Author Topic: New to the forum finally got my slot machine to work after some tinkering (Read 1883 times)

Hearse · « **on:** July 23, 2019, 03:49:12 AM »

Hello everyone, glad to have found this forum. I have an old 1980s Bally slot machine and I finally got it to work again after some tinkering from sitting for a couple years. My questions are , I'd like to get the lights over the reels and the bottom glass to work again, they used to before moving. When I plugged it back it and turned it on the bottom glass looked like it was trying to light but didnt, got a few blips of light like it was trying to. Should I replace the starters and the bulbs together? if so, what kind of starters should I get? they are just the alum looking tube ones in there now. Thank you all for any ideas or input I do appreciate it.

shortrackskater · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2019, 08:29:18 AM »

Welcome to the forum.

I've had this problem frequently when I get another machine. If the lower glass has two bulbs/starters I used to fiddle around with swapping bulbs first, then starters until the bulb came to life. Now I just have spare bulbs and starters.
I buy the FS-U or universal starters since they're cheap on eBay but you can get any type at Home Depot if you don't want to wait. I think the ones on there are FS-2.
I like that Foxy's Firehouse Casino glass!

Amechanic · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2019, 09:26:01 AM »

You could just try replacing the starter first, but I like to change both together when I change to a new bulb. I think it's an FS-2 starter used on the bulbs in your machine. You need to match the bulb to the starters. The starters should have a watt or bulb rating marked on them..

Stayouttadabunker · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2019, 09:41:17 AM »

That's a beautiful ol' Bally EM...do you know the date of manufacture of it?

smoothgrh · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2019, 11:54:40 AM »

Nice machine!

I love learning about Las Vegas history, and I didn't know about Foxy's Firehouse Casino. Cool neon for that place!

Hearse · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2019, 12:07:06 PM »

Thank you all for responding! That is a Bally Em ? I had a "master slot tech" come over to look at it , not sure what he was a master at but it wasn't slots...but anyway he looked at it and said he couldn't mess with it he didnt't know what was wrong, an older slot tech came out and said it was converted at some point in it's life upgraded to electrical components and he couldn't work on it because it wasnt mechanical any longer, sure as hell looks mechanical to me in the cabinet.
I will open it up in a little bit and see what the date of manufacture was , it was a tag on the side saying it was rebuilt by J&T slots at some point in its life . LOve that Vegas history too!!! I guess I can pull one of those starters and see if it has a number on it? fsu 2 is what I need you say? It makes some cool noise too as the reels spin, the old noise that used to fill all the casino's back in the day. Love it =)

Amechanic · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2019, 12:24:25 PM »

FSU is universal (U). The others are FS-2 & FS-5. I think the FS-5 is for the smaller 8 watt bulbs, and the FS-2 works on the longer 14 watt bulbs. You need to match the bulb and starter unless your running the FS-U..

shortrackskater · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2019, 03:44:10 PM »

Please post a couple inside pictures of the machine.

Stayouttadabunker · « **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2019, 06:02:45 PM »

Just for clarification...."EM" stands for "electro-mechanical"....I think that means BOTH?

Hearse · « **Reply #9 on:** July 23, 2019, 06:44:37 PM »

Hearse · « **Reply #10 on:** July 23, 2019, 06:47:01 PM »

Hearse · « **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2019, 06:48:13 PM »

Ok Gents there are a couple pics, the 3 starters on the door had fs5 starters so I just went and got a few from Home Depot.

Stayouttadabunker · « **Reply #12 on:** July 23, 2019, 07:00:54 PM »

Nice pics...yep...that's a Bally EM.
What are the numbers on the tags on the side on the machine?
Maybe someone can help you find the date of manufacturing?

If you look at this post, Nurbo's are similar to your machine....maybe even older.

Here's the link to the topic...>>>

http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?topic=7510.0;topicseen

Hearse · « **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2019, 07:06:23 PM »

I just commented on that thread a few minutes ago , yup! those machines that he has are my absolute favorites. I'd love one.

I just put the 3 new starters on the door and no lights, although the top locate light on the door is lit but it looks like the little neon stick is bad. I can't locate the neon stick for the bottom door glass though lol , please tell me I don't have to disassemble the whole door to get to the stick do i?
I'll check out his link right now thank you sir

Hearse · « **Reply #14 on:** July 23, 2019, 07:39:14 PM »

The top t5 bulb is bad so I need to go replace that home depot has one. I have a question, why would one of the starters on the door start to light up like its wanting to fire something?

New t8 bulb up top is working properly, it looks like the starter on the bottom right of the door is the one that fires the lower door glass lights its trying to fire but they wont light up all the way, should i remove that starter from its socket ?

Hearse · « **Reply #15 on:** July 23, 2019, 09:00:54 PM »

Let me ask this , to get to the bottom glass fluro tube , how does one gain access to that? I've been looking at it for the last hour.

63mini · « **Reply #16 on:** July 23, 2019, 10:00:28 PM »

Quote from: Hearse on July 23, 2019, 09:00:54 PM

Let me ask this , to get to the bottom glass fluro tube , how does one gain access to that? I've been looking at it for the last hour.

There will be two black screws to release the front glass frame. I have attached a photo that you posted showing one of the screws. The other will be on the other side behind the white molex connector. Sometimes the one behind the molex is missing.

When you take these screws out the front will fall forward a bit. Unless it is secured in place by some old Jack & Coke....

Once, it comes forward then the upper chrome frame can be removed by lifting it up. Just be careful not to let the glass fall out. Behind the glass you will find the lamp.

By the way. This game looks familiar. Is this one that was listed on offerup in Vegas?

Amechanic · « **Reply #17 on:** July 23, 2019, 10:03:01 PM »

Ok there are two screws usually holding the light assembly to the door. One behind the door lock by the starter, and a second one behind the white plug on the right side. Then the light should come off the door after you disconnect the wiring plugs. Then turn the light over, you should find two more small screws holding the chrome frame on. Inside you will have 1 or two florescent bulbs. Be careful of your glass, if you break that one, I doubt you will find another one like yours.
As for the one bulb flashing, just remove the flasher so not to damage the lights ballast..

Hearse · « **Reply #18 on:** July 23, 2019, 10:09:26 PM »

Thank you both very much =) Just got them both out and placed an order for 3 more t5 bulbs for the belly and the reels, all 3 bulbs were black on each end. Man, I love this forum. You guys have the same passion I do for these old machines I love it.

Amechanic · « **Reply #19 on:** July 23, 2019, 10:29:14 PM »

I only have about 20 of my own. Both Em and the later E-Series machines. Iâ€™m currently building one
E-Series from two different machines. One had a nice cabinet, but the wiring was hacked, plus a boring game. The other was a fruit machine with good glass and wiring, but the cabinet was junk. Look like it was dropped🤨.. So I pulled the game kit and complete wiring harness and Iâ€™m installing it in the nice cabinet. Should have it finished tomorrow or Thursday. My first Frankenstein machine

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Author Topic: New to the forum finally got my slot machine to work after some tinkering (Read 1883 times)