Universal Red White & Blue with error codes ???

[oakley104]

Universal cabinet model 94014, Red, White & Blue Ultra series question.  We recently purchased this Universal Red, White & Blue machine until last week it worked fine and accepted quarters.  The bill changer was not working, but did not generate any error codes or disable the machine from being played.   Last week we moved the machine to a different location in the basement, am still amazed at how much a slot machine weighs…..   Full disclosure, we did tip the machine during the move to a 45 degree angle; it was never put on its side.  We bought this machine about a month ago is was loaded and rode in the back of a pickup for an hour, then was unloaded and moved to the floor where it sat and worked fine until we put it on a stand.  Maybe it liked the floor better? 
Since powering up after the move to the stand the machine has several error codes and is inoperable.  Am new to slot machines, do have several pinball machines and a strong electrical repair background.  Thinking I have the skills, but lack the knowledge to bring this machine back to working order.  Hoping NLG can provide the knowledge that I lack…….   
There are pictures of the Machine, nameplate, and error codes in the two attached files.  Here’s what we think we know but don’t understand, right or wrong, from the error codes (listed in order they appear):
Error code 13: Power up, ok that doesn’t tell us much info……
Error code: 97: BV Abnormal status, it has not worked since we bought this machine,  but never caused an issue until we moved it.
Error code 31: Overpay, not sure but don’t think it has had a win since we moved it, not sure how it could have an over pay?
Error code 50:  door open, actually it is closed and goes thorough the normal start sequence that happens once the door is closed
As shown in the pictures the TILT light is on and the tilt alarm is sounding.
We have also tried the following:
Activated the:
·         External Jackpot reset sw
·         External Meter reading sw
·         Internal yellow reset switch
Greatly appreciate any help or suggestions as to how to bring this slot back to working order
Thanks in advance for everyone’s help !!

[oakley104]

Read through several older posts and noted a CPU rest can fix some issues.  Tried holding down all three buttons on the main CPU during power-up for 3 seconds to reset the CPU.  All errors continue, the CPU reset did not correct the problems we are having.

Hoping someone has some suggestions that cam help us get this slot operating again....

Thanks !! 

[shortrackskater]

PM sent with attached "mini manual"
I'm combing this site and the old one for a schematic but it's not anywhere here.
I'll now look for NLG member uniman. 

[UNIMAN]

A very, very common problem. Surprised it worked when you first brought it home. Just moving them causes these issues!!


The main issue with the Ultra Series is the cpu plugging into the backplane. The backplanes are faulty. The cpu pins barely make contact. Clean the cpu pins with contact cleaner, and spray the backplane too. When you slide in the cpu, rock it left side, right side, and then both sides.
It's trial and error until those errors disappear. The 31 should go away, the 97 sometimes is the BV, may have to disable it by dipswitch change and RAM clear.


Note; those BV's only take the OLDEST bills. Small portrait bills. Try using one dollar bills first. There is no upgrade for those BV's.


(I am on the road right now and may be slow in responding.)

[UNIMAN]

One other thing, there is no manual for these machines. If you have the dip switch settings sheets that is about all that there is.
There are some schematics out there, but your problem is the cpu connection, no doubt.

[oakley104]

Have had experience with faulty connectors in various electronics, understand what you suggest is likely the problem.  Am on the road as well this week, home on Friday.  Will investigate your solutions and advise.


Thank you for the help, advice, and update on information, or lack of, that is available for these machines.


Greatly appreciate your help !!   

[oakley104]

Uniman,
Tried as you suggested, cleaned main CPU board connector and back plane. Re-seated multiple times, also rocked back and forth. no luck.  Edge connector looked clean and corrosion free on the main CPU board before cleaning.  Not a real good upside down backwards guy working from the bottom up with a mirror.  So, I decided to power down and remove the reels so I might be able to see the two main CPU board connectors.  Once I could see them It was noted the right connector was barley plugged in.  Was really hoping that was the problem, powered up after the main CPU was completely seated all the same errors exist.
The four leds on the front edge are cycling on and off. Assume that is a normal condition?

OK, time for a few  dumb questions:
Do Universal slot machines really have a tilt switch like a pinball game does? If yes, where are they located?
What does the yellow reset switch really do, and how do we use it?
What does the red service switch really do, and how do we use it?
What does the green test switch really do and how do we use it?
Kinda stuck on this machine,

Hoping there are some other things to try on it

 
Thanks !!!

[oakley104]

Happen to find the item below inside the Red White and blue slot machine.  Thinking its not a slot machine part, but not sure either...

[UNIMAN]

First, that is not a slot machine part in your pic.


The Green switch is used mainly for diagnostic testing, give me some time to search this lap to see if I have that info. (still on the road)
The Red switch is used in conjunction with the green. Say you want to simulate coins entered, you press the green so many times and then each press of the red would enter a credit, etc.
The yellow switch is the TILT reset and will reset the machine IF the TILT no longer exists.


Error Codes; There are error codes that are nothing more than information and there are error codes that cause a TILT condition. For example error 50 is door open, error 51 is door was open and now closed. These errors stay flashing until coins are inserted but they do not cause the TILT light to flash or stop the machine.
Errors like 31 OVERPAY and 97 BV Abnormal cause a TILT condition and if pressing the Yellow button does not make them go away they are still active and needs to be investigated.


