Problem
No payouts on any symbol win.
Solution
- 1. Check the rm “a” (reel mechanism) switch and the rm “c” switch for gaps or sticking together or shorted wires holding these switches closed. These are on the left side of the reel mechanism as you face the machine.
- 2. On the hopper contact board, the switch blade or plastic rocker arm is sticking to the rubber barrel – shaped zero stop. This prevents a reset so that the next pay may take place. Replace rubber with the eraser end of a pencil or make a spring to pull the rocker arm away from the rubber barrel. The bolts holding the hopper motor at the very bottom of the new style (snow) hopper may be loose causing the hopper to bind and not pay out. Sometimes there is a button (usually upper right) seen with the front door open. This button must be pressed for pays. Otherwise, the door must be closed for pays to occur.
- 3. See if there is a broken wire at the back of the hopper. The wire coming from the solenoid of the payout relay to the resister may be broken. It’s on the back left corner of the hopper as you face the machine.
- 4. See if there is a broken wire on the beau plug that the hopper plugs into. Check the double orange wire on the #12 pin. Under the handle latch there are several switches. The bottom set needs to be cleaned and/or adjusted so they press together harder to make a good contact. Sometimes, just pressing on the top of these contacts will make the machine start paying.
- 5 If the winner paid” light stays on continuously, the problem is usually in the payout circuit. Clean and/or adjust the “a” and “c” switches on the reel mechanism (as above), plus the switches at the back of the hopper, and the handle latch switches (as above).
Problem
On a multi-coin machine all coins accepted and all lights go on – except as soon as the handle is pulled all lights above one go out as though only one coin were inserted. No pays and there is no reset of the hopper.
Solution
Fix or replace coin switch on inside middle of door. There is a short either in the connections to the switch or inside the switch. If internal – replace switch.
Problem
No pay on certain payouts solution
Solution
Look at the bakelite board on the side of the hopper. There is a wire attached to most of the numbers. Most of the numbers are across the bottom. If there is no pay for three oranges for example, check and see if the wire going to “10” is broken, loose, or not attached. If all of the wires are connected then on the top of the hopper there is a lever you can press that will reset the disk to its original position. If you press this lever then insert the hopper back into the machine and test a pay of any non premium symbol to see if it works. If it does then its likely that the problem resides in the switch that resets your hopper back to its original position.
Problem
On a medallist the three reels to the right don’t pay off.
Solution
On the reel mech there are two plugs. Check the plug on the right (as you face the front of the machine), and look for looseness or a bad contact on the 6th pin from the right (facing the machine) bottom row. If this pin is pushed back and not making contact the payouts won’t work on the three right hand reels. Fix the pin.
Problem
Only cherries pay off on the 3rd line (lower row). If the machine is a 5 line machine, only the cherries will pay off on rows 3,4, and 5.
Solution
The problem is usually with the 3rd reel (most machines have no cherries on the 3rd reel). Check the back right corner of the reel mechanism. There are 3 stacks of switches one on top of the other. The bottom one is the bottom row relay. Two gray-red wires enter three sets of contacts on this relay. The gray-red wire may be broken or soldered badly.
Problem
Two oranges and a bar, three plums, 2 plums and a bar, three bells, don’t pay on the top and middle lines in a 5 line criss cross (1046 & 873). Later on, the problem only showed when there was a bar on the 3rd reel.
Solution
On the reel mechanism, find the lowest stack of switches on the lower right side at the back (as you face the front of the machine). The orange wire is broken, probably where it attaches to the switch.
Problem
Top row does not pay for any symbols.
Solution
On the reel mechanism there are three wiper blades which wipe across a bunch of little brass buttons (contacts). On each wiper blade there is one jumper wire. The jumper wire is broken or has a bad connection. Solder the jumper wire.
Problem
On a multiple line machine (i. E. 873) one cherry on the top line pays ‘o’ yet one cherry on the center or bottom line pays correctly.
