Newbie with sick S+ needs some advice.

[kb8yrw]

Hello to all. I am new to the group and new to slot machines. I don't even play them but my wife is an addict! I purchased my first slot machine yesterday as a Christmas present for my wife (to try and keep her out of the casino.) The machine is a 1990 S+ Double Diamond with just the coin comparator and does not accept bills. I bought the machine off craigslist for $175 and tested it several times before I brought it home. We unloaded the beast and got it in the house. I let it warm up to ambient temp before I plugged it in because it cold from being outside and I did not want any moisture issues. My wife was all excited and come running with her change jar to try it out when I plugged it in. I turned it on and it lit up but I noticed the reels did not spin as it did before. She put a coin in it and it dropped right out into the tray. She made several attempts with the same outcome. I was slowly loosing my hero status so I thought I better at least appear to know what I was doing. I opened the door powered it down and started wiggling wires. Powered it back up and still no joy  I thought something must have got jarred loose during transport.

The machine came with a manual and a service manual. I started pouring through the internet trying to familiarize myself with my newly purchased problem. In the course of a day I have become pretty familiar with the machine. Here are the symptoms when you power it up:
1. Lights come on including the $.25 in the middle.
2. No LED display at all (no tilt codes)
3. Coin Comparator LED is off
4. Candle is off.
5. No noise from the speaker except for a slight crackle when turning it off.
6. reels move slightly and have tension when power is on.
7. Reset button does nothing.

At first glace it appears I have a power issue. I found some posts on the forum dealing with that (thank you so much for the info.) With meter in hand I checked the power plug to the MB for a scorch mark, nothing there it looks brand new. I checked the voltages and have the 7, 8 and 24 Vac on the correct pins. While doing that I notice a quarter leaning against the back of the machine behind the transformer. it wasn't shorting anything but loose metal floating around a PS is never a good thing so I extracted it. I plugged everything back in turned the machine on and I noticed the candle flashing Slow on top fast on bottom indicating the door was open and it was. I closed the door and it remained flashing. I noticed the display now showed a 61. Great I read on here how to deal with that. I opened the door held the reset until it chimed and closed the door. The candle stopped flashing and the display showed a 61 1 which was not unexpected. I again followed the procedure and turned the reset key with the door closed. As soon as I did the display went blank again and the machine returned to the original state I outlined above. I tried all the connections again, double checked the voltages to no avail. Si I decided to take the MB out and check under it and look for bad board connections.

I found $.75 under the board but it was under the insulating plastic so it wasn't shorting anything. The pins on the MB all look good and there isn't any heat marks on the circuit board. I looked at the solder joints under a magnifying glass but no cracks. I removed the CPU from the holder to look at the backside. No noticeable problems.

The dip switches are set as follows
1. on
2. on
3. on
4. on
5. off
6. on
7. on
8. off

The numbers on the chips are SP772 5/13/96 and Reel SS3633.

If anyone has any advice I would appreciate the input. I need to save face with the wife 
Happy wife happy life HELP!
Thanks in advance.

[CVslots]

When you cleared that 61 1, did the display go blank BEFORE or AFTER you turned the key? Almost sounds like your display is loosing connection. The display is not normally ever completely blank. Check all the connections leading to/coming from display. Also, check your fuses with a meter.

[Shaggy]

How about a couple of pics inside and out. The comparator led will not light up with the door open. The candle flashes after the maiden spin. Reels set tightly back? You're in the right place to find answers. Welcome!

[kb8yrw]

When you cleared that 61 1, did the display go blank BEFORE or AFTER you turned the key? Almost sounds like your display is loosing connection. The display is not normally ever completely blank. Check all the connections leading to/coming from display. Also, check your fuses with a meter.

The display went blank the moment I turned the reset key. I double checked the fuses with a meter and all are good. I just took the display off to check the board connection and all looks good there also. When I put the board back in and powered it up again the bell made one ding but still no display or anything other than the cabinet lights.

 

[kb8yrw]

How about a couple of pics inside and out. The comparator led will not light up with the door open. The candle flashes after the maiden spin. Reels set tightly back? You're in the right place to find answers. Welcome!

Here are some pics.

[Shaggy]

I know it sounds like old hat but check to make sure the mpu is securely seated to the mother board. If it's loose or not completely seated it could give a power failure. Working moved then not working. Just sounds like something came loose.

[kb8yrw]

Here are a few more pics. I dug out my weller pencil iron and was thinking about resoldering all the joints on the MB. Don't know if that is a fruitless effort because I could not find any bad spots on the board. My eyes are not as good as they used to be so I could have missed something.

[Shaggy]

I don't know if I'd start re soldering just yet. There are a lot of very intelligent people who have lots of experience on here. Unfortunately I'm not one of them. I have an s+ like yours though, so I'm looking for simple first.

[kb8yrw]

I just went and wiggled and reseated the MPU several times but still nothing. It is frustrating because I know it will work but just can't seem to nail it down. Intermittent electrical problems are the worst. With my vast knowledge ( about 24 hrs now) of slot machines I thought for sure I would have nailed this down by now  Bad part is the thing is sitting on the floor because I don't have a stand yet. 

[Shaggy]

I don't suppose you know of anyone who has a 10 mhz board you could put in and try. The game won't matter, if it fires up and plays you know where the trouble is.

[kb8yrw]

I don't suppose you know of anyone who has a 10 mhz board you could put in and try. The game won't matter, if it fires up and plays you know where the trouble is.

Unfortunately I'm the only one I know with a slot machine. Maybe I should look around for a spare online, be good to have even if its not the problem. I cant imagine they are cheap.......ebay here I come unless there is a better source for parts. I guess I'll check the sponsors first. I hate just throwing parts at a problem.

[therockinelvis]

I think I'm reading that the reels are now stiff so power is going to them. You had 61 then 61-1 closed the door and latched it all the way then turned the key. At that point it is normal for the displays to go blank while it is thinking. Then reels should spin etc. When you turn the machine off then back on do you get the 61? If it has done nothing I am leaning towards it needing a clear at this point.

[kb8yrw]

That is correct I had the 61 then the 61-1, reels are stiff, no display after cycling the power. The reels have never spun since I brought it home. They did move slightly when it was powered up but I think that is when they were being energized. Guess I need to buy a Clear chip? or is there another way to do it?

[therockinelvis]

I have read about removing a chip and grounding the legs, or putting a different chip in. Never tried it. I always use clear chip. Since you don't have a B/V you don't may still need a set chip for the denomination. Never done one without a B/V. Wait for Knagle or Rickhunter to chime in. But if machine was in front of me, that is what I would try. I am probably  82.666% knowledgeable.

[kb8yrw]

She is up and running!!!  After reading the rockinelvis post about swapping chips it occurred to me that the game came with two extra ss chips I guess to change the odds on the machine??? Anyway I pulled the MPU and swapped it out with one of the spares. I powered it up and got the flashing candle and a 61 code on the display. I hit the reset until it chimed and closed the door then I got a 61 1 code. I opened the door closed it again then hit the reset key. The display went off then the reels spun and I got an insert coin light. The wife has been playing it for about 45 minutes and is happy as hell, my family room sounds like a casino. Might have to switch it over to tokens. I imagine there are places to buy those.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions. Now I have to find a stand possibly two because she wants another one already 

[Shaggy]

They multiply fast. Glad you got it going.