Fortune Coin

[kf2k3]

Good evening!

My first slot machine.  A fortune 1 video reel.  I know next to nothing about these things.  Is this a model from 1975?

Monitor powers on, but the coin slot does not work.  Is there a way to bypass this for the machine to spin?  No buttons, just an arm.  Also, the hopper is not running.  Is there a way to test this out?

[Chris-socal]

You are fortunate that the graphics and computer appear to be working. Unfortunately the expert on these machines passed away several years ago. Your machine should have a simple coin mechanism with a micro switch that you can flick with your finger to simulate a coin dropping.
These did not have a lock on the lever so you can usually pull the handle regardless of whether you have credits or not. That isn’t a problem.
Post a picture of the inside of the machine and one of the inside of the door. Let’s first verify that there is a coin mechanism in there at all.
The hopper will not run if you cannot get credits to play a spin…and win something.
Member Badbaud might have a few pointers based on your pics.
There is little or no technical information on these.

[kf2k3]

Thanks for the reply!  Attached are some pictures.  When I flick the micro switch, it shows "4th coin accepted" on the monitor, but it goes away when I release it.  The coin does fall into the hopper, though.

[Chris-socal]

What happens when you pull the lever?
Can you bypass the switch and simulate the lever being pulled? Just want to make sure it’s not something as simple as a faulty switch.
I have one of these and I can’t get it to play either but my game graphics don’t work either.

[kf2k3]

Nothing happens when I crank the arm.

[Chris-socal]

I hate to say this, but these machines do not have a generic reset button that is going to make it spring to life.
Your options are to try some basic troubleshooting on your own or call a tech to check some of the basic components.
There are no schematics to speak of and chances of finding someone who can tell you what is wrong by looking at pictures is slim.
This machine has 3 layers of circuit boards as well as a component-heavy power supplyin the lower box.
I suggest you, or a tech, check the switch on the arm (shown in your middle picture) to verify that the switch works. Besides the hopper, it is the only moving part and it might have worn out.
Pull the hopper and check all connections and look for a hopper reset button ( mine does not have one but you can hope).
After that, its component and continuity checking on the circuit boards.

Beyond that, only you can decide how much you want to invest in a 45 year old machine.

Keep us posted .

Chris

[63mini]

kf2k3,

 Just curious.  Was this the machine listed in Vegas for $20.00?

[Badbaud]

The easiest way to clear a Fortune 1 is to remove the 5101 RAM chip and short it's legs on some bare metal for about 3 minutes then plug it back in.
This is assuming the chip was in a socket.
If someone is interested in posting it in the downloads section I have scanned an entire F1 Seminar manual to PDF.
It shows all of the internal wiring diagrams and troubleshooting points chip by chip.

klar.slotrepair@gmail.com me please if you are a NLG tech.

[kf2k3]

Update - I'm able to spin.  The coin gets stuck in the drop, and I have to open the "door" for it to go into the hopper.  One of the spins I won, but the hopper did not come on.

https://www.veed.io/view/b0adabf9-9ae7-425a-8cca-d68e45dcabfc?panel=share

[Badbaud]

give me your email address at klar.slotrepair@gmail.com please

[kf2k3]

Update - I cannot get the hopper to work.  Nothing comes on when I win after a spin.  I tried to spin the hopper manually, but something is locking it.  I read there is a brake somewhere, but I cannot find it (There's something on the top that you can press, but that didn't do anything).

I've attached additional pictures.

[63mini]

kf2k3,

 I have attached a photo of yours showing the brake location.  There should be a white/yellow nylon hook in just below location of the red arrow in the photo.  You should be able to lift that and rotate the hopper motor by hand. Also, if you look at the bottom side of the hopper there will be a flat metal bar attached to the nylon hook that you can just depress and rotate the motor by hand (That is actually the proper way to do it) .

[kf2k3]

Thanks!  I was able to manually rotate it by hand.  I went ahead and "lifted up the brake", won a spin, but the motor did not come on.

[Badbaud]

Check for pushed in pins on both the hopper plugs.

[kf2k3]

Forgive my ignorance, but where are those located?

[Badbaud]

The metal pins on the back of the hopper and the pins on the plug the hopper plugs into.

[kf2k3]

The connections looks good.  Although the male plug side on the Hopper is loose.  But I verified the connections are good by pressing the male plug securely into the socket.  The wheel does not rotate when I win, but when I press up on the Roller on the hopper, a clicking/bell sound is heard, same sound as if I flick the switch by the coin drop.  This proves to me that the Hopper is getting some kind of power.

[kf2k3]

Anyone have insight on the attached picture with motherboard and boards?  I cannot find anything with 3 boards as the F1 and IGT Draw Poker documentation manuals show just a single board.

Thanks.

[Badbaud]

That is a original Fortune Coin slot that used 3 boards and all TTL chips. No MCU, no RAM.

[kf2k3]

Thanks.  Also, mystery solved on the age of this machine.  When I removed some kind of battery, I found a piece of paper stamped with "Received March 4, 1981"