Detailed Restoration of a Bally 1090

[David Walz]

The parts I used to repair the relays in the upper cabinet were from a Bally pinball machine, the parts are the same except for the coils. The switches could be used to replaced the slot machine switches.


This one is just one example of just one part that I could cross parts from the pinball machine. 


Listing title: "Bally 1976 OLD CHICAGO EM Pinball Machine Used RELAY BANK "

[David Walz]

 

I'm really pleased with my progress so far it has been learning experience.


 
One thing I've learned is to not work on the slot machine when I'm tired, its not enjoyable. When I'm rested it is a real treat looking for issues.


Most of the gremlins are gone, I've pretty much have this slot machine turned around.


Just got another Bally book/guide in the mail, I find different things regarding my 1090 in each of the Bally book/guide.

 
Life is good once your old;
* the house is quiet
*no kids around to steal your cookies
*no family has keys to your house
*zero house payments
*slot machine is full of quarters
*living in paradise.

[David Walz]

In 1973 Bally had a door electric lock being sold, it has a template on where to drill the holes. The 1090 has the door lock mounting holes drilled by the factory.

[David Walz]

Amechanic just found me a locking door coil.

 


 

[David Walz]

Testing the hopper out of the slot machine using an extension cable.   


Nice to be able to work out the issues with the slot machine by having the hopper out but plugged in to the slot machine. I'm trying to work out some bugs.

[David Walz]

Those small issues are really a mind teaser. I found a wire touching another wire on the hopper. I could not find it since it was a hair strand of wire touching the other contact. The solder job was after factory, I fixed that little bi**h.


Just that small hair wire caused intermittent problems with the slot machine.


 

[David Walz]

I got a large size, laminated copy of the 1090 wiring diagram in the mail the one I ordered from Office Depot. 

 
It will make it easier to read, since it's laminated I don't have to worry about it getting dirty. I also have a book with sections on the wiring diagram which is good, I'm able to write notes in the book.

[David Walz]

I believe I finally kicked it's ass. 


I've been looking for a problem for two day's checking every switch, plug, you name it, until I finally found it. When you look at it it looks like its correct, however when you test the circuit their is no power. Both switch leads looked really good until I got a good look and saw some crap. After cleaning it the correct way, by the Bally repair manual the slot machine is finally working like it's suppose to, interesting, it was working excellent, until I re-installed the meters, topper, etc. All of which were plug in, after I re-installed the Molex connectors which was matching the wires, so maybe the switch went out at the same time. I don't know, go figure. After checking every wire, switch, plug, coil, you name it, its been completely dissected. And the pay out is exact on all of the meters.


I'm now waiting on a toggle switch, and a electric door lock and that should be it. 

[Amechanic]

It that one of the relays that you replaced the plastic/nylon pieces? If the USPO is correct, that door lock coil assembly should be there on Saturday.

[David Walz]

It that one of the relays that you replaced the plastic/nylon pieces? If the USPO is correct, that door lock coil assembly should be there on Saturday.

Yes, however it was working fine after I changed out the plastic pieces, it just started acting up after I installed the meters, thats when I discovered crap between the contacts. I didn't want to clean the switches just replace the plastic, I was trying to be careful not to go Willy nilly on the switches. If you look at it it looks fine, up close you can see a problem. Just a good cleaning cured the problem. It could have been something that was introduced when I replaced the plastic, and migrated into the contact. A lot of crap came off of the coil I replaced, the plastic was like dust, etc.

[David Walz]

For all of the novice slot machine owners who want a be slot machine service technician, this is what I've learned:



Don't do a single thing until you get some bally books, write in the books it as you go, make notes to keep you on course. Circle switches, coils, whatever it takes to keep you organized, this way you will not get lost in this complex machine when you are rooting out issues. If you don't, you will be chasing your tail.

Sometimes having to restore the machine you have to re-do your work since I haven't got pictures of the original configuration, it's like being in the dark that magnifying these problems, another issue is having someone else modifying the machine without any idea what they are doing.

It's important to locate photos of other similar models of slot machines to assist you in restoring the one you are working on.

Think of a slot machine as a tree, with branches, if you don't have some way of identifying each branch you will get easily lost.

Before you get started, make sure you have the Molex plugs marked, as they can be switched causing you some problems. Several dual plugs, sitting side by side are located throughout the slot machine.

"I may not be correct, but I'm trying to get it correct."


Recap on what I did:

• Disassembled the whole slot machine to clean every part, inside and outside.
  
