Bally Circus Reel Spin Issue - Occasional Immediate Lock Of Reels

[dezza1au]

Hi everyone,


I have recently taken delivery of a great Bally Circus hold-and-draw machine here in Sydney. It's well travelled - having just arrived in a crate from the UK!
Everything is working fine on the machine - payout is accurate, feature works great, have converted to 10c Australian OK.


There is a small issue in that occasionally the reels don't spin correctly. I guess this happens about once every 40 spins, and my gut feel is that it happens more often if I have held a reel (although I haven't been playing the machine long to accurately judge this).


I've uploaded a video to show the operation of the machine. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFco0AZZV4Q). You'll see most spins are great, but at about 1:30 into the video when I pull the handle all three reels immediately stop. When this happens, and a 'win' is shown, it doesn't usually payout.
I'm guessing this is a timing issue, or there may be a lack of lubrication in the mechanics that occasionally are preventing the kickers or something not to release correctly.
I have the original Bally manual and the Geddes/Mead Owner's Pictorial Guild, but just need guidance on what the issue could be and the best way to remedy it.


Thanks for reading!


Here's the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFco0AZZV4Q


-- Derek

[OldReno]

HI Derek,
Often times you will have a mis-spin (or a quick index if you will) when the handle throw is a little bit out of adjustment.
First make sure machine is warm throughout so the grease is not cold and stiff.
You have a long threaded shaft on the right side of your reel mech, that is attached to your front half gear.  This is what cocks and trips the reels.
If the reel wipers do not fully latch out, then often when you pull the handle, especially if quickly or hard, then the reels will instantly index and not spin.
This adjustment can be made by loosening the front nut on the long threaded shaft.  Loosen it by about a half turn and then retry.
What this does is makes the handle pull a bit longer in essence, and often this will fix your problem
The other adjust is the 'L' stop bracket at the rear back bottom of your right side of reel mech. 
YOu can loosen the two bolts which hold it and pull it just a tiny bit forward to the front of the machine and then retighten.
IN a madhouse casino situation, I would just bend it slightly to the front, but then I had replacements if I bent it too much and broke it.
Give those a try, I will get back to you as I am going out of town today.
Craig