Solution
On an 873 (5 lines) there are three two pay contacts on the contact board on the hopper. The finger third from the bottom needs to be bent down so it will reach the contact strip on the contact board.
Problem
Three plums don’t pay but everything else does.
Solution
1. Check the female beau plug that the hopper plugs into. The hopper has on its plug two long prongs that guide the entry of the hopper. The top prong sometimes pushes the corresponding female receptacle back through the beau plug, thus, the prong doesn’t connect with the receptacle and make contact. Merely push the receptacle back into position on the female beau plug. Now the prong can enter and make contact.
2. Follow the “14 pay” wire to the set of contacts in the middle of the hopper behind the payboard. Clean and/or adjust those contacts. See if the armature is in place on top of the solenoid. 3. Check and see if the “14 pay” wire is broken off the payboard. 4. Check the “14 pay” contact on the hopper payboard to see if the finger is actually touching the “14” contact on the payboard. Sometimes the zero stop rubber barrel has become so worn or vibrated loose so that the plastic disc is returning (resetting) too much. It’s resetting so far back that the finger just can’t reach the contact. On some machines the 14 contact is wired onto the “14” contact at the top of the payboard. This might be the only function of the top rack on the fingers on the plastic disc and this explains why plums don’t pay but all other symbols do pay. 5. Check for a broken or loose wire attached to the solenoid and switch that is in the hopper about in the middle of the hopper on the floor of the hopper.
Problem
Occasional overpays of about two coins.
Solution
- 1. In an electrically stepped hopper, a coin comes to the top of the hopper and lifts a roller which has the effect of pressing down on a set of horizontal contacts. If those contacts don’t make properly, the coin doesn’t get counted. Clean, but more importantly, tighten those contacts so a good contact is made every time.
- 2. If the b26 1100 solenoid on the back of the circuit board in the hopper is bad, it will buzz occasionally and not advance the plastic counter, but a coin still comes out. Change the solenoid. Sometimes the solenoid needs cleaning
- 3. See if the rubber bumper zero stop on the hopper is broken.
Problem
Occasional overpays of one coin. The extra coin just seems to dribble out after a pay.
Solution
This happens to the “late style” or “snow” hopper identified by the motor in the bottom of the hopper rather than the end. The brake that stops the motor is not working properly. It is at the very bottom of the hopper.
There are 3 solutions.
- 1. If the brake is sticking – lubricate.
- 2. Wrap electrical tape around the metal bar (about 3″x 1/3″). This eliminates residual magnetism.
- 3. See if the plastic “claw” is worn or broken that stops the motor.
Problem
One coin extra is occasionally paid. The coin comes out like a normal pay and does not dribble.
Solution
On the hopper, the coin kicker kicks the coins away from the roller on the pivot arm so nothing more can be paid out once a pay has been completed. If the kick is not efficient a coin gets lodged under the roller on the pivot arm and is not kicked back into the bin, that lodged coin gets paid as an extra on the next payout. The coin gets lodged under the pivot roller for these reasons:
- 1. The spring isn’t strong enough on the coin kicker to give a hard enough kick.
- 2. The corner of the coin knife sticks just past the pinwheel.
- 3. The coin kicker rubs against the hopper wall and reduces the speed and force of the kicks.
- 4. The tin guide (attached to the coin kicker with 2 rivets) is too close to the coin kicker.
- 5. The roller won’t roll when a coin tries to lift the roller and roll under it.
- To no. 1 – tighten the spring or use a heavier one.
- To no. 2 – grind the corner of the coin knife.
- To no. 3 – bend the coin kicker upward.
- To no. 4 – bend it upward.
- To no. 5 – loosen the roller – clean with solvent – turn metal against metal – then use oil to lubricate.
Problem
On a 5 coin multiplier bars only machine, 3 bars should pay 100 but pay 110.
