Slot handle is stuck in a forward position

[Bcgonzalez]

Hello everyone,


I recently joined this site and I was hoping someone can provide me with some guidance/support here.  I recently purchased a IGT 2000 wild thing slot machine for my man cave off of Craigslist in very good condition.  Everything works great but I think I had a little too much to drink and started messing with some settings one night  Now my slot machine Handle is stuck in the forward position and does not retract backwards.  It still operates in the forward position and spins the reels but does not go back to its original upright position.  I could not locate any user manuals or find anything on YouTube regarding my issue and I was recommended to try this site. Hopefully someone can help me out.  Thank you

[Badbaud]

On the inside the Handle Box has some service holes.
Spray some WD-40 in those holes while exercising the handle back and forth.

[Bcgonzalez]

Thank you!  Will I need to access the service holes from inside the slot machine or is this something I can access from the outside of the machine?

[Jim]

Usually a stuck handle is a sign of the orange bumper melted and allows the handle to travel back down from the rest position due to the inertia. on the back side of the handle mech. is a solenoid, this allows the handle to be pulled during normal operation. reach in and using your finger push up on the plunger part of the solenoid, this should allow the handle to be pulled and restored back to its at rest position.

the only way to fix this is to replace the orange bumper, which is hard to come by, or replace the handle mech with a good one in it, or fashion a bumper to do the same function.

hope this helps

I do have working handle mechs available.

Jim 

[Bcgonzalez]

Thanks Jim!  I will take a look at that when I get home.

[Stayouttadabunker]

It's a bit or work but you can do it!

First, you need to stick an Allen key under the handle into the hole of the cap and remove the handle bolt.
Once the bolt is out, pull out the handle and put the cap aside.

Inside the cabinet, there;'s two wire connectors way on top in the back corner on top of the handle mech.
That is for the solenoid pawl release....pull those two connectors off the tabs and move aside.

Now, using a ratchet wrench with an extension and socket, there will be 3 nuts you need to remove.
The bolts run thru the mech and out to the round metal plate outside that surrounds the handle shaft to the mech.

Once those nuts are removed, slowly pull out the entire mech and you will have two more connectors attached to a small microswitch.
Those are for the handle contact and tells the MPU that the handle has been engaged for a spin....pull those two connectors off the switch tabs and place aside.

Now you have the whole handle mech. in your hands.
Bring it over to a well lit bench and take good photos of the guts of it...especially where the pawls to the gears are and where the melted orange goop is.

From there, we'll be able to determine what you can do next for sure! 

[RB]

Usually when the handle is stuck in the down position this little spring loaded cam is either broken or seized. If it's the latter a little lube should free it up. It can be accessed from the bottom toward the back without removing the mech but it's hard to see. You should also remove the nut and washer and shoot a little lube in there. Do not over tighten the locking nut when you put it back on.

[RB]

Here's one with the ear broken off the cam, thus no spring action. Someone had to be really slamming that handle to do that.

[Retro tech repair]

Usually when the handle is stuck in the down position this little spring loaded cam is either broken or seized. If it's the latter a little lube should free it up. It can be accessed from the bottom toward the back without removing the mech but it's hard to see. You should also remove the nut and washer and shoot a little lube in there. Do not over tighten the locking nut when you put it back on.

99% of the time this is what causes it to stick down try this first.

[Kbreaux]

This post was helpful. A little lube and the handle is back in action.