Bally Alpha reel tilt

[deanwaters]

Greetings all


I just picked a Bally Alpha slant-top Silver Rain Quick Hit 5-reel machine.  I like it very much and I'm having a problem with one of the reels tilting.  It powers up fine; the reels spin and spin and spin before the machine is finally ready to play.  The reels (and reel strips) aren't rubbing against the housing or the cabinet and spin freely.  Once ready to play, I can only get a few games in before reel #5 inevitably tilts.  It resets OK from the Game Diagnostics / Reel calibration screen.  Then, a few games later, it tilts again.  Eventually the tilting becomes less and less the more I play it.  Temperature related maybe?  I've swapped the steppers in Reel #1 & Reel #5 to see if the tilting would move with the stepper.  Weirdly, it doesn't.  Regardless of which stepper I have in the #5 slot, it's the #5 reel that tilts the most.  Sometimes other reels tilt, but mostly #5.  Common problem?  Maybe the software is simply too sensitive to the natural reel vibrations?  Guessing a bit here.....   Any ideas?


Dean

[a69mopar]

with the machine off, follow the reel harness back, and check to be sure the connections are secure..  You may want to unplug, then plug it back in.   you can also remove and replace your reel control unit (board above reels, next to the amp.   if these doesn't help, let us know.  do you only have one Alpha?


Thanks,
Wayne

[rickhunter]

On one of the bally alpha's that I bought parts complete it did the same thing.  It wound up being that the reel was not "centered" right.  These alpha reels on the bottom of the reel assembly have a "gearlike" screw that you can turn and loosen it.  Then you will see that the reel assembly that has the stepper motor moves from side to side (or forward and back depending on orientation).  You need to center it along the bracket then tighten the screw again.  That should get rid of your reel tilt, at least it did for me on the two times I've seen that happen.

[coolwavepic]

On one of the bally alpha's that I bought parts complete it did the same thing.  It wound up being that the reel was not "centered" right.  These alpha reels on the bottom of the reel assembly have a "gearlike" screw that you can turn and loosen it.  Then you will see that the reel assembly that has the stepper motor moves from side to side (or forward and back depending on orientation).  You need to center it along the bracket then tighten the screw again.  That should get rid of your reel tilt, at least it did for me on the two times I've seen that happen.

Rick,


This is kinda off topic, but I have Reel #1 that stops slightly lower than the other reels. So doesn't look lined up with the other symbols. Is this the same method to properly center the reels?

[deanwaters]

Yes.  The little spoked wheel near the bottom.  Loosen it (push it toward the back of the machine), then push/pull the metal 'tab' near it.  The reel will move up and down.  Tighten the wheel.  Done.