IGT S+ Triple Diamond 9 payl ine slot payout errors

[RMikeMcC]

Just purchased my first slot.  It's an IGT S+ Triple Diamond slot with 9 pay lines.  It plays and pays out correctly when up to 5 coins/credits are  played.  But if 6, 7, 8, or 9 coins or credits are played it will sometimes not credit/payout a win on lines 6, 7, 8 or 9 when it should, and will also sometimes payout/credit a win when no matches are made on any of the pay lines, and those payouts are sometimes quite large.  Seems like the slot thinks it's a 5 pay line machine and gets confused if more that 5 credits or coins are played.   I know the previous owner had the battery replaced at some point.  Is it possible that the wrong clear chip was used or that the settings were not entered correctly after the battery change?  Could the reels be misaligned?  Any other possible cause?     

[sixcardmark]

Check the strips to see if the notches are in the right place.  Looks like correct strips and in the correct reels.

[knagl]

What a great game for your first machine! I'm very jealous!

We'll get you up and running correctly. There are a few possibilities and potentially more than one issue that's causing your current problem. The good news is that all of the possible issues are pretty easy to fix.

Let's start, please, by having you tell us what the SS and SP chip numbers in your machine are. You can determine those easily with the following instructions:

http://www.newlifegames.net/spset/SPSS.htm

[rickhunter]

There are no "settings" that would alter the way the game plays.  The game will play correctly as long as:

1.  You have the correct SP and SS chips (the software).
2.  The reel strips are properly inserted into the reel baskets and you have the correct strips.
3.  You have the correct reels (slant top machines used different reel baskets than uprights).

If all 3 of the above are correct, there would be no settings that would make the game behave the way you describe it.

The reel strips for 3, 5, or 9 line Triple diamond are the same.

[RMikeMcC]

I checked the chips on the main board and they are SP1048 and SS7104 (see photo).  I also confirmed using the test switch method.  Are these the correct chips for the Triple Diamond slot?  The reason I ask is that the sticker on the MPU cover indicates it’s a Double Diamond with a SP1160 and SS3632 chips (see photo). I am assuming that the MPU covers for the Double and Triple Diamond are the same and that a previous owner may have just swapped out covers for some reason.  Anyway, please advise if these are the correct chip sets for the nine line triple diamond slot.   
Also, where are the notches on the reals and how do you tell if you they are in the correct position?
Thanks!

[sixcardmark]

The notches are on the reel strips about an inch from the bottom of the strip.  The rail they slide into on the basket has a raised spot the notch goes in.

[jay]

The first thing to know about slots - is never trust what is written on the chip.
Chips can be erased (ultravilot light) and reprogrammed.
These chips are not made in the quantities that they used to anymore so they get re-written from time to time.
The electronic method to display the chip number is always more accurate.

IF you go to the NLG home page.
about 3/4th of the way down the page you will find RICKS FAQs and the first item is the NLG Online S+ game bible.
This has the majority of the games that we know about.
There are other themes out there (glass reel strips) but usually they are clones of existing games.
This is how a company can sell lots of games without ever having to go back to the Nevada Gaming board and get a new game certified.


From the info you provided us.
The SP chip is fine - thats the game chip. Type 0


Here are the reel chips that are for the Triple Diamond 9 line theme.
The SS7102 - 95% payback is the one that I would want for a home machine.
Nothing wrong with the 7104




With the machine off.
If you take off the reel strip you will see a knotch near the top of the reel strip.
You can then turn the empty basket by hand running your finger along the inside edge of the reel basket.
At some point you will feel a small plastic nubbin. That is what you use to line up your reel strip.
Biology 1-0-1 .... Put the knotch over the nubbin

SS7102	95.039 (94.724)	68.656	(86) ABC	2000/5000 (6)	100 (100)	1.45
SS7103	92.449 (92.135)	68.601	(86) ABC	2000/5000 (6)	100 (100)	1.46
SS7104	89.033 (89.719)	59.809	(86) ABC	2000/5000 (6)	100 (100)	1.67
SS7105	87.558 (87.243)	63.166	(86) ABC	2000/5000 (6)	100 (100)	1.58
SS7106	85.026 (84.712)	61.287	(86) ABC	2000/5000 (6)	100 (100)	1.63

[RMikeMcC]

Thanks for the quick follow-ups.  Since it appears the two chips are the right ones for the slot I checked the position of the reel strips on the reels.  I did not take the strips off since they appear to be taped together on the outside.  There appears to be one raised nib on the outside of each reel and that is where the notch in each strip appears to be positioned(see pic).  However, the notch in the strip does not appear to inserted over any kind of a nib on the inside rim of the reel, it just looks like it is on a flat surface of the inside of the reel.  Is this possible, or should I bite the bullet and take one of strips off and actually feel for a nib on the inside of the reel?

[jay]

At the end of the strip (possibly the back) there is a reel strip number.
Depending on the theme all the strips are the same or they are different (symbol order is different).
Some of the folks on the forum can just look at the strips and tell you if they are right or not (i never will be that good).
Our online game bible doesn't have this but you can make a request in the request section for a PAR sheet pertaining to your Reel Chip and some kind member will send it to you.


A PAR sheet stands for  "Paytable and Reel" and it has all the details about your theme including reel strip numbers.


