Coin comparator problem

[off-track]

Lately I have noticed that after the machine is powered down, when it is turned on again it won't accept coins (bill validator still works) without flipping the slide on the sample coin a couple of times, closing the door, waiting for the lights and trying again.  It just took five times of repeating this sequence and then it accepted a coin.  I've run across this before and saw from the FAQ that the suggestion is to replace the sample coin.  Is there anything on the comparator that can be cleaned/adjusted to overcome this?

[sixcardmark]

Look on the bottom of right side of comparator and you will see a very small philips head screw head.  Turn it counter-clockwise so it is less sensitive.

[jonbbrew]

Look on the bottom of right side of comparator and you will see a very small philips head screw head.  Turn it counter-clockwise so it is less sensitive.

Would this also be the solution for coins just falling through when they used to take?

[sixcardmark]

Look on the bottom of right side of comparator and you will see a very small philips head screw head.  Turn it counter-clockwise so it is less sensitive.

Would this also be the solution for coins just falling through when they used to take?

Yes it might help if they are falling into the tray, not if they are going into the hopper.

[Badbaud]

It could also be the main filter capacitor on the comparator is failing.Taking a while to come up to full charge could cause the comparator to delay it's ability to sense a coin.

[Paladin]

Funny enough, I literally just replaced that capacitor in the comparitor a few minutes ago in my S+ slot.  The problem that I fixed by replacing the capacitor was a very loud vibration from the comparitor.  Occasionally a coin would drop through to the payout tray but the vibration was the main problem.


The vibration was caused by the 'rake', a piece of metal on the back of the comparitor that has a small spring on one end and a black plastic coil that 2 gray wires go into.  When power is applied to the coil, it turns into a magnet and pulls the rake open, when the power is off the spring closes it.  In my case, the capacitor was failing so the coil didn't have enough strength to hold the rake open.  This caused the rake to chatter open/closed making the annoying sound.


I found a post from Jim in 2013 that mentioned replacing the capacitor.  I drove an hour round trip to pick one up at a local electronics store and installed it.  The game is nice and quiet now!


The capacitor in mine was an electrolytic 220uf @ 35v axial capacitor.  Cost me a whole 35 cents.