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**Reel Slots** Gaming Machines => Bally Reel Games => Topic started by: Scotty78 on January 06, 2015, 06:27:04 PM
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Hello all, new member here. Been an arcade/pinball guy for awhile, never had much exposure to slots. I'm up in Northern NY, waaaaaaay up by Canada lol. Anyway, glad to be here, and am also needing help on a machine ID. Got a guy that wants to know if I want to buy this machine, says it works most of the time, coins get hung up in the chute sometimes. Did not know the model # and can not get it for a couple days. Any help is much appreciated.
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Looks to be a Bally EM.
That's all I can tell from the picture.
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I agree Bally EM "lowboy" (no top glass). If you are into pins and can fix them, this machine is up your alley. What is he asking for it?
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[size=78%]He wanted $150, I countered at $100. He said deal. It was a shot in the dark, and I figured it'd make a neat conversation piece even at $100. So it's a "lowboy"? I will def post more pics when I pick it up tomorrow. Yes, I'm a pin guy, so I have some skill with electro mechanical stuff, just no slot knowledge lol. Btw, thanks to the mod who moved this to the correct forum, sorry about that![/size]
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:thank_you:
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The "lowboy" is referring to the cabinet style having no top box/top glass above reels...there will be an actual numerical model number on the ID plate on the handle side.
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As soon as I get the model # I will post it up. Did I do ok at $100?
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$100 isn't a whole lot for a machine that's complete, even if it isn't in working condition. So I'd say as long as all the insides are there and the condition of the metal chassis pieces is reasonable you did fine. Post more pictures showing condition of machine, especially the inside, when you get a chance. And hey, you may find a bunch of coins (or other stashed treasure) in there somewhere!
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Ok, sounds good. I will def post more pics when I get it. He said it's very heavy, don't know what these things usually weigh, but maybe some of that weight is quarters! Can only hope! I've had it happen with arcade games before that had no keys to the locks!
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Slot machines like this were made for commercial usage, 24 hours/day operation with all kinds of people playing and trying to win money from them, sometimes beating on them. So they are rugged with heavy steel parts and thick glass. Plus they hold money so there was the security aspect to why they are built the way they are. So figure on 250 pounds, maybe more, even if there aren't any coins inside. A dolly or at least 2 strong guys is very helpful. Often you can remove the coin hopper to lighten things a little, it just slides out. But even with that it is going to be heavy. I've not moved a Bally in a long time but some of their models have a reputation for being extra heavy. Just take your time, don't trip over the power cord and you'll be fine.
Since the seller says it works most of the time that would indicate all the parts are there, nothing serious missing. After you post back with what you find on closer look at it people here can give advice on stuff to check, like batteries that might leak.
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Wow. I had no idea they were that heavy. I'll bring the dolly along for sure lol. Makes sense when you put it that way though. Today is the day for pickup! -40 temps with the windchill, gotta love it. :hissyfit:
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Since it is one of the shorter height models the weight may be closer to 200-225 pounds, but that's still pretty heavy and they are a little awkward to grip. Probably want to secure it with straps in the truck so it doesn't topple or slide around back there.
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And try to keep upright as most machines are
damaged from loose coins getting in places when
the machine is laid on its back or sides.
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Ok. Got it home. It actually works fine except for a dirty "coin mech"? And the guy said he's never heard the bell ring inside it. There is no ID tag on the side of it. It took 7 hours to make a 4 hour trip. Snow, wind, a broken headlight... Typical machine pickup lol. I'm exhausted. It is heavy, you guys weren't kidding. I had to bring it home on its side, otherwise it wouldn't fit in my hatchback. I'll look real carefully for quarters before I even plug it back in. I'm exhausted, I will post pics tomorrow, I promise.
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I would first check the fuses to make sure they are correct and not over rated. This can cause alot of damage if you have a short and the fuse doesnt blow.
Dave F
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Dave, will do. Sounds like a lot of the basic procedures with this machine are the same as EM pinball machines. That makes me feel a little more comfortable lol
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If you can't find an id tag or id plate on it then you'll need to post some well-lit pictures of the outside and inside so members here can identify it. Sometimes there are markings inside on control mechanisms or paper tags glued to the inside wall that will give the model number. As you know, be careful poking around inside when the power cord is plugged into an outlet. Even if the machine is switched off there can be line voltage at certain places.
When you figure out what model it is you may be able to get a manual for it online. There are a lot of Bally manuals out there and they generally have good info in them from the Bally engineers that informed the casino how to do various things like the setup, adjustments, cleaning, setting any options or features, maintenance and often even a parts list showing the main parts. There are sometimes wiring diagrams too. All of that will make owning one a lot easier.
