MEI Bill validator

[Tperna]

I just got this IGT S2000 machine that has the hopper and bill validator, neither were accepting any cash, I have now got the machine accepting quarters and I can play the machine but the bill validator light illuminated and it will accept the bill and take it in and all it to the cash box but doesn’t give the machine and credit for the bill that it accepts. I’m scrambling trying to figure it out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Stayouttadabunker]

The interface card has oxidized and age-flattened contact pins #7 & #8.
The credit signal for accepted bills cannot get back to the MPU.

In other words, the bill got eaten.

[Tperna]

Stayouttadabunker, I'm kind of new to this, could you walk me through possibly how to clean up this interface card and where to find terminal #7 and #8, is this possible or should I locate and replace the wiring and interface card. Any help would be greatly appreciated. maybe you have a picture or you could explain the aria I need to be looking would help.

Thank you.

[Stayouttadabunker]

Place a WTB ad for an S2000 MEI bill acceptor interface card.
Can you see the middle two contacts in the yellow box?
They are pushed down... That's where the data signal for the bill acceptance is supposed to head back to the MPU computer in your machine.
They are stuck down because the acceptor has been pushing down on those contacts for 20 years... those two gold contact tabs get somewhat warmer than the others, and are now re-formed in flattened position.
A newer interface card may have better gold contacts.

I've tried pulling out the card with the power OFF and tried to re-bend/push those two flattened tabs upwards to promote better electrical contact.
I don't always get lucky with that.
Now.... if you get someone willing to sell you an interface card, ask them if they can sell you a card - without those two contact tabs depressed.

Also, if those two tabs are depressed, and flattened out.... no amount of cleaning is going to help you...

Click on photo below to enlarge if you wish...>>>