New Life Games LLC
**Reel Slots** Gaming Machines => Bally Electromechanical => Topic started by: worldonedge on January 08, 2018, 09:08:36 AM
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Good day to all. I am a new kid on the block. I am contemplating buying an old Bally "Lucky Twins" Slot machine. Non operational but supposedly complete. Understanding that I am a complete newbie to slot machines, how difficult would it be to restore to working condition? I am handy with a soldiering iron, have some mechanical skill and knowledge of Solid state electronics. I do as a hobby restore old radios and turntables. Am I mad or is this a road I want to go down?Warm RegardsBrian
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Hello and welcome.. :wave:
Sounds like a great project. The first thing to do is to do cleaning of the old sticky grease, then proceed to re-grease and oil and the pivot points. From there you will need to remove and clean the air cylinder on the right side of the reels. There is a rubber cup seal inside that turns to a sticky tar. I just remove the seal and clean the inside of the air cylinder with acetone or rubbing alcohol, then apply a very light coat of grease to the piston. Next is cleaning and checking the relay contacts. I like to use rubbing alcohol and q-tips and alcohol on plan white computer paper. I wet the paper then put it between the contacts to clean them.. You don't want to file the contacts.. Then I check the operation of the contact with my Voltage meter.. You will want to clean the contact plugs between the reels and cabinet and hopper and cabinet with a wire brush or a green scrubby. These plugs are called Beau plugs. I my self like to spray them with WD-40, it makes the plugs go back together easier and to come back apart easy. This is just the basics to getting your game back on it's feet. You will find a lot of good help here. Post pictures of your project, I my self would like to see it as would others..
Gary
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Is it a good value based on purchase price, time to restore and what it will be worth after it's done? If you aren't ever going to get rid of it the last one there doesn't really matter, but if you can buy a working one for, say, $500 and he wants that for a non-working one you may want to shop for a different project machine
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Is it a good value based on purchase price, time to restore and what it will be worth after it's done? If you aren't ever going to get rid of it the last one there doesn't really matter, but if you can buy a working one for, say, $500 and he wants that for a non-working one you may want to shop for a different project machine
Lucky Twins is a fairly rare machine, Make sure the glass is in good shape, because it will be almost impossible to replace. Look over the cabinet inside and out for any damage and rust inside. The outside chrome is another concern, make sure it's in decent shape. These are all factors that determine the over all price of the game..
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Thanks, where he was still deciding to buy or not I figured overall value was worth mentioning. Really good info on checking unit condition and parts availability
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Welcome!
All good advice from amechanic on getting it back to life if you do purchase. Especially on glass.
I picked up two super continentals awhile back. One was hit be sun every day where it was sitting. I will probably not find replacement.
There are plenty of great people here always willing to help out. If its really parts complete and a price you are comfortable with, I would grab it.
In time you maybe looking for another Bally slot. It’s addicting.
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Welcome!
All good advice from amechanic on getting it back to life if you do purchase. Especially on glass.
I picked up two super continentals awhile back. One was hit be sun every day where it was sitting. I will probably not find replacement.
Jim,
Try contacting Scott Bennett. Here is here under the name of Ballyslots Ballyslots? He has a bunch of older Bally slot glass and might have it for that Continental. I'll Pm you his cell number.
Gary
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Thank you all so much for the responses.
Gary - I will post a pic. I only have one for now. It is currently still sitting in a storeroom in an old second hand goods store.. I think I will take the plunge and purchase it. I appreciate your comprehensive write up. It gives me a great starting point. The glass looks to be in very good shape. Every sample I have found online , (not many) has a different belly glass. Understanding the difficulty of obtaining the glass I will make sure it is moved with extreme care. The chrome externally does look marked. I suspect a good clean and polish would go a long way to improving the appearance. I will need to examine the interior more closely. I will go back and take some pics of the interior to post.
cowboygames - Thanks for the info. Current asking price here in South Africa is $280 or so depending on the exchange rate. The original asking price was about $800. Prices I have seen for this model in good working to excellent condition seem to range between $1000 - $2500. I am not sure those prices are realistic. Whilst value is a consideration for me, it is not a major one, if I can get it working. It is for my own interest and pleasure. I don't see myself selling it. I don't think there is a very big market for these machines here in South Africa.