  
• The belly glass assembly now can be removed from the door as a full assembly for diagnostic service.
• The wiring was completely checked for irregular problems and resolved by removing then making the wiring harness "factory" 99%. Some wires had to be replaced, the finished project was a wiring harness that was not shorting out, no butchery, a clean wiring throughout the slot machine, catgut replaced, new black cloth European cloth tape was used in placed where the factory put  the old plastic tape that will not last. I'm not hiding any problems, the tape is thin reveling the wiring under the tape, this cloth tape will never unravel. The problem you have is the plastic electrical black tape looks the same, factory and aftermarket. To get it completely rebuilt, the tape has to be removed to reveal any butchery if not your in for problems down the road. The wiring in a slot machine is the foundation of a slot machine working at 100%. 
• The hopper was rebuilt with new screws, catgut, tape, motor assembly, the wiring issues were removed.
• The reel assembly was repaired, adjusted, serviced, cleaned and now everything works.
• Every bulb was replaced, NOS for the little bulbs, the florescent was replaced with new parts, no China crap bulbs.
• The glass was replaced, the new old vintage glass works good, no peeling, no chips just perfect good looking old glass.
• Inside the slot machine cabinet everything was rebuilt, cleaned, repaired, new felt, adjustments were made for things that would bind. The upper light assembly was rebuilt, new screws, bulbs, missing screws, wiring, all of the extra drill holes inside the cabinet was filled, color blended into the cabinet giving it a fresh look. the laminate on the outside was serviced, holes repaired, gaps removed. Everything was completely serviced.
• The power cable was restored with a chassis ground. The power cable is factory no power switch is cut into the cable. A power switch with a plug receptacle is used keeping it factory.
• Every contact, coil, anything with power was checked to make sure it was working correctly. Since I found contacts bent, installed incorrectly, backwards, I checked everything.
• The slot machine had several issues that prevented it working, I located each one and worked on it until they were resolved. Some issues took a day to resolve, others even longer. The Bally slot machine doesn't need anyone monkeying around with it, it functions perfectly and if something does go wrong usually its something that can be resolved with cleaning, replacing a bad coil, you never need to bend contacts, cut wires, disassemble anything the machine is easily repaired using the least amount of work keeping in mind that cleaning a part usually resolves things. Using a meter to check out problems is your number one tool. Never cut, splice, solder wires, the system works fine without doing a hack job. Having the correct tools goes a long way in repairing the machine.

[David Walz]

Some issues; motor problems, break not working, bearings upside down, cut wires, holes in cabinet, stuck parts. Everything has been resolved even the cabinet holes inside and outside.


Just a important note of interest:

The hopper payout unit was serviced cleaned, etc. When I hit the jackpot it stopped at 50 coins, what happened was I had the torsion spring wound to tight, after I relieved the spring pressure it ran flawlessly.


When it stopped at 50 coins, I shut the machine off, and I adjusted the spring, then I turned it back on and it dispersed a total of 100 coins. After the spring adjustment I checked out the machine, and the payouts were right on, 2 coins, 4 coins everything is fine. The dispersing of coins are right on, and resetting to zero is fine.

[David Walz]

Other problems were missing slot machine parts. Finding obsolete parts can be challenging to say the least. Remember, once the slot machine is operational, fully funchional, the only real issues with a EM is: fuses, bulbs, coils, switches, things that are easily sourced, maintaining the slot machine is much easier than trying to figure out what some bonehead did to screw up the slot machine. As the Bally books said the slot machine will run indefinitely, it was made like a tank, to last forever as long as you don't butcher the machine.


Just my opinion,I think problems occur when cutting out parts causes the machine to start having problems. Just my opinion.


Just my opinion. What really blows your socks off is when you open the slot machine and you see everything inside, no cut wires, no missing parts, no spliced wires, no wire connectors (the ones in lamps) holding the wires together. The two cabinets are a symmetrical, they are repaired, outside and inside, all of the holes have been filled, repaired, covered up, making the two cabinets look really clean, and they are good looking, you can put this slot machine anywhere in the house it is not an eye sore, it would even look good in a museum. Its a real awesome sight, and if you are a person who knows anything about slot machines, taking one look at the inside of this on you can immediately see the detailed work, everything in place, wires looking perfect, all of the screws are not buggering they are new. It's basically a Vincent van Gogh that was found and restored. Just my opinion.

[David Walz]

You have to go exploring to finding missing wires, when the person removed the pulse wire from the hopper thet didn't cut it they removed it with a soldering gun making my job job very difficult. After a couple of hours I got the meters working correctly. 

[David Walz]

  Don't focus in on "your" slot machine model for parts, you can find parts from other Bally slot machines, pinball machines something like that. Some of the meters, brackets, switch, chingaderas, other parts are from other Bally machines, like a  pinball machine, slot macine, other parts are from a European Bally parts machine lot.


You have to think outside the box, explore other options. 
No modifications were allowed, they had to fit or it would not work.


Another note of intrest:
I finally found my Bally 1090 service manual from 1977. Now I will have the correct repair manual and not search through six manuals just to repair the slot machine in the future. "Bally Dollar Slot Machines Service Manual & Parts Catalog #5000" This is a great book, its the correct one for my slot machine, all of the: wiring diagrams, reels, cabinet, door, $1.00 hopper, nuts and bolts, everything matches up. WOW it's great! A little to late, but well worth having the correct book on hand. 

[David Walz]

After cleaning the grunge from the cabinet the transformation was unbelievable.

[David Walz]

Some of the bulbs I've used.


I've pilfered this photo from somewhere on the internet.

[David Walz]

Well I got a package today from Amechanic , it was the electronic door lock.
 
Everything in the slot machine is complete, nothing is missing, everything is wired up correctly, all of the parts, pieces, chingaderas, you name it, it is connected, it is working. The coin diverter, anti cheat switch, coin switches are working, the meters are functioning correctly, the coin count is exact on all of the meters, in and out of the slot machine.


 


Life is good, this slot machine is sexier than Nancy Sinatra in the 1960's. Well, maybe not the the 1960's, maybe today.

[Amechanic]

Glad to see you finally found your last part.

[Shaggy]

Well enjoy your slot machine.........but forget Nancy.