Expert: Rodger Knutson - 5/6/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello Roger,

I just inherited a slot machine and it is need of repair.  I am not sure if I am up to the task but I was wondering where I would start.  Is there a repair manual for this slot?  I am not sure what year it is.  When I hit the reset button it sounds like mags kick in but it has a loud humming noise and the reels don't spin.  I am sure there are more than just a few problems with it, just trying to figure out where to start.  Thanks for you time.

ANSWER: Hi Chad,

What a very nice looking Bally Slot Machine! I love how it has all matching glass, and Bally glass, some people love to have that lower belly glass a casino named glass but I like it just like it is with original Bally Manufacturing glass. You say that this is a Bally Model E-873-4 ??, Something is wrong here Chad as there is a 873 model made in 1970 and it has a top box, and is a electro/mechanical (No Printed Circuit boards) machine. but not an (E-)873. The "E" stands for electronic, and I would bet my buck that this does have printed circuit boards in it, and it looks to me to be a Bally Model E-1212 of around 1980. Does this have circuit boards? The model number should be on the metal tag below the handle if it hasn't been removed or changed? Anyway assuming it has circuit boards and is a model E-1212, this would be a series E-1000 type bally slot machine made about 1980, if it is later it would be a series E-2000 model type and have different type printed circuit boards in it, so at some point we need to figure this out. If you pushing a reset button it's on the coin hopper, on the edge of a printed circuit board so we know it's a E series machine. When you push the reset button does the insert coin lights come on?
If so, you know you have a good reset and the buzzing could just be a coin lockout coil rattling because its waiting some attention sometime. If the insert coin lights come on but after depositing a coin the handle still will not pull or not released, now it's time to clean those aluminum Blu plug pins on the back of the reel mechanism and the back of the coin hopper, scrub them with a wire brush and get that corrosion off those pins. Now for manuals, you can get them here:

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

Anything for a Bally E Series will work for this machine, I would recommend this set:

Bally E-1000 & E-2000 Series Manuals, All Bally "E-2000" series 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, operators manual not listed. About 150 pages of information about using and repairing your Bally "E" Series slot machine.

But that is all up to you and for what you need to do on it. This is one of the nicest Bally Classic machines, and the classic sized machine around you have, the 5 line criss cross is the most fun to play and is what most people want as it is all fruit symbols and 7's not seen on newer machines of today or the late 80's and up. So Chad, I hope you can get it running again. Maybe answer some of my questions for me and try some of the things I have told you about and see what happens. On the e series machine look for the error codes that will show up in the winners paid led reader to the right of the reels, always write the error code down before you open the door, as once you open it, the error code is gone forever and replaced with the door opened "50" code until next play. Also if you type Bally slot machine in the search box here at allexperts above, you will get tons of answers for some of these questions as I been here doing this for awile.

Good Luck!

Here to help you.....
Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com



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

QUESTION: Wow....thanks for the quick reply Rodger and the advice!  I noticed that there was something taken off of the side of the machine below the handle.  It appeared to be something about 3"x3" that was bolted in each corner.  I assume this was the tag you were referring to.  The E873-4 numbers I got off of the inside.  One was on a sticker and the numbers E-873-4-39 are etched into the metal on the front of the reel section???  The machine does have circuit boards behind and to the left side facing side of the reel mechanism.  The reset button is located on the left side facing of the coin hopper.  When I push it, it doesn't always do something.  I have to push it a couple of times before the machine makes a loud clicking noise.  Sometimes the machine sounds like it engages and has a loud humming noise.  At this point, the handle will work.  I can get one attempted spin of the reels but after that, the handle just ratchets but there isn't that "click" at the end of the pull.  I also have a problem with microswitch with the small wire that I believe (when triggered) should make a bell sound when a coin is dropped in the slot.  I noticed that a wire has come un-soldered.  

I appreciate all your advice.....the machine polished up nicely.  I just hope I can get it fixed.  I remember before, after taking forever and a day to warm-up, that the machine would work for awhile and then all of a sudden when the lever would get pulled, the wheels would just continue to free spin.  At that point, we would open it up and reset it.  Another question I have:  is the any way to get the smoke smell out of the machine?  

Thanks so much Rodger!

Chad

Answer
Hi Chad,

I forgot were we were with this, I get too much mail and questions and it can be a problem staying with it. Some smell inside, you just have to remove the reel mechanism, and coin hopper and spray it down with something, hose it out and leave it in the sun for a week, it's works but I never told you this. You also don't want to get the inside of the glass to wet it will streak, and it old silk screen paint of some of them, so remove all the glass or just avoid it when cleaning. If all the lever under your reel bundle are sticky and gummy, which they might be, then your going to have a ton of problems and will have to clean and re oil these parts, they need to snap, and slide quickly and easy or your going to have tilt problems forever. What is the error code in the winners paid window after you pull the handle for a good play and the door is closed and locked. Like I was telling you, get that code before you open the door or it gone forever, once you open the door you get a 50 code which is a door open code. Type in bally slot machine above here and you will get tons of information from other questions I have answered in the past. Sorry for the delay, you never left me any feedback here so sometimes I am unable to get back to you. Oh, also scrub those aluminum Blu plug pins behind the reel mechanism and the coin hopper as they corrode and cause tons of problems if you have those on this model.

Thanks
Rodger Knutson
http://www.coinslots.com