More to come....

[oakley104]

Thanks again for your answers and help!!!  looking forward to some next steps....

[UNIMAN]

Ok, Let's disable the BV to get that 97 out of the way.
Pull the cpu board, with power off!!  Locate Dip SW#3 that has 8 dips. Move dip #5 on SW#3 to OFF. Now locate SW#5 that has 4 dips (front right side edge) Shut OFF DIP #1 on SW#5. Reinsert board in machine. Holding down all three little buttons on cpu with one hand, turn on the machine with the other hand. (Note: put your thumb under the three buttons and support the board so your not pushing down so hard as to flex the board) I can't remember the ALL CLEAR error code number, maybe 11?, you should see it on startup. This clears the RAM, and must be done with any dip switch change.
You should not see any 90's errors, like the 97 you had.

[UNIMAN]

Now let us look at error 31, OVERPAY. Many things can cause this error.


1. A coin stuck over the optic can cause this error. Look in the slot where coins come out of hopper, should be no coins in there.
2. This is the most common cause. Any break in the signal from the optic to the cpu causes error 31. Make sure hopper is plugged into that blue connector mounted on the floor of the machine. I have seen the floor connector worn and with stretched contacts on occasion. But your machine was working before being moved, so just make sure hopper is plugged in. After each attempt to reseat the hopper press the yellow reset and see if error goes away.


Now, I'm going to say this again. Because you had a 97 and a 31 I highly suspect the cpu connection to the backplane. With experience I seem to have a knack for getting the connection right after a few tries while I have seen others struggle with getting it right.
If you checked out the hopper as stated above and found no issues, go back to that cpu connection.


One more possibility. Something could be behind that backplane shorting it, doubtful, but could be. You would need to remove the reels, hopper, and there are four screws holding the backplane. If you loosened the four screws and just pull the backplane forward, any debris (coin, screw, etc) would drop out.  The backplane is adjustable so when tighting back up slide the cpu in to line up connection and then tighten the screws.

[oakley104]

Will check the optics as suggested, and let you know. 


OK, have to ask another dumb question....  Understand that if I was a casino owner (which I'm NOT) I would want to know about a machine that was overpaying (bad for business (.... ).  So lets say my casino machine did over pay how would I reset this error?  Seems like slot machines like to generate errors but there is nothing about how to reset these errors.  Some errors get cleared when the problem is corrected, that makes sense.  How would the machine know that you fixed an overpay problem? 


You had the same thought that I did (but hadn't taken the next step, yet..) if there was one unrelated part rolling around inside this machine could there be more?  And, could there be something behind the back plane shorting things out ?   Sometimes odd problems have odd reasons why they are occurring.


Will also check the coin hopper plug, anything is possible here.


Greatly appreciate your time, help and suggestions !!!! 

[UNIMAN]

When a casino has an overpay error the machine tilts and an attendant responds. They only need to open the door with key, check the hopper for a jam, and then press the yellow reset button. Machine is good to go. Most likely they would record this action, and take the machine out of service for the slot tech to investigate why it overpayed, maybe swap the hopper out.


I can only imagine when casinos moved these machines and they got all these errors how much frustration it caused them! I know when I first bought a few they drove me nuts at first. I had spare parts so I was swapping out hoppers, bv's, etc, only to get those errors again. Then I figured it out.


But sometimes there are actual physical problems like a coin jam. So you have to do process of elimination.

[oakley104]

Ok, think we have the over pay fixed.  There was a jammed coin in the hopper, and a couple scraps of paper near the optical sensor.  Also cleaned and carefully adjusted a contact in the blue hopper plug.   One was much lower (pushed up) than the others.

Seem to be stuck on error code 95 cash box removed.  Some previous slot machine tech, or they at least thought they were, butchered the wire going to the cash box.  The wires are twisted together and taped up, really NICE !!.  In the process of cleaning the wiring up.  There is a small white connector on the main CPU board lower right corner, CN18, with a black and brown wire.  These two wires are also twisted together and taped up.  Do you know where should they go?

Tilt light still on, buzzer seems to be on then off ?

So, we are making some progress but have a ways to go yet....

Please let me know if you have any other suggestions

Thanks for all your help !!!!

[UNIMAN]

I believe CN18 is a jumpered  door switch on the white light box at bottom of door. Should be black and an off-white. They are jumpered all the time.






See this thread on the BV errors;


http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?topic=604.0

[oakley104]

The link to the BV errors looks great!!!  Will dig into that and let you know what we find.


Thanks again for all the HELP !!!!


 

[oakley104]

Good news, all errors cleared and universal machine lives again 

[Amechanic]

Can you share what you did to fix your error codes, so if someone else has a similar problem they will know how to clear them..

Thanks, Gary

[oakley104]

Last error code was 97, its related to the bill changer.  Upon advice from Uniman checked all switches in the bill changer and found at least one that was barely getting activated.  Adjusted and checked all bill changer switches, reassembled and the RWB machine came back up with only error 51, door had been opened. 

Thanks UniMan your the expert on these machines !!