1088 Win Meter shows wonky numbers

[DrewMcAvon]

My 1088 nickel machine is working, but sometimes the win meter shows strange numbers and it happens on a non winning combination.  also, once i do get a winner, the numbers in first, second, third position stay and the correct winning number is shown in right most places, then on the next play the meter resets to 0000.  This is not a critical issue, just wanted to fix. Thanks in advance  See picture.

[DavidLee]

If the meter has a wiring diagram printed on it.
It would be possible to hot wire it directly.
This would eliminate the meter if it worked okay.


Most likely there’s a orange wire and two other wires.
One for advancing and the other for reset.
If they’re not mark, disconnect one then observe what happens to determine which wire does what.
Jumping from a active common yellow should advance or reset the meter.
Please post a photo of the meter case inside the machine prior to testing.
As to get some verification and opinions on the above mentioned.

[wolftalk]

davidlee's info sounds good.  The meter is 50V, and


common wire is orange wire 70.
step-up is black/green wire 84
reset is grey/brown wire 96


jumper wire 30 briefly to 84 or 96 to step/reset the thing.


step-up is a pulse from the same place as the payout counter, reset is single pulse from reel mech B-1.


I don't think I've seen this style of meter.  Hopefully you can open the case and see what's inside ... and post pics :-)   


sounds like your meter is resetting and stepping up ok, but however the reset works is leaving the 10's+ digits loose and able to wander on the shaft from game vibration.

[DavidLee]

This is the part that has a weak point in the counter design.
After a couple of hundred thousand coins or so it separates.

[DrewMcAvon]

See pictures of win meter from inside.  Is it ok the dismantle the meter and inspect the parts posted by DavidLee?

[DavidLee]

The part I posted is from a coin in meter, your meter may very.
If the meter is constructed in such a matter that it can be disassembled.
A possible fix could be in order.
If the teeth are wore down, it might be possible to exchange it with the last digit.
Or if its an armature, it could possibly fixed.


Or just leave it as it could be more work than it is worth.
Your call, would like to see photos of what makes it tick if you disassemble.

[wolftalk]

david, is your pic from a meter that only counts up?


the bally part number for the resetting win meter I think is E-664-5 - impulse counter and plug assembly


I'd try and take the thing apart just to see how it works :-)   If that breaks it, there's always the "piece of black tape over the window" fix until a working one can be found.


when the meter resets, do the numbers all spin up thru 9999 and roll over to 0000?

there is a payout counter "open at zero" switch in the circuit with wires 30 and 78-1 on the blades.  If that switch isn't opening reliably when the payout counter is reset, you may hear the payout counter reset coil fire and the meter reset would be powered even though it's already at 0000.  If the issue is more of a brief arc/voltage blip, that may produce an aborted meter reset sequence?

[DrewMcAvon]

I am a curious as you to take it apart, but I am hesitant because if you guys are curious, then I know I am most likely in over my head.


To answer your question wolftalk, the counter does not spin up to 9999 and turn over to 0000.  When the numbers read 7608, for example, and I win 2, the 8 changes to a 2, the 760 stays and it pays out 2.  Then when I pull the handle on next play, it resets to 0000.  Odd.  I think there is a loose wheel or broken gear inside since the picture I showed has the numbers not exactly lined up.


I think I will leave it alone as having it not work at all will bother me more.

[wolftalk]

sorry, I meant when it was resetting do the numbers move to 9999 then 0000.


if you've had a car with a mechanical mileage meter below the odometer, the two main styles were:


1] turn a knob to cause the numbers to spin.  A number wheel didn't move until the rest caught up to that digit
2] push in a button, which sometimes causes all the wheels to move independently and they could reach 0 at different times


if you want to try an experiment, reset the meter on a pull after a win and disconnect the grey brown wire from the meter.  The meter will increment on wins still, but if the higher digits don't move incorrectly then you know the problem is electrical in the reset circuit.  If the higher digits still move incorrectly, the issue is mechanical inside the meter.

[DavidLee]

Yes, the meter I have only counts up.


The meter you have will reset back to 0000 on the next pull of the handle.
If your not up to dissecting the meter no problem.
One of these days I’ll come across one and open it up.
Even when there working the count isn’t accurate 100% of the time.

[DavidLee]

A few years back I got a machine missing the meter.
So I built one from a digital counter kit with the capabilities to count up and reset.
It was a lot of work and reconfiguring. Plus wiring and dealing with the counters low voltage operation.
Looks okay, but would not do it again unless the price is right.