Expert: Rodger Knutson - 4/11/2011

Question
I was recently given a Bally 831 slot machine that works fine with the exception it does not payoff when you win. I am wondering if it set not to payoff to avoid the Gaming commissions or so other reason? I would like to correct this problem any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi Gary,

Without asking, I am sure this machine has a coin hopper in it, and if it does, it should be paying out coins period. So there is something wrong here. Right now I would guess that the Spiro cam on the back of the coin hopper is not resetting to the "O" stop. This you might need a manual for to understand and the Bally Electro Mechanical 2400 manual is a great tool here. If you need one you can get it here:

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

After the e/m slot makes a payout the winner paid light should come on, on the next pull and during this pull the machine will reset the Spiro cam on the back of the coin hopper, the cam should spin to it's stop and now it will be reset before the reels even stop. If this does not happen, and this cam does not get reset, you will not get another payout. You can reset the Spiro cam by hand if you know how, and it should payout on the next winning play just to check to see if this is the problem. So, check this out and see what you find out, also clean those pins on the back of the hopper and the reel mechanism with a wire brush or something, there made of aluminum and they corrode! This is where most problems are found, corroded aluminum Blu plug pins.

Good luck to ya Gary, and hope to hear some good news.

Thank You
Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com