Bally EM 5 line pay, quarter machine repair help please.

[chuck62]

I have recently inherited a Bally EM 5 line pay machine. It works pretty well, except that it only plays and pays one line. It will accept any amount of coins into the hopper but only the first one registers. I can pull out the top part of the machine and manually step it up to pay 5 coins, so it seems like something is not telling it to step up after the first coin? I have spent some time with a wire brush to clean up the beau plugs but that hasnt really changed anything.  Anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Thanks in advance, Chuck.

[rokgpsman]

A few photos of the machine and its id plate (often on the side of machine near pull handle) would be helpful in identifying it. I agree that if only 1 coin is registering that's probably why it's only paying out on 1 line. Do you have the Bally EM manual that covers your machine? It might be available here on NLG in the download area or maybe here:

http://www.idealposter.com/

[chuck62]

I don't see an ID plate near the pull arm. I do have the online manual. Here are some pictures.

[chuck62]

I tried to post all photos at once. Guess I have to do separate posts.

[chuck62]

3

[chuck62]

4

[chuck62]

5

[rokgpsman]

I don't see an ID plate near the pull arm. I do have the online manual. Here are some pictures.

Maybe someone removed the idplate, if you see some rivet holes in the side of the machine that might be where the id plate was mounted. Sometimes on the assemblies inside there will be a tag that has the model number. And inside the machine there might be a sticker on the wall with that info. I think Bally used model numbers like "873", "1026" etc on their EMs. The exact model number often isn't needed as they used similar construction and design on many of the assemblies. Someone here familiar with the older Bally EMs will probably recognize your machine.

I think you should be able to attach up to 6 photos to a comment, not sure why you weren't able to. There is an attachment filesize limit but doesn't look like that applied. But the way you did it will work ok.

[chuck62]

I think 873 sounds right but I dont see any stickers or any place that a tag was removed either.

[chuck62]

Again

[buybestslots]

873 for sure  look in top unit for a bad step up coil on lines or coin unit   may also just have a spring off too  but your pic's load too slow to check all your pic's

[chuck62]

Here is a better picture of the upper unit. Maybe you can help me what I am looking at?

[buybestslots]

look at the unit with 2 coils on it that should be where the trouble is?  clean it up check  larger coil with a meter

[chuck62]

I dont know if this is helpful... probably tells you what you already thought. The game plays fine with the top unit completely out. (one coin) I am really no expert when it comes to electric components. But since the step up unit seems to perform fine when done manually, then it is probably one of the coils that is an issue, is that what you are saying? I am not sure how to test a coil? All I find so far is about electric stove coils, not the kind I am trying to fix. One other note... when I manually activate the coin arm inside the front door, I get the one strong click sound on the first time, then just a dull non click after that, except when the coin hopper is removed, then I get a strong click sound every time? 

[buybestslots]

that click if I recall right is the handle release coil  , if I recall theres a set of points there that sends to power to coin unit in top  check  switches on handle release coil and make sure they are clean and closing /opening   if you pull reel mech got you can see better you will get it working, bally em are great games

[rokgpsman]

.....I am not sure how to test a coil?.......

I resized your last photo to make it view more quickly and attached it below with some notes on it. Doing that reduces the photo enlargement so we lose some closeup detail but I think it will still be ok for the explanation.

A coil is an electrical part that is one long, small diameter piece of copper wire wrapped around a plastic form. Since the wire is coiled around the form that's where the name "coil" comes from. When electricity runs thru the coil a magnetic field is formed. That magnetic field is used to cause a metal part to move. The metal part can be a plunger rod that is placed in the middle of the coil form, it looks like a round metal rod that is attached at one end to another part they want to move. These coils are often called a solenoid coil. The plunger rod will move one way then the other way when the coil is powered on and off. On other types of coils they move a metal part so that it causes switch contacts to open or close. This is often called a relay coil or a switch coil.

Since a coil is made of just 1 long piece of copper wire it can be tested with a simple meter or continuity checker. The coil will have 2 connections, both are opposite ends of the same wire. With power off to the machine you can put your meter leads on the 2 coil connections, the reading should show continuity, a very low electrical resistance if the meter displays ohms. If the coil wire does not have continuity it is called "open", and the coil will not work since its wire won't let electricity flow thru it. Sometimes the coil's wire gets broken or burned open.

Sometimes the coil itself is ok but the metal part that moves is gummed-up or binding. Cleaning these moving parts is often needed on older equipment, as the oil or light grease degrades over the years it gets thick, dust and dirt gets mixed in with it too.

As buybestslots said, take a close look at the mechanical assembly in your photo that has the 2 green solenoid coils. This may be the "step up" assembly or unit. Make sure the coils are good with a meter, and check that the metal plunger rods connected to the coils move. Study how it works when the coil plunger would be activated by the coil. Often there is a lever arm or wheel or a moving set of contact fingers (thin metal wipers) that gets stepped to a different position. There are springs attached to different parts also. With power off you can usually check the movement of parts by pushing the coil plunger rod yourself. One of the coils could be responsible for moving something like wipers in a circular stepping motion on a circuit board to make contact with metal rivet contacts. The other coil probably releases the step up unit so it goes back to its initial or home position, with the help of springs pulling it back. If the coils are ok then look for bad electrical contacts, broken wires, binding mechanical parts, etc.

Since you have the manual for your Bally EM machine I'd say to read thru it, look for the section that explains the coin in process and how the step up unit works when each coin is inserted. Maybe the manual will point out the coils involved on a diagram or photo. Also, in your photos it looks like there are labels for the coils. You can read them to identify each coils function.

In your photo below I've made some notes pointing out the coils I can see. Some of the coils have a green paper wrapper with the word Bally printed on them.

[rokgpsman]

For convenience I resized your photos, that will make them load faster for others that may want to offer helpful comments. They can still view the original size above for detail if needed.

[OldReno]

As Bestbuy says, it's probably a handle switch problem.  When the handle paddle drops (1st coin in) then it closes a handle switch  Normally Open to the closed postion.
This switch now allows your coin in pulses to step up the odds disc in the top unit, and give you odds.
Also, to check your coils with jumpers, read my two posts on using jumpers, that should explain it.
Again, the normally open handle release switch is the place I'd look first.

[buybestslots]

 

As Bestbuy says, it's probably a handle switch problem.  When the handle paddle drops (1st coin in) then it closes a handle switch  Normally Open to the closed postion.
This switch now allows your coin in pulses to step up the odds disc in the top unit, and give you odds.
Also, to check your coils with jumpers, read my two posts on using jumpers, that should explain it.
Again, the normally open handle release switch is the place I'd look first.

[mvco]

My guess on this one is that the wiper unit is stuck after sitting for years.  Make sure all wiper units advance, and reset without any hesitation.  First thing I do when going through an old EM.  This also holds true for Pinball machines.  Sticky wiper units cause problems.