Author Topic: Need help bringing an EM Bally 831-ZF back from the dead (Read 29785 times)

clk71 · « **on:** June 02, 2015, 08:59:57 AM »

Hi All,

I am new to this forum, and am hoping you can help me fix an 831 I bought on Craigslist. I have experience with arcade and pin games, but no "reel" slot experience.

The guy I bought it from said it worked for 10 years, then one day a coin must have caused a short and the transformer started cooking itself to death. Cosmetically, the machine itself is decent, with good glass and OK chrome, so I welcomed this project to my collection.

I opened it up, and indeed the transformer is burnt up. I also noticed that at some point, two of the three fuses by the transformer were bypassed. I suspect that something further along the line caused the meltdown with no fuse protection, but I'll have to fix the immediate problems before I can find out.

Can anyone help me get a transformer? The part manual online I found says it takes an E-122-105, and the number stamped on the transformer is 122-101 (not sure if there is a difference). Can anyone also help me get a couple of the fuse holders/fuses that are missing, and tell me which wires go to which one? I can't find the specific electrical wiring diagram for this machine online. I am hoping that someone has a pile of junker machines lying around that I can get parts from.

Once I put things back to normal, I can continue to troubleshoot (if necessary... maybe it will just magically work again!). I also noticed that someone wired xmas tree lights to light up the coin door reel glass window, and I am missing some kind of topper that sits in a chrome holder attached to the top of the cabinet, but those are easy things to fix.

Thanks again for any help!

rokgpsman · « **Reply #1 on:** June 02, 2015, 10:19:12 AM »

Whoever bypassed the fuses made a silly mistake. The fuses are there to protect the wiring and other parts if a short circuit occurs. When this happens without the fuse then excessive electrical current flows and can do considerable damage.

You will need to find what is causing the short circuit and get it repaired, do a good visual inspection, especially of the added wiring someone installed. Look for pinched wires or where wire insulation may have been pierced by sharp metal edges, etc. A continuity meter for checking for short circuits will be helpful. I'd be careful about just replacing the transformer and powering it up, hoping for the best. Whatever cooked the original transformer could do the same thing to the next one. I'd at least get the fuses reinstalled along with the replacement transformer so they protect it.

That is an older power transformer, perhaps someone here will have one. Also, some of the slot dealers sometimes teardown machines and have parts like that. You can check with Rudyâ€™s and other dealers here on the NLG homepage to see. Also, you can post a WTB (Want To Buy) ad in the classified forum. Rudyâ€™s sometimes has items in stock that are not listed on their website so you can contact them to check. Their prices are generally pretty good if they have the item you need.

The fuseholders should be available from electronic supply places like Jameco, Mouser, and even on ebay. A popular size is the 5x20mm style but you'd need to verify that is the size needed for your machine.

http://rudysdeals.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=transformer

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDrillDownView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&freeText=fuseholder&search_type=jamecoall

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=fuseholder+20mm&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.A0.H0.Xfuseholder+5x20mm.TRS1&_nkw=fuseholder+5x20mm&_sacat=0

clk71 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2015, 10:50:39 AM »

Thanks for the links. I checked Rudy's and didn't find a transformer, so I sent him an email. Hopefully someone on the forum has a transformer sitting around.

Yeah, can you believe someone would cut out the fuses? Dumb! I wish I knew the real story behind the machine, but it has almost 50 years of history at this point. I wonder if the guy I got it from had a problem with the machine blowing fuses and was really the person who pulled them out.

Thanks again for any and all leads on finding this transformer!

Amechanic · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2015, 02:37:51 PM »

The Bally fuse holders have been known to crack and the top caps fail. Instead of replacing the fuse holders someone might just connected the wire together instead if replacing them. You can use any fuse holder that uses that size glass fuse. Have you checked on Ebay for the transformer? I have seen then for sale there before. If you can't locate a transformer let me know, I might be able to locate one.

Gary

Neonkiss · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2015, 06:34:33 PM »

Loose coins are known for shorting out machines, like the dime in your picture on the back wall.
Check around for loose change inside the machine, change the fuse holders and wire them back as they belong. I have a few transformers let me see what I have.

Amechanic · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2015, 07:20:30 PM »

As Neonkiss said, loose coins are killers... People have a bad habit of laying the slot machines on there back when the move them and don't remove or empty the hoppers.. All it takes is for one coin in a wrong place to make a lot of damage..