Solution
On the hopper, to the left of the zero switch is a vertical switch which is tripped when the pay disc makes one revolution stopping the pay so that the “10 pay” doesn’t not pay. On the first revolution both contacts (the 10 & 100) are hot. The vertical contacts are either dirty or bent – adjust and clean the contacts.
Problem
Hopper “chatters” causing irregular payouts. The knock off lever that stops coins from being paid out sporadically trips when it shouldn’t trip making a chattering noise.
Solution
1. Look for tiny sparks where a contact arm touches the payout counter contact board. Tighten this contact arm so that it presses the contact harder onto its contact strip. 2. Clean and tighten the top horizontal contacts just behind the hopper contact board. If these contacts don’t make properly they will not count a coin that was just paid.
Problem
Erratic overpays
Solution
when coins climb the wall of the hopper they are pushed along by little posts. When a coin gets outside a post and reaches the roller it sticks and other coins sneak by in behind the first coin. Bend the roof of the hopper down closer to the pinwheel so the coins don’t get under the roof unless they are lined up flat against the wall. The roof is the aluminium housing just above and to the right of the coin kick off lever.
Problem
Erratic over and under payoffs (i. E. A range of two through six when it should have been five). Coins jam under the knife. Coins “ping” off the pinwheel track. This causes wear on the solenoid plunger that pulls back the coin kicker. The hole at the end of the plunger becomes oval and creates “slop” which allows the coin kicker to project too far into the hopper bowl.
Solution
- 1. Bend the bracket that holds the solenoid. This has the effect of pulling the coin kicker back farther so it’s even or behind the pinwheel.
- 2. Change the solenoid plunger (or even the attached link if the link is worn to the extent it causes “slop”).
- 3. Loosen up the roller so it rolls. If it won’t roll it will hold the last coin until the next pay.
Problem
One cherry on top line or bottom line pays 7 vs. 4.
Solution
The spiral on the hopper is reaching too far and contacts the 7 pay contact. Adjust the zero rubber stop back or rotate the contact board.
Problem
The machine pays every time even with no win showing on the reels.
Solution
Something is stopping the first reel wiper (on the board right behind the first reel). Often there are two white plugs behind the reel mechanism. They should be in the top left corner attached to the inside of the cabinet. If they are hanging down, the wiper gets hooked behind the plug and then the wiper comes forward and stops – right on the cherry payout, giving a payout every time.
Problem
Weird, sporadic, large payouts when no payout indicated OR on a “bars” machine (3 lines) a winner hits on 2 lines but only pays for one line.
Solution
The beau-plug the hopper plugs into has a loose contact receptacle that has been pushed back into the back of the plug-usually the top one of the two “guide” contacts. The contact needs to be glued back into the beau-plug so it won’t get pushed back in again causing a bad contact.
Problem
Runaway hopper (just keeps paying) on all pays above cherries.
Solution
- 1. Condition is caused by cleaner used on contacts on payout board. It seeps into the axel of the spiral and cleans it too much and dries axel area. If no response tighten the wound spring behind the board one more turn.
- 2. Adjust coin roller on hopper so that each coin is stepped up on the plastic step up gear.
Problem
Runaway hopper on larger payouts.
Solution
- 1. Look at the outboard wipers on the spiral disc on the side of the hopper. When one of these wipers comes around it catches on the metal block that holds the rubber zero stop. Tighten the screw in the middle of the spiral disc so the wiper no longer catches or bend the wiper.
- 2. The lower payout counter step-up arm switch in the hopper is stuck together and not working. To find the switch, take out the hopper and look at the left side where the payout board is. Look at the board. Look behind the top left corner where the reset lever is. There are two switches separated by a pin. The lower switch is the one that needs adjustment.
Problem
Runaway hopper on any payout.
Solution
- 1. Replace bad solenoid which is in the hopper on the back of the contact board. The solenoid triggers the linkage which advances the plastic gear.
- 2. Replace linkage that rotates the white gear behind the hopper payout board. A tab that pulls the teeth around is broken off.
