It REALLY wants to work! Bally 2000 Series...

[Jay3361]

A few updates so I’m starting a new thread.  Summary: Bally 2000 Series, 3 reel quarter game.  Accepts coins, handle pull spins the reels, then the reels won’t stop.  No error codes. Pressing the test switch will activate the latches, the reels will stop & lock normally. 


Work done so far:
- Replace battery in MPU board
- Replaced Arm & Kick switches
- Tested all switches & reel readers (all good)
- Had I/O board tested by K-LAR Slot Machine Repair (all good)
- Cleaned contacts for all cables on I/O board
- Cleaned, lubricated shaft that holds the reel mech coil latches


Today before I started working on it, I fed a quarter into it and pulled the handle.  It worked perfectly!  The handle pull spun the reels, and they stopped normally as if everything was resolved.  Success!!!  Until I tried it again.  On the second play, the reels once again spun until they eventually ran out of energy.  It seems like it’s VERY CLOSE to resolved, but I can’t quite get it there.


This is the first slot machine I bought and it’s my only Bally machine (others are IGT).  I’ve had it almost 30 years.  I really want to get this resolved.  Is there anything else I can try?


I wish I could drop it off at K-LAR’s doorstep and have Alan fix it (he’s been extremely helpful), but I’m about a thousand miles away in Minnesota.  So I’m afraid I’m on my own solve this.


Thanks for any ideas.


Jay

[ljwayne5451]

Hi, I have one here and it works sometimes and sometimes not. So far it always seems to be connectors especially the Molex plugs. Also check the power supply connector as it tends to go bad. I had to jumper the connections because the power pins just burned to bad to make a connection. Mine works and then it does not. Problems with the connections at the reel mech. These are not very reliable slots. After having 3 I have decided to stay away from them. I get it working and it will work for a few days then all the sudden it has problems.


Lj

[Jay3361]

Thanks LJ.  What did you do to resolve the problem @ the Molex connectors?  I’ve cleaned mine with DeoxIT.  I’ve heard that these have problems with the PowerSupply like you mentioned.  With the bad PS connection were your reels spinning forever, or did it present a different problem.


Thanks again.


Jay

[ljwayne5451]

yes, I have had that as well as having just one fail. Sometimes it just starts playing sounds and does nothing. If I ever have the time I may go back and change the molex and the power supply connectors


Lj

[Jay3361]

I think I have to admit defeat and abandon this very cool old machine to the corner of forgotten things.  I hate walking away.  I really like this machine and It is SO CLOSE to working. 


Last week I pulled the reel mech again and cleaned & relubricated the rod that goes through the trip mechanisms.  It now spins easily.  Today I replaced the connectors on the Kick & Arm switches.  I pulled the PowerSupply connection and checked for any burn marks or oxidation.  It all appeared good.  But the reels still spin and spin and spin....  I was really encouraged last week when it worked perfectly on that first pull...the reels spun, then stopped crisply in order, 1-2-3.  Next spin, no stop.  The reels will stop perfectly when I press the test button, just not during game play.


- New battery on the MPU
- New ribbon cable between the MPU & IO
- Good bench test of the IO
- Cleaned (with DeoxIT) all connections on the IO board
- New Arm & Kick Switches
- New connections on the Arm & Kick switches
- Lubricated the reel mech
- I also attempted cleaning the Molex connections on the reel mech...was able to float some DeoxIT onto the pins & then plugged/unplugged the harnesses several times to agitate it. 


This cool old machine has kicked my ass.  Unless anybody can point me towards a technician in my area, I'm out of ideas.  For now, it's beautiful.  But it's purely decorative.

[GOS]

1. run test 5 - what does the win meter display
    should show 1 plus 3 more characters - 1 orange o cherry 2 plum etc - if 0000 or 1666 or some other display (bad readers/control board/connections)

2. run test 8 - this allows playing the game with door open (no coins) - just press the coin trip lever down/up quickly
   if you can run several cycles with reels stopping (no actual payouts - any wins will show on the meter as 8 010)
    if this works - sounds like the door closed switches not working

[Jay3361]

1. run test 5 - what does the win meter display
    should show 1 plus 3 more characters - 1 orange o cherry 2 plum etc - if 0000 or 1666 or some other display (bad readers/control board/connections)

2. run test 8 - this allows playing the game with door open (no coins) - just press the coin trip lever down/up quickly
   if you can run several cycles with reels stopping (no actual payouts - any wins will show on the meter as 8 010)
    if this works - sounds like the door closed switches not working

Thank you for the suggestions.  I ran the tests this morning:
1. Test 5: With the reels lined up for a jackpot (3 7’s on the pay line) the meter showed 1.6.6.6.  With three watermelons, 1.1.1.1.  With three random characters (bar, blank,11), 1.2..5..   I believe this shows the readers are working correctly.
2. Test 8.  I could spin, but the reels don’t stop.  BTW, I have also bypassed the door switch, then replaced the door switch. 


So two more tests down, but those demon reels continue to spin eternally.