Jammed Hopper

[rdaniel]

I am having some trouble with the snow (new style) hopper for my 873 Bally machine and would appreciate any assistance.
It seems that the hopper jams frequently. The payout stops and the motor just hums. If I reach into the hopper and turn the rubber agitator, which turns the motor, the hopper starts up again. Sometimes it will complete the payout and other times it jams again. Very frustrating! There are times on cherry pays that there is no jam at all.
I have looked for coin jams in the hopper and found none. I tried adjusting the coin roller to see if it was not set properly, no luck. I checked to see if the hopper brake is the problem, not that either.
I have noticed that if the hopper is empty, there is no jamming. Also, if I adjust the roller so it moves but not enough to move the payout wiper fingers , it does not jam either.
As shown in the photo it always jams with a coin under the roller. Sometimes if I remove the coin under the roller the hopper will start payout, other times the motor just hums,  remains jammed even without a coin under the roller, until I manually rotate the rubber agitator. And finally, if rotate the pin wheel back a few inches and start the hopper the coin just jams under the roller again.
I am lost and frustrated. Any help would be most welcome.
Richard

[Jon]

I have had two of those hoppers or someone put an extra e clip on the motor where the break is it drags the motor just enough where it will not start sometimes

[Jon]

this is where the frictions are it cannot be too tight if something is in there making it tight it'll jam up the motor every time

[rdaniel]

Thanks for the response. Where should I look for extra drag or friction?


Richard

[Jon]

the motor should not be locked up tight against the break it should still just spin on a break you might try adding a little light weight oil like gun oil right here

[Jon]

I forgot to attach the picture that may help

[rdaniel]

The oil/lube may have helped but not enough, since the problem still exists only to a somewhat lesser level.


Richard

[Jon]

I will try to get my storage tomorrow get a hopper out take the motor down get a picture of the layout of the parts it will probably be Saturday I have to show my house tomorrow

[rdaniel]

Thank you for your assistance. If all else fails, do you have a manually stepped snow hopper which you can sell to me? I can change out the wiring so that it fits my 873 model.


Thanks


Richrd

[OldReno]

There is an Allen head screw which is attached to your top pinwheel bearing (part of your coin out roller arm pivot point) that you can loosen and then rotate the shaft that holds the bearing down.  This shaft should be an eccentric as you will see, and you can either loosen or tighten the tension of the bearing pressure on your pinwheel with that adjustment.  You will see that turning the shaft raises and lowers the bearing.
Normally to rebuild/repair the hopper, you install the pinwheel onto the two lower bearings, and then adjust the top one to give the proper pressure and hold it in place. If the pinwheel is a bit out of round, this can happen.
The hopper motor brake should rarely cause hopper jams like you describe.  You can disable the brake, as the only purpose of it is to prevent that occasional one coin overpay that happens from time to time. 
Also make sure the back of your coin roller assy is not hitting anything. 
The coin should start to hit the coin out switch at about 10:00 position, and leave it at about 2 or 3:00. Your roller is somehow probably too tight onto the coin.
Please let us know what works out.

[rdaniel]

Thank you Old Reno for the advise and instructions. I located the Allen screw, unscrewed it further and them played the machine. The result was more jamming. So I then  tightened it all the way until it was snug, then backed off a bit.
The result was wonderful! I played the machine for an hour and no more jamming. Hopefully the issue is resolved.


I have attached a photo of where the Allen screw is located for readers who may experience the same problem.


Thanks again Old Reno


Rdaniel (Richard)

[OldReno]

It is thrilling to me to be able to help.
Good job.
thanks.
Craig

[The Fatman]

Old Reno is always there to help .... Been there for me many times. Sure glad he is here. I just wish I could have been working in the floor when he was. Even tho  was never working in a casino ... always wish I had during that time.

Dave F

[rdaniel]

Working in a casino in the 70's and early 80's was much different than today. It was noisy from clanking coins and pulled handles. Slot techs had to know their stuff to fix the machines quickly on the floor. Today the machine tells you what is wrong, easier to fix. Too quiet in the casino these days.


I agree it would have been an interesting job being a slot tech back then.


Richard

[Jon]

so glad old Reno step in  he always knows the right answer