Jimliner - Thanks for the heads up on the sun damage. I had not considered that in terms of machine placement. Curiously since slot machines in any form were strictly illegal in South Africa they were usually stored in dark backrooms with few windows. Sadly thousands of machines from that era were destroyed by the authorities when they were discovered. Limited availability of machines in this country could limit the addiction. :-) That said I have seen a few. This Lucky Twins is the first one I can afford. It may well be the start of a new hobby.
Again thank you all for the input.
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Hello again good people :wave:
Please forgive the questions? I want to make sure I am spending my money wisely . $280 dollars is a big chunk of change in these parts.
I could not open the front door completely to take good pics. It is obstructed by other stock in the shop.Hopefully enough can be seen to suggest if the machine can be saved or not.
There is rust in places. Seemingly on frame parts holding components. Not the components themselves.
The coin comparator is not what I expected. Is is a retrofit? Is it adjustable? There is a coil below it to the left that seems to be disconnected.
The are four meters two in front and two in back. Coins in 6 digit. Coins out 7 Digit (Reads over 4 million coins) Jackpot meter and a cash meter.
Number painted on hopper matches number stamped below model details on exterior. Model 937-1 LT1-48
Gary , I found the piston. The black goo is visible if you shine a light down the tube. I assume that is a common issue.
I imagine there are mods on the input power. South Africa runs on 220v not 110v.
Again thank you one and all :thank_you:
Regards
Brian
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I see a lot of surface rust on the outside. Belly glass frame, handle, coin tray.. Looks to be complete, but looks to have been in storage for a long time.. I'd pay $150/$200 US just because it's a rare game.. So adjust your offer. Bright work or chrome is a very expensive to have re-done. You could have the pieces powder coated in a silver or ceramic color. It would look good, and is about 1/4 the cost of chrome, at least here.. I can almost guarantee that all the linkages and pivots on the cross shafts on and in the reel assembly are frozen up from years of sitting too.. Still looks like a fun project to bring back to live..
I am picking up a 3 machine lot next Tuesday that need just about as much work.. Just remember that when you be one, others will follow.. :yes:
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Brian,
Looks like a fun project, however it will be frustrating but in the end it will be worth it. There are some very smart people on NLG that can help you figure it out, the rust is not that bad and can be dealt with, whats the inside of the upper cabinet look like ? I just picked up a Las Vegas 3 and a mouse built a nest inside the upper cabinet, everywhere it peed was badly rusted and most of the wiring had the insulation chewed off, so you want to look inside there and see what kind of shape that is in, if you had a mouse in there you could be looking at a huge mess...
Good Luck
Dave
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Thank you Gary. I admit I had not considered the cost of restoring the bright work at all. I will probably look at alternatives aside from chrome plating. That will be the last step of restoration I think. I will start with a strip down, degreasing and cleaning of the mechanisms. I will also as far as possible test the circuitry before I apply power to the machine. I am a long way off from dropping a coin in I think. If the fact you have another 3 machines incoming is anything to go by I may be in trouble :yes: .
Thank you Dave. I imagine it will be frustrating. I am a patient soul. Hopefully I can work through it. I had not considered the state of the upper cabinet inside. Definitely something to look at before I bring it home There are no signs of rodent activity in the main section.
Thank you gentlemen :hail:
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Re: Chrome
Unless the chrome has pitted it should clean up real nice.
Caution when cleaning DO NOT use a scratch pad! Made that mistake one time, luckily I did it on the side.
Chrome polish and a soft rage works good. I found if you apply the polish thick and let it sit for awhile it seems to work better.
Always do a test in an small area on the side.
In regards to powering up the machine. I usually look for any obvious problems first, broken wires, missing coil springs, burn marks,
missing screws, black taped connection, debris in the coin hopper etc. Then plug it in before major cleaning. Reason being if you do a deep cleaning to the machine first there is a possibility of getting something out of alignment and or adjustment. Thus when the machine is powered up without a deep cleaning it will indicate any malfunction not compounded by major cleaning.
This is my personal approach and just a suggestion.
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I have found the CLR works good on removing rust. I like to use 0000 steel wool for cleaning and polishing. If it's safe enough to to use on glass it safe on chrome. Just don't get too roughy using it. Let the cleaners do there jobs.
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Hi Gary. I am after some Bally glasses as well. Could you please send me his email / cellphone nr ? Br Jochumn@hotmail.com
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What glass do you need?
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Amechanic if you are taking request I'm looking for a "Lucky Sevens" Bally 1034 belly glass.
Thanks