Jon · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2015, 07:24:23 PM »

email me your name address and I will send you a transformer and 3 fuse holders

Neonkiss · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2015, 03:40:55 AM »

Sorry, I do not have any that old, but looks like you have your lead on one

RiseLikeRa · « **Reply #8 on:** June 03, 2015, 05:09:02 AM »

Welcome to the forum! We are always looking for new blood. I have learned that almost everything on a Bally EM can be fixed. Take your time and listen to the wise ones on this forum and you cant go wrong. Seems like you have located your parts. Great. If not I know a member who has 3 of every part on an EM.

Best of lock and send us more pictures of your game.

Ra

clk71 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 03, 2015, 06:53:06 AM »

You guys are great, thanks for the overwhelming help! I will let you know when the transformer and fuse holders arrive, and keep everyone posted on progress. While I wait, do you have suggestions on how to clean up the chrome on the exterior? Mine is not bad, but has some minor pitting on it.

Here is a picture of the inside of the coin door, with the "custom" Xmas light string that I have to sort out. Very creative?

Amechanic · « **Reply #10 on:** June 03, 2015, 07:30:52 AM »

Simple fix. Someone cut and taped the 110v wires for the ballast to the light string. You need to find out if you have your light sockets for the reels bulb. There should be a socket for the starter too. The cleaner CLR works great to help with rust, then just a chrome polish

clk71 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 03, 2015, 09:21:14 AM »

Just removed the reel light shield to take a look. Both the fluorescent bulb sockets are still there and the wiring looks unhacked, just missing the bulb. I'll head off to Home Depot later today to hopefully pick up the F6T5 c/w bulb the manual says it takes (thanks for the manual link a few posts ago!). If they don't stock it I can order it online from a ton of places for anywhere between 0.95 and 5.99 each. I'll pick up a couple new starters also... anyone know off hand which ones the game takes?

The starter is still in place with its socket, so good there. It was pretty funny when I took the light shield off. About six feet worth of bundled up Xmas lights fell out. Yeesh, the steps people will take to avoid buying a light bulb!

Amechanic · « **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2015, 09:56:30 AM »

The starter is a FS-5 I believe. It could be the FS-2, but it should say on the package. I buy a FS-U sold on line. It a universal starter that covers many uses.. Your going to pay $5-$10 for a single bulb at Home Depot or any hardware store. I buy mine on line for a lot less, but you have to pay shipping, usually $7-$10 depending on how much you buy. I've been using 1000bulb.com for a few years and have had good luck with them.

Gary

Jon · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2015, 10:49:07 AM »

I'm not very good at shipping but this looks good to me

Amechanic · « **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2015, 11:31:05 AM »

That should work, but I wouldn't put it past the USPO to figure out how to break something.

clk71 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 03, 2015, 11:38:33 AM »

That is one good looking heart transplant! Did you get my private message with the address? Just want to make sure I sent it correctly.

I'll snap a pick of the machine and upload it tonight so you guys can see the before and after!

Amechanic · « **Reply #16 on:** June 03, 2015, 12:04:22 PM »

The EM transformers are getting harder to find. I have 3-4 for the E-Series, and I think one or two for the EM. I think my EM are the 105 version not the 101.. I'm not sure what or there is a difference is?? I have a beautiful 831 with electrical problem.. I noticed the transformer looked to have gotten hot. I have wax all over the safety timer, but most of the machines voltages check correctly? I just pushed it into the corner for a later day.
Can't wait to see if your machine comes back to life with the new parts. I just had a thought.. I remember somewhere that a bad ballast could cause a transformer to go bad. I'd be careful when you hook up that reel bulb in your machine. It might be worth buying a new light ballast while your replacing the bulb and starter. That's a common ballast and should be available where you get the bulb.

Jon · « **Reply #17 on:** June 03, 2015, 12:28:49 PM »

Gary I think the difference between the 101 and the 105 transformer is the 105 has 220 and 240 volt input on it as well as 120
and if you need any transformers are other EM parts Gary let me know I recently acquired about 4 ton of parts

Amechanic · « **Reply #18 on:** June 03, 2015, 12:50:45 PM »

Holy Crap!!! I'm looking for Red Reel and feature glass for a 873 5 line 5 coin.

Jon · « **Reply #19 on:** June 03, 2015, 12:59:56 PM »

For red you'll have to wait till I get to Michigan and go through I have 500 more pieces all I have here is black and blue glass

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Author Topic: Need help bringing an EM Bally 831-ZF back from the dead (Read 29785 times)