- 3. Solder the orange wire with white tracer to its connection.
- 4. Look at the contacts on the back left of the hopper. If they are not opening and closing properly, adjust them.
- 5. If the runaway only happens on the 2nd & 3rd coin on, say, a 3 coin multiplier, there is probably a break in the circuit board in the upper unit. This prevents the counting of coins.
- 6. In a5 coin multiplier (model 809) one or two of the little white reels in the upper unit were not rotating. This prevented multiple pays by preventing the hopper payout disc from rotating. The hopper just kept paying. Oil the reels so the linkage goes in and out of the solenoids.
Problem
On a 5 line machine two cherries on a top or bottom line pays only 5 coins instead of 7 coins.
Solution
On the hopper, on the brown bakelite payboard there are several contact terminals at the bottom of the payboard. Each contact has a number. Look for ones marked “7”. There is a loose connection or a break in a wire going from the “7” contact on the payboard to the beau plug at the back of the hopper. It could be at the “7” contact, in the wire itself, or at the beau plug. Also, it could be in the female beau plug that the hopper plugs into.
Problem
One cherry pays one instead of two, two cherries pay three instead of five.
Solution
This first solution applies to a later style hopper which counts coins electrically as each coin lifts the roller as it comes out of the hopper. If the roller is pressing down too hard on a coin it tends to snap up and bang back down real fast. This causes a switch to close and open and close again before a second coin comes along. Thus, two coins are counted but only one coin came out. Adjust the roller upward. So that coins are not propelled off the track into the hopper bowl. Another solution involves mechanically stepped hoppers. Each payoff is one-half what it should be. On the inside of the hopper board is a white nylon gear (payout counter) that gets pushed around by a lever. Sometimes this lever has such a wide push that it pushes two teeth on the gear instead of one. The lever moves between 2 tabs which restrict its movement. Bend the uppermost tab down so the lever has an even shorter stroke, yet it will still grab one ratchet tooth and move it only once.
Problem
On a 5 coin machine, with 5 coins played, it pays off as though only 1 coin were played.
Solution
- 1. In the upper unit, find the step-up unit. On the back of the step-up board there is a loose or broken wire. Fix the wire.
- 2. In some multiplier machines there are edge connectors in the upper unit (like in a continental). Clean the corrosion off both male and female connectors.
Problem
On a 5 coin machine the 1st thru the 4th coin pay normally. But the 5th coin played makes the machine pay as though only one coin were played.
Solution
In the upper unit there is a step-up unit. The contacts are not lining up properly. Loosen the 2 bolts and rotate slightly the step-up board so the contacts touch properly.
Problem
The machine should pay 50 but only pays 20 coins.
Solution
This happened in a model 847 continental. In the hopper the plastic spiral would only go up to 20 because sufficient voltage was not getting to the 50 pay contact. In the top unit, the 3rd set of contacts from the top left is the jackpot lock-up relay switch. Out of this switch comes a red green wire which goes to a connector plug on the back wall of the upper unit. There are two plugs and this one is on the left. On this plug the red green wire attaches to the upper left corner. This plug was dirty and after cleaning the prong from the red green wire the voltage went through and the problem was solved.
In another case, the hopper was pulled out and looking behind where the hopper was, two of the contacts in the female beau plug were pushed in and not making contact. Rather than putting epoxy on the back to hold the contacts in the entire female beau plug was replaced. The two contacts were the middle, 2nd from the bottom, and the one to the right of it. Sometimes it is possible to move the wires to unused pins. Make sure both the male and female pins are done the same.
Problem
1 cherry (1st reel) does not pay on any line even though 2 cherries and above do pay.
Solution
Pull out the reel mechanism on the 18 pin plug at the back. Clean the pins that are vertical and twist each one slightly. This will give them a better contact when they enter the female plug.
