can you email highest possible resolution picture(s) if the payout counter disc to slotpics@cdyn.com?
I'm guessing the game just pays the simple way, so a 200 win would use a 200 trace. When lower pays are ok but a higher pay is runaway, the most common issue is something preventing the payout counter from stepping up enough times ... the most obvious would be the torsion spring on the ratchet/gear side of the payout counter is wound too tight around the shaft.
when reset was sluggish due to a cruddy contact plate or unit, people would often wind the torsion spring an extra time around the shaft rather than clean the unit. 2 - 2.5 turns is what it should be.
yank the hopper and step the payout counter by hand, counting the number of steps. At step 29, the wipers should be sitting at the end of the 30 trace, and one more step they move off the end. If the end of the 30 trace is damaged, you can get a short pay.
you should be able to step the unit 200 times. At around step 180-ish, the outboard wipers will move off the 200 trace. That's correct and it doesn't need to be 180 steps ... anything less than 195 or so is fine. The pay completes using the CO trace.