The coin mech will probably clean up with some q-tips, rag, alcohol or other cleaning liquid. Over the years dust, cigarette smoke and even spilled drinks work their way inside. And coins can sometimes be pretty nasty themselves. The coin mech should be removable so you can more easily clean it. And you can probably replace it fairly easily if it comes to needing that.
The bell may be controlled by a relay or mechanical switch somewhere, sometimes people get tired of the bell noise and silence them by clipping a wire or bending a contact arm on relay switch or other control. Your machine has probably been in private ownership for several years, so a previous owner could have done things to it that you'll have to discover as you inspect the insides. It may need some good general cleaning, and as you do that it will help to get more familiar with inner workings. Just be careful about disturbing things too much since it seems to be pretty much working at this point.
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I'm fairly certain its a 742. It's not crazy important that we really even know. It's an EM, your a pin guy, you GOT this one! Nice score for $100, by the way! Clean that coin mech and you may be good to go.
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Here it is.
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Super clean machine! I have to retract my guess as to it being a 742 though. Is it a wide body machine? Didnt see any identifiers inside where they would typically be, but I think that one tag says 1019/L537 PAY?
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That tag says 5819 E537-PAY. The machine is 18 1/2 inches wide.
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Maybe a Bally 956??
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The cabinet finish is dark brown wood grain, with a smooth finish. The 4 rivets are still there from the tag, but the tag is unfortunately gone. :/
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Looks similar to model 955 or 956 to me but that is just a guess.
Check this out:
http://www.slotmachines.dk/bally1.html (http://www.slotmachines.dk/bally1.html)
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That tag says 5819 E537-PAY. The machine is 18 1/2 inches wide.
Ok, so I'm blind! :rotfl: At 18.5" wide, it will def not be a 700 series cabinet. That's a 900 or 1000 series size, like the guys said. If you really want to know, just keep looking around in the hopper, on the reel mech, inside the door, on the bottom front of the cabinet, you'll find a 9xx or 10xx number. For now, no worries, they all operate basically the same (with the exception of a few things of course, like top box features, which yours obviously does not have given its LACK of top box!). I believe the Bally EM manual covers all EMs, regardless of exact model.
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I'll keep on lookin. It's a sharp looking machine for sure!
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I have had a few that had their model # written on the wiper boards behind the reels.
Dave F
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Manual for Bally EM slot machines, models number 742-962 (it's 33mb so might take a little bit to download). There's also other Bally EM manuals:
http://sult.us/Slotnotes/repairs/index.html (http://sult.us/Slotnotes/repairs/index.html)
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This thing works like a champ! My friends are going to love this machine. It must have had a special stand it sat on as the coin reject goes to a hole in the bottom of the cabinet? Also, what are the small score reels for behind the the main reels?
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The coin reject goes into the front payout tray. The hopper overflow coins are diverted away from the hopper and down the chute into a cash box or bag in the lower cabinet. This is done when the hopper gets full and it triggers a switch opening up the diverter coil on the door. That lets the curved metal peice move out allowing he coin to drop down. Usually triggering a switch that counts it on a meter, and dumps it into the cabinet below via that hole you mentioned.
Dave F
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This thing works like a champ! My friends are going to love this machine. It must have had a special stand it sat on as the coin reject goes to a hole in the bottom of the cabinet? Also, what are the small score reels for behind the the main reels?
All slot machine stands in the casino have a hole in the top that the machine sits above. This is to let overflow coins fall into a bucket or other container inside the stand if the coin hopper inside the machine becomes full. Normally all coins go into the coin hopper inside the machine and are used to payout any wins the player gets. If someone inserts a coin or slug that isn't accepted by the machine then it is immediately dropped back out into the coin tray on front of machine.
Can you show a picture or explain more about the "small score reels" you are asking about? Are you referring to the meters inside the machine? If so, these are to keep track of various financial and other operations for the machine that the casino used to monitor its operation. Before the age of computers slot machines had to use mechanical meters to count things like the number of coins inserted, coins paid out, etc.
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These are the small reels I was referring to. I guess they're actually behind the coin hopper, but unless the back of the machine was removed, you can't see them very well...
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They handle the multiplication of the payout for multi coin operation. I dont really have full knowledge of exactly how they function, but I know someone here does.
Now I am going to pull the unit out of my 809 machine so I can watch them work.
Dave F
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Ahhhhh, so they handle the math! Thanks for that info Dave, I was wondering what they could possibly be for. Electro-Mechanical stuff is an engineering marvel to me.