SO... to answer your question. Since you are getting mystery payouts either your reel strips are wrong or mis-aligned - likely the latter based on your pics.
I would take them off, make note of the numbers on the back/end as well as note which strip is on which wheel. You can't read the numbers while they are on the baskets.


The trick I use is that I slide the end of the reel strip along the grove until it hits the nub as its not easy to see - or perhaps I am just blind.
Then I move it a bit forward and place the knotch over the nub.


It sounds like your nervous about taking them off. I would not be. I have 60+ game kits for my slots and swapping reel strips is just something you do when you change themes. I use double sided tape as I don't like the look of the tape at the end of the strips but thats just me.

[RMikeMcC]

Sounds good! Thanks for all your advice.  I’ll try taking them off tomorrow to get the numbers and check the alignment and will let you know how I make out.  Thanks again and have a good evening.

[Jim]

The S+ machine has a built in diagnostic test that will tell you exactly what you need .  open the door, press the white test button , each time you press it you will see the numbers change in the coins played window,  press the button until you see a number 4 in the window,  now, you should see the two numbers that reflect what chips are in your machine, SS number and SP number, the spin reels button should be lit, press it one time, the reels will spin and stop on the jackpot symbols, the payouts will be shown in the displays, each time you press the spin button the reels will go to the next payout, etc.  the symbols will tell you what is good and what is out of line, the jackpot symbol is the most telling.

hope this helps

Jim

[RMikeMcC]

Thanks Jim.  Should I assume that if the payouts don’t line up correctly that either the incorrect reel strips are installed, or that the correct ones are installed but not aligned correctly or not on the right reel, etc.?  If that turns out to be the case, then I should remove the reel strips to check the numbers and alignments? Am I understanding correctly?
Thanks again.  I appreciate all the suggestions that you all have been providing. It’s been a great learning experience!

[Stayouttadabunker]

Check and look on the side of the reel basket hubs....does it have molded raised letters such as "ST" or "UP"? 

[RMikeMcC]

The letters on the reel basket hub are “UP”. Is that the correct reel number?  I also tried to run the reel/payout test.  I advanced the test switch till 4 lit up in the coins played window.  The SP and SS numbers flashed alternating in the credits window but the Spin Reels button did not light and did not spin the reel when pushed.  Also advanced the test button to 5 in the coins entered window, but th spin reels button still does not light or cause the reels to turn.  Am I missing a step?

[jay]

UP means Upright, ST is Slant top.


A slant top machine is one of those huge ones that are low. You sit in front.
The window is slanted, subsequently the center symbol shows up in a different place than a vertical machine.


If for some reason you had Slant Top baskets (in your upright machine or vice versa) then the alignment of the strips into the basket would need to be different to make it appear correctly and you would not use the notches as intended. Very few people want Slant Top machines for home use (size/weight) and the coin elevators can be problematic if used with Tokens, subsequently you can buy slant parts cheaper than upright parts and there are more of them available on ebay etc. You can make it work just got to do it different.


Just to complicate matters and wet your appetite for future - there are some S2000 themes like Pink Panther that are considered cross over themes.
These use S+ chips that match the same reel order/number of symbols etc, and then you use S2000 glass and strips but you need to offset them (like 1 or 2 symbols away from the notch) for things to line up. Almost the same as using slant baskets in the upright machine.


In any case the reel strips will have numbers on either the end or the back of them. We can then determine if they are right for the chips you have - perhaps they are in the wrong order, not set on the basket correctly, perhaps belong to a 5 line triple diamond, or even s2000 version of the game. Kind of like Thailand - you got to peek under the covers to be sure.

[sixcardmark]

You have the right software.
You have the right reel basket bases.
You have the right reel strips.
The strips are in the right order.
Reel 3 strip is in the notch (close enough).
That leaves strips 1 &/or 2 that must not be indexed in the notch(es).
Not all SP's will light the spin button for reel test while in mode 4.

[RMikeMcC]

Thank you. I’ll bite the bullet and check the reel strips and alignments tomorrow.  I have been reluctant to do so since a previous owner appears to have used scotch tape on the outside of the strips instead of double sided tape.  I’m concerned I’ll damage the finish trying to remove the tape.  If I do damage the sparkle finish, do you have a source for purchase of replacements?  Also, can you provide the correct Strip numbers for this slot so I can confirm they are correct? Or can you tell just by looking at the pics?

[sixcardmark]

My sparkle strips are at another location.  Here is a pic of the same strips only backlit in correct order.

[RMikeMcC]

Thanks Sixcardmark.  My reel strips match yours and are in the same reel order so at least i know I have the correct ones and that they are on the correct reels.   I am planning to remove them tomorrow to see if the are indexed correctly on the reels.

[knagl]

I am planning to remove them tomorrow to see if the are indexed correctly on the reels.

No need.  My hunch when I asked you to post your chip numbers has paid off.  This is an issue that is almost unique to your game (9 line Triple Diamond), and I'm patting myself on the back a little because it's a little gem of knowledge that has been collecting dust in the back of my brain for many years.  Feel free to donate $5 (or more) to the site for this resolution of your issue (optional, but always appreciated):

SP1048 makes no mention of supporting nine paylines. 

You need to upgrade to a newer SP chip that specifies that it supports nine paylines.  Looking at the SP chip list, any of the following SP chips should resolve your issue: 1137, 1160, 1174, 1206, 1213, 1227, 1242, or 1271.