How to replace Alpha S9000 reels - Before I retire

[drhotwing]

I purchased a new game kit for my Alpha 5 reel machine, i've spent now over 2 hours trying to get just one reel strip into the plastic reel frame with no luck and a lot of frustration. Short of spending over 100 hours getting all 5 reel strips installed is there some technique that makes changing the reels easier?

I took the entire reel out of the machine thinking it would be easier...nope...

[CVslots]

Are you having trouble getting the strip aligned properly or having trouble getting the strip to stay on the reel basket? If you cup/flex the strip (just pinch the sides of the strip slightly until it flexes a bit), it helps to get them in the groove of the reel basket.

[drhotwing]

Yes, my difficulty is getting the strips into the grooves. Even if I get a little bit of the strip into the groove more pops out.
Should I start from the end of the strip or the middle and work towards the ends?

[rickhunter]

You need to find the notch first.  Notice that your strips have a square notch on each side on the bottom of the strip?  With the reel installed in game (and power off just in case we miss that) run a piece of thin plastic along the inside of the edge of the basket until you find the bump.  Then push the rest of the strip towards the back of the machine from the top of the reel so that the area with the two notches is facing forward so you can put these two notches into the basket.  Then slowly turn the reel down and push the strip into the grooves until you have the whole strip installed.  If this doesn't make any sense, post back on the topic and I will make a video on how I do it.

[drhotwing]

Thanks guys, I used a combination of both of your comments ( finding the notch and bending the strip) and it worked. Once I found the notch the end of the strip locked in then I bent the strip with one hand while sliding my fingers along the groove over the strip with the other worked rather easily once I got the hang of it.

My problem was due to me trying to hold the reel in my hand while trying to get the strip in- bad choice
Thanks a lot Rickhunter and CVSlots!

Happy Holidays!

[rickhunter]

Awesome, glad you got the hang of it.  Now you can go out and buy more kits!!! 


Enjoy your holidays and the new game.