New Life Games LLC
**Reel Slots** Gaming Machines => Bally Alpha Reel Games => Topic started by: Nashional on October 26, 2018, 11:09:21 AM
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Background. I've had an S9000 with QuickHits for over a year. We got hit hard by Hurricane Michael and lost power for two weeks (machines are unplugged when not being played).
Last night, after turning on the two left switches and the machine begins its' startup process, only the right two reels spin. The left 3 do slightly move (like normal) when first applying power, they just don't spin after the light check routine. If I let it boot all the way up I get reel errors.
Where do I start troubleshooting this?
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I'm not an Alpha expert but mine will occasionally give me reel errors and I have had success by reseating the cable to the motherboard plug at the motherboard or by reseating the reels themselves.
Rich
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I couldn't figure out how to remove the reels and looked on YouTube for help. I see the screws, but not how to remove the cables on the front-top of each reel?
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Try the plug at the motherboard first.
The whole reel assy comes out when you remove the screw. Work that tab by the screw easily and the whole reel will pivot out unplugging the reel assembly.
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Switch one of the spinning reels with a non-spinning one, does the problem follow the reel or not?
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Got it. Reseated the three ribbon cables on the back plane. Didn't help with the issues.
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Swapped 3 and 4 and the last two reels are still the only ones to spin. So, it's not the reels themselves it would seem.
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Reseat the reel controller board. It is the board that is inside the tray that is right on top of the reels.
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I was able to reseat the right tray, the the larger tray is locked and, of course, I don't have a key for that. Is that board in there?
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Yes, the big tray is the reel controller. The smaller one is the sound amplifier. It is usually the standard barrel key that works.
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Finally found the key that works. Reseated that board (and the sound board) as well as both power supplies. Still, only the last two reels spin.
The others are energized (you can't easily spin them and they bounce when first applying power). This is strange. And I don't have another machine to swap parts with.
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That thing took a spike or your batteries or dead after reading all these posts.
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I would think the batteries would give him an nvram low bat error? What happens if you boot the machine with the power to mpu off? If it still only spins the last 2, I would open the middle door and see if nudging in the same direction as the ones spinning causes them to start spinning. Maybe you have some sort of interference that is not letting the reels spin? Since the problem follows the reel position and not the reel, I would also make sure the harness that goes from the reel bar on the top (where all the reel connect) to the reel backplane that is just behind the reels is not loose, I would pull and reseat it. If it still has the issue, without parts to swap out, it's going to be very difficult to narrow it down. At this point I would be inclined to say that it is either your reel backplane, or the reel controller.
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If you turn the jackpot key and go to Diagnostics/Game Diagnostics/Devices/Mechanical Reels/Calibrate, does that spin all of them?
Jason
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rickhunter, I tested all those options that I could and they still don't spin (all tests expect the first is with the MPU off). When I get a few minutes (still lots of storm cleanup), I'll try the diagnostics Yoeddy1.
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Finally got a change to boot it up all the way. Went into diaganostics and selected REEL and calibration. The last two reels seem to be doing what they should. The other three don't spin at all. It seems like it would run forever if I let the test continue.
Any source for parts that I can test/swap?
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Since swapping the reels followed the failed position of the reels and not the reel itself, I would try a reel controller board first, if that doesn't fix it, then the reel backplane. Those parts should be plentiful as people have parted a lot of these by now. If you put a WTB in the classifieds, I'm sure you will get somebody that has one for sale.
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It's been a while since I've been able to try to work on this. Part of my roof is still laying in the back yard from the hurricane, so I've had bigger issues to deal with...
So, I'd like to get this machine working. No amount of testing has pointed to a culprit. And I can't post in the classifieds. I donated but never got the badge and no matter how many times I asked or who I asked, I was ignored when I asked about it.
This is the reel control board I have. If anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated. :EmoticonHelp4:
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You can always post WTB here: http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?board=23.0 (http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?board=23.0)
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Ah, Thanks! Will do.
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Got another reel controller board (not the back plane) and swapped them out. Now, reels 1-3 spin and 4-5 don't. The exact opposite of what was happening before.! This is all without the CPU on. Same thing happens with it on too.
Any ideas of what to try now? I bought a back plane to but didn't want to swap that out without getting feedback about the other board first...
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Did you install the new controller, clear the memory, and reinstall the game?
Jason
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This issue is without the CPU being on.
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You have to clear the machine. The previous controller was probably on a 3 reel machine, that's why only 3 reels spin. Clear the machine and setup the game and all 5 reels should spin. Sometimes you have to clear more than once, I don't know why that is the case. It has happened only once to me when converting from 3 to 5 reel.
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I'll give it a shot when I get back home. Thanks for the information!
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Cleared it twice for good measure, set up Cherry Red and... It Works!
Thanks a million for the help. The SO will be happy. :thank_you: