873 overflow diverter issue

[Phan000]

Hello,


I bought an 873 yesterday.  It is in fantastic shape.  Everything seems to work, but I have 2 minor issues:


There is a constant buzzing from the overflow diverter in the door. If I put weight on the hopper it
Stops, but the coins get sent to the hole instead of the hopper.

[size=78%]Also,  I’ve not heard the bell Yet.  Only minor payouts so far,  no[/size]
[size=78%]Jackpots.  Is this normal? [/size]

[sixcardmark]

Unless you plan on using the overflow, I would de-solder or snip the wires going to the diverter coil that is buzzing,  No more buzz, no more overflow.

[off-track]

I'd try grabbing the diverter coil and moving it a little to see of the buzzing stops or changes.  Buzzing coils on my em's are usually due to a loose mount or worn stop.

I've only ever heard the bell on three 7's.

[rdaniel]

The buzzing should stop when the diverter coil is de-energized, which causes coins to go into the cash box. You have the new style hopper, called a snow hopper. There is a switch at the bottom of the hopper which de-engages the coil when the  the coins in hopper reach a certain weight.   The problem might be the armature which the coil pulls in when energized. It could not be making good contact which will cause buzzing. Over the years the energized metal coil contacts wear a pattern into the back of the armature which impacts the contact. I suggest two things:  place a strip of electrical tape over the worn section of the armature, or take steel wool or light sand paper and sand down the wear marks to a smooth finish or both.

[RiseLikeRa]

Phan:

Congratulations on your new purchase.  Now you just have to get one in each denomination from 5 cents to silver dollar.


As usual rdaniel is spot on with his history and information about the fix.  FIRST decide if you are going to actually mount the game on a table or stand with a hole in it to accept the overflow.  If not you can use the snip method that six card suggested. 


As an alternative to the snip/invasive surgery, may I suggest just tracing the wires from the coil back to the molex plug in the door.  Simply remove from the plug and tape the offending wires with electrical tape.  This way you can simply snap the wires back into the plug if you want to restore your machine to original condition.  Removing the barbed terminals is a bit of a challenge without and EXTREMELY fine screwdriver OR a terminal remover tool that I purchased from the since defunct Radio Shack.


As usual my advice is free and worth every penny
Ra

[rdaniel]

Ra,  when you speak of snipping wires on the machine do you suggest that Phan000 give the machine a vasectomy?

[RiseLikeRa]

RD:


That was NOT my idea,  six card is the one who suggested the elective snip surgery.  I put forward a more homeopathic solution.


Ra

[Amechanic]

I have found that if you use a finger nail file/emery board that you can buy at a dollar store work good for cleaning up the surfaces of the coil and diverter. Put the emery board between the 2 surfaces and file away. I have also found that the tension springs get soft. So I will cut 1 or 2 loops off that spring, then rebend a spring loop and reinstall. Do the finger test on the area where the spring connects before you do any cutting. I do the same thing to the scavenger coil behind the coin mech.

[DavidLee]

Clean the coil surface and the plate. Test plate alignment and free movement.
Activate and observe the armature using the hopper switch.


Caution, disabling the mechanism may cause overflow / damaged.

[essmeier]

I've only ever heard the bell on three 7's.

Mine rings on three sevens (or it did the one time I got that combination in the 12 years I've owned it) and mine also rings for three bars, which is a not-terribly-rare win combination.

[RiseLikeRa]

I have 3 of them now.  ALL of them ring with the same hits as Essmeier.  That adds to the excitement.  I like the bells.  As I said before, I thing that the 873 Fruit machine is the King of the non exotic EM's!


My opinion is free and worth every penny.


Ra