Game King Power supply fan really loud. Can I fix it?

[Tilt]

My game king cabinet is really loud. I think it's the fan in the PSU on the lower left side of the cabinet. The MPU sits just under the LCD in the center of the cabinet. When I power down you can hear the fan pretty much grind to a halt. I'm guessing its from being years in a smoky casino. Other than that the cabinet is in pretty good shape. Is the fan something I can replace?  I've build dozens of computers over the years and repaired just about everything you could imagine including fans in computer PSU's

Anyone have any advice on this. Looks doable to me. Could also be a fan behind the PSU that exhausts out the side of the cabinet. I didn't spend a lot of time tracking down the noise but will soon.

Sure would like a quieter experience for a few hours work changing a fan. It really is loud. Sounds like an old hard drive that has failed.

Thanks

Vpguy

« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2013, 06:12:17 PM »

I think your noise if coming from the fan on the side of the cpu holder. It is a 2x2 inch fan 24 volt. Reach up behind the bill validator and you can put your finger on the fan side and feel it that is the fan making the noise. I have a lcd monitor in my machine and took all the fans out but the one above. There is not much heat in the machine if you have a LCD monitor, but if you have a CRT monitor keep all the fans going.
Jim at Bettor Slots knows the part number to order as I lost the e-mail he sent me with the link. I just put one in my machine and it is quite a job. Shot Jim an e-mail, he is a great guy, link on home page.
Hope this helps a little.
novao65

« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2013, 08:21:40 PM »

I think you may be right. I'm having trouble locating the noise but it does sound like its coming from near the MPU.  I've got a LCD so  I don't think heat buildup is going to be a huge problem. I'll contact Jim when I've found the problem. Thanks for the advice
vpguy

« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2013, 09:57:55 PM »

I took a few minutes to pull the MPU and locate the fan you were talking about and sure enough that's the one.  If I stop it all the noise goes away.  It's that small sucker mounted on the right side of the MPU tray.  Looks like a real job to get it out like you said.  Hopefully a short screwdriver will get it done.  Looked pretty dirty and sure makes a lot of noise.
vpguy

« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2013, 10:05:15 PM »

And cleaning it may bring it back to normal volume too. Personally, I try not to decide if the manufacturer put those there to cover their ass or because it's really needed, so I leave them in place when possible

cowboygames

« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2013, 02:13:47 PM »

Some may wonder why I reply to my own posts, but when I find or receive information, I usually update my original posts in the hope that I'm helping someone else down the road.

Jim was kind enough to send me information on this fan.  He said that he's found this as a replacement fan:

BISONIC - BP402024H-W - FAN, STANDARD, 40MM

I looked it up and it was in fact a 24V DC fan.  So if you have a way loud slot or VP (especially GK cabinets) you may want to check this fan as it sure seems to get dirty.  I'm thinking mine is pretty much toast from the sound of it.

VPGuy
 

« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2013, 03:18:16 PM »

  Forgot to mention that the fan does not come with a molex connector to plug into the back plane for power so before you pitch your old fan with harness you will want to save the old harness to splice onto your new fan.

Bettor Slots

« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2013, 04:08:47 PM »

Since I just replaced the fan on my Game King I would like to tell you the best way to do it:
1. Unplug machine
2. Reach behind the bill validator and remove the light unit by pulling up. This will stop you from breaking the bulb later.
3. Remove the bill validator and Cash Can.
4. Remove the inner housing by taking four screws on side of BV housing and remove the inner unit and unplug wires.
5. Remove the screws that hold the outer housing and remove.
6. NOW THE EASY PART IS DONE
7. The screws that hold the fan in(2 of them) if it is the factory installation then the screws are lock tighted in and are very hard to remove.
8. I used a 1/4 " ratchet with a #2 phillips bit to get the screws out. YOU have to be really strong if you are using a short screwdriver and be careful or you will be pulling out the motherboard and housing to drill it out.
9 I did not use lock tight when I installed the fan.
10. Be careful when unplugging the fan as the heat over the years has melted the connector a little so it is hard to get off, so do not do like I did and try to pull on the wires and pull the wires out of the connector.

I hope this helps you as I got so much help on this sight that I am trying to give back what I have learned. If I missed something please chime in.
Good Luck,
Jerry(novao65)

« Reply #8 on: March 21, 2013, 07:04:37 PM »

Just like novao65 said. Those 2 fan screws are a b*#%@ to get loose without removing the cash can assembly.

erbs

« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2013, 11:52:34 AM »

Man, I just did this job late last night, and it was a bear getting that fan off!  I took the opportunity to clean that area out, and boy was it dirty.  300 paper towels and half a jug of 409 later, it's spotless.  I took out the fan and ran it under scalding hot water, let it dry.  I also peeled back the decal covering the fan spindle and put a couple of drops of 3-in-1 oil it.  When I put it all back together, I fired it up, and that fan runs ultra quiet now.  Highly recommended procedure if you haven't done it.

Jason

« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2013, 02:31:14 PM »

Jason,
Nice fix. But as an old fart that I am, if I go to all the work it took to get that fan out I am going to replace it with a new fan so I never have to replace it again. This is my own feeling and I am sure that your repair will work fine. I am not criticizing your repair.
Thanks to everyone on this sight for all the input.
Jerry 

« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2013, 04:00:58 PM »

I don't like cleaning fans in general. I've found over the years working with PC's that cleaning fans is a short term solution for a long term problem.  Buy a good ball bearing fan and be done with it.
rickhunter

« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2013, 04:56:36 PM »

   
  And that fan is a real pain to get at too.  Easier to replace it while you have it out and not worry about it for a long long time.

Tilt

« Reply #13 on: September 28, 2013, 08:21:36 PM »

Not a good idea to clean the fan being its so hard to get to. I purchase mine from Mouser these work great. http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Orion-Fans/OD4020-24HSS/?qs=%2fha2pyFadugDgRIbWnT9hi525WAwGztGG5oZfu2KT8fjpul2wHCuUA%3d%3d
erbs

« Reply #14 on: September 28, 2013, 08:39:38 PM »

If I would have had a fan on me, I would have changed it for sure.  It's running dead silent now.  I'm just glad I know how to get to it now, and now that those fan bolts are broken loose and reinstalled not nearly as tight, the job won't be near as painful when it's time for a replacement.  I'm just grateful that Jerry posted a tutorial how to do it.

Thanks,
Jason

« Reply #15 on: September 28, 2013, 09:13:56 PM »

I guess it's what ever makes your wiggle waggel.  Anyone can just replace a old part for a new one, but don't you get just a little enjoyment out of repairing something that's broken ??
Buzz




 
 

[potato salad]

My Game King was sounding like a jet engine and the shipping cost from Mouser for a direct replacement fan was way too high so I decided to replace my fans with 12V PC fans. It's been running like this for a few months without issue and it's super quiet. You can t-tap into the 13V power supply side (which I did, thanks to the guy who posted the backplane schematic!) or use a buck convertor to step down the existing 24v to 12V, dealers choice. Most PC fans are rated for max 14V so not too concerned with burning it out or shortening the life. I should note that I wouldn't recommend doing this if you have a CRT monitor as they generate a ton of heat. I believe the small stock fan pushes out about 8 CFM. I'm a big fan (ha!) of Noctua for PC builds so that is what I used:


NF-A9 FLX - 92MM fan - 38CFM
NF-A4x20 FLX - 40x20MM fan - 5.5 CFM

A direct replacement is way easier of course but this only cost me a bit more time and about 10 bucks more.