Bally E-1088-32 E-slot — Error 43 persists

[jellospitr]

I have a Bally E-1088-32 machine. Looks great, but getting a 43 error. I have done the following:
Replaced power supply
Sent MPU, IO card, reel mech cards off to KLAR for repair/testing
Purchased, and installed, a new reel mech card
Purchase, and installed, 3 new reel reader cards
Replaced ribbon cable between IO & MPU cards
Cleaned all pins/connectors in the machine (1 pin at a time)
Checked continuity and location of all cabling related to the reel mech (even took off the tape and wax string).
Removed reel harness from another machine and installed on this machine… problem below still exists
Swapped U10 & U15 chips on IO board
Swapped Reel Reader card positions

When I do a Reel Reader Test, Reel 1 and 2 work as they should. Reel 3 doesn't change when I spin the reel. However, it does change when Reel 1 gets moved. This is what is really confusing to me!!!
Additionally, when I do an output test, everything seems to be triggered just fine. And when I do a Test 8 (Demo Test), the reels spin and stop just as they should. However, the payout values are wrong because the Reel 3 value isn't correct.
I’ve also tried a RAM clear and reseating the RAM Board.  I also tried wiggling connectors to see if Reel 3 value would ever change… no luck!
What I suspect is that when it gets to Reel 3, the system doesn't see it spinning because it's basically locked due to Reel 1 being stopped already. I think this is what is prompting the 43 error.

[jellospitr]

Update:  I swapped the control bit wire for reels 2 & 3 (at the decoder board connection). During Test 5, I could move reel 3 and see changes in Reel 2 spot on the display. If I then moved reel 2, nothing changed in the reel 3 display spot. If I moved reel 1, it also changed the reel 3 spot. I’m thinking this would tend to validate that wiring for reel 3 is ok. I’m thinking the issue may be in the IO card… even though it was sent off and returned after repair/testing.

[jellospitr]

Anybody have any suggestions?  Perhaps an IO card?

[GOS]

check the molex pins as they do break and lose conductivity. multimeter from one reader to another to the control board -

[jellospitr]

I was suspicious of them too!  However, I’ve checked continuity of each section of wire from the IO to the card decoder card to each of the reel readers. I’ve also checked each wire from Reel 3 back to the decoder to verify the daisy chain. 

Thanks so much for the response!  I welcome any other thoughts/suggestions.

[GOS]

did you check from the board leaving the board attached to the connector?  check all the way back to the IO board  those molex connectors are prone to failure.

[jellospitr]

I did check continuity from the end of each pin back to the solder on the back side.  Did this on both Decoder cards that I have. Both give me the same problem. This is why I’m thinking it may be something in I/O card. I feel like everything on the reel mechanism is right.

[Badbaud]

When you checked continuity did you remove the pins to make sure they were intact?

Did you remove and inspect pins 9 thru 13 on the connector that plugs into J3 of the I/O board?
Did you remove and inspect pins 9 thru 11 on the connector that plugs into J1 of the I/O board?

[jellospitr]

I have removed each pin, cleaned it, and expanded it slightly before replacing. This was done for each connector in the reel mech, as well as all of them off the I/O board. All of the pin connectors seem to intact and no breaks.
That said, I have not done a full test on the I/O card.  Let me check continuity from pin tip to solder on back side…

[jellospitr]

Hi all,
   Sorry for delay. I pulled the I/O card and checked continuity from the tip of the pin to the solder pad on the back of the card. All ohmed at .2. Reinstalled and the same issue persists. I have cherry/cherry/bar but test 5 says 1ccc. Nothing happens if I move reel 3, but if I move reel 1, they both change. Reel 2 only affects reels 2.

[jellospitr]

Any other thoughts? Suggestions?

[ramegoom]

There are buffer chips on the IO board that decode the reel sensors. You might have an issue with one of those chips, so my guess would be a defective IO board.

[Sunrise Side]

You bought this non working?? Maybe the metal disc on reel 3 has an issue or the wrong disc?  I dont know if the disc are different between single line to 3 line or to 5 line?? Maybe someone changed that 3rd reels disc? Maybe it does not matter?

[GOS]

far fetched but possible - each disc is marked 22 or 25 see if all the same
you did do a 5 test to check the 3rd reel to see if each positiion reads correctly?

[jellospitr]

Yes… I did test 5.  It does not respond unless Reel 1 moves. But even then, it doesn’t always match reel 1 or reel 3.

[Badbaud]

Set all 3 reels to show the same reel symbol across the middle.
THEN do a test 5 and see if the results match, the same number for all 3 reels.