Problem
Should pay 100 but much more than 100 paid (maybe even 200)
Solution
In the hopper, look for the spiral which rotates as each coin is paid. Laid over the spiral is a shiny metal rack. It also moves as coins are paid. It slowly moves toward the back of the machine. The front-most part of this rack gets bent toward the handle of the hopper. Bend it back so it is straight. Otherwise, it stops the spiral and coins continue being paid.
Problem
Model 809 pays correctly on 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th coin but not on the 5th coin. When 5 coins inserted the coins would step up 5 times but the payoff was like either 1 or 2 coins had been played.
Solution
In the top unit there is a step up unit on the right side (facing the machine). The plastic gear has been ratcheted around so far that it has opened one set of contacts and closed the other set (the opposite to what should be the normal settings), and the bundle of wires joining to the lights has caught on one of the arms that rotate on that step up board.
Problem
An underpay of 2 coins consistently occurs on a 5 coin multiple line machine when 3 oranges are hit on one line and a cherry is hit on another line. The pay is 12 instead of 14.
Solution
The jumper wire that goes from the “7” payout to the “14” payout contact on the back bottom of the hopper board is broken or not soldered.
Problem
Inconsistent underpays.
Solution
- 1. Lubricate the plastic or metal spiral cam on the hopper board.
- 2. Increase the tension 1/4 or 1/2 turn on the spring that resets the plastic spiral on the hopper board. When the hopper resets, there isn’t enough spring tension to return the outboard wiper contacts, on the hopper board all the way back to the zero stop. Thus, the payout starts later than it should and stops too soon to give a full payout. Also, the wiper contacts may be pressing too hard onto the contact board. This friction causes the wiper contacts to drag slowly to a stop just short of the zero stop when the wiper contacts are reset.
- 3. On the hopper behind the spiral and hopper board is the step up solenoid. The solenoid plunger releases and stops against a metal tab sticking up from the hopper board housing. Bend this tab away from the solenoid. This gives a wider throw to the lever that pulls the plastic gear around. This prevents double hits for each coin. Also, lubricate the levers that pull the plastic gear around. Lubricate the axel of the plastic gear so it gets turned easily. 4. Check the teeth on the plastic gear. If they are worn they must be sharpened or the gear replaced. 5. Two teeth on the plastic gear are being grabbed instead of one tooth for each coin paid. This may be caused by the release lever that releases the plastic gear so it goes “zip” to its original position. Not only does the release lever release the plastic gear, it also pushes the teeth on the plastic gear down into place after each coin is paid. Sometimes it pushes down too far. Now 2 teeth get counted instead of 1. Bend the release lever towards the top of the hopper. Make the bend right where the lever touches the plastic tooth. Now the plastic gear will not be pushed down too far.
Problem
One cherry pays 2, but so do two cherries.
Solution
- 1. Attach a voltage testor from the orange common wire to the “5” pay contact at the bottom of the bakelite circuit board in the hopper. If there is no voltage after 2 coins are paid there is no voltage getting to the 15″ contact, so the hopper stops.
- 2. Trace the “15” wire back through the machine checking for breaks, open contacts, bad connections, or a bad beau plug pin.
- 3. In the case above, the problem was in the beau plug (24 pin-female) that the reel mechanism plugs into. Looking into the cabinet with the reel mechanism removed, the lower right corner of the beau plug had a female pin knocked in and broken. Sometimes a pushed in pin can be pushed back out and glued, but in this case the beau plug had to be replaced.
Problem
Three oranges pay 28 instead of 10.
Solution
This happened on a model 922, a5 liner with the progressive jp feature. There really is a 28 pay instance. It occurs when both diagonals have plumbs – 14 for each line.
In this case the problem was in the hopper. As you look at the hopper in the machine you see a solenoid and switches in the window located at the bottom of the hopper. The solenoid sits on the floor of the hopper. At the top of the solenoid there is a switch with 2 wires coming out. These wires were bare and touching. This caused the “oranges” contact to just keep on marching right up to 28. Separate and tape both wires.