundel apart, which I highly advise you not to!, unless you know what your doing, and know how to set all of it back up when your done, as this means being able to line up each symbol with each reel disk hole, and lineing up the symboles to a stright line in the payout window, it can be a total disaster if you don't know how to do all this! A good manual like the pictorial guide will help show you where to use grease and oil. I hope this helps you and gives you some insite on how to do this job and what to use.

Thanks again

Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com