Bally 742a-241 handle sticks

[Goslin]

Just got this machine out of an estate.  Absolutely filthy, cracked reel glass, flaking chrome, half the lights don’t work BUT it plays and pays out fine.  Only problem is that every now and then I’ll insert a coin and the handle won’t release for a second or more.  Occasionally it won’t until I open and close the door, (maybe it shakes it enough to unlatch).  I took the mech and hopper out and hit every pivot point I could see with oil and what I could see on the handle assembly in the cabinet as well but is there a spot I should live that I’m missing or maybe a switch I need to clean the contacts on?  Pics would help. Thanks in advance!

[wolftalk]

742A-241 was originally a triple bar machine for the flamingo hotel/casino.  Is that what you have?

it's sorta not important tho, as the handle release circuits in most 742A variations are pretty much the same.

the bad news is there's 8 switches in the handle release relay circuit.  If any of them are flaky, you'll get the behavior you are seeing.  Could also be a poor plug connection between the reels/cabinet or the cabinet/hopper.

if the problem is reasonably repeatable, you don't have to resort to the shotgun tactic of cleaning/checking everything if you have alligator clip jumper wires and maybe a voltmeter.  Got those?

if you're familiar with schematics, you'll find documentation for some 742A slots in https://bingo.cdyn.com/slots/ - the 742A-261 is a trip bar machine.  The handle release coil is around D10 on the schem, and you need a closed circuit up to wire 90 and left to wire 30.

if the payout always works, the 30->90 path is ok and your problem will be in the 90->51-1 path.  Since the 261 schem is hard to read, see the 742A-107 schem for wire ids.

note the wire color code chart on the schem ... e.g.:
90 = solid grey
57-1 = white with orange tracer
36-1 = yellow with brown tracer
25-1 = blue with white tracer
51-1 = white with red tracer
52-1 = white with blue tracer

'course, all the above probably have faded and crudded up to look grimy grey :-) 

if you can post a picture of the inside of your door, that'd help.  If you can't because the picture is too large, email highest possible resolution pics to slotpics@cdyn.com.  Ideally:
- entire left side of reel mech (reel mech A, C, D switches)
- entire inside of the door (rejector armature)
- entire right side of reel mech (dashpot)
- relays on the hopper (payout relay)

if emailing from a phone, send them "actual size" so the phone doesn't downscale them.

[Goslin]

It’s still “Triple Bar”.  Has a faded Bally belly glass.  Reel glass is a cracked replacement.  I’ve got the new reel glass lined up.  Nice to know where it came from.  How it got to the floor of a recently deceased hoarder’s house in Montgomery, Texas I have NO idea.

I’ll post pics tomorrow.  Looks all right on the inside from what I can tell.  I haven’t cleaned the pins yet for the reel mech or the hopper.  It’s paid out all but one time.  One of the reels didn’t quite stop exactly in line.  I opened the door and tapped it and it paid.  There’s a lot of dried gunk all over the insides of the reels where whatever it is drops into the groove to stop the reel.  So far I’ve played it enough to get the single bar jackpot and double bar jackpot plus all the payouts on the glass.  No triple bar yet. 

So I’ll clean the pins and get some pics for you in the morning.  It still has the plexiglass Triple Bar topper though it’s really beat up.  Missing the candle from on top but I think I’ve got one of those located too.  Same person who has the replacement reel glass.  Got his name off of another post on here.

[Goslin]

742A-241 was originally a triple bar machine for the flamingo hotel/casino.  Is that what you have?

it's sorta not important tho, as the handle release circuits in most 742A variations are pretty much the same.

the bad news is there's 8 switches in the handle release relay circuit.  If any of them are flaky, you'll get the behavior you are seeing.  Could also be a poor plug connection between the reels/cabinet or the cabinet/hopper.

if the problem is reasonably repeatable, you don't have to resort to the shotgun tactic of cleaning/checking everything if you have alligator clip jumper wires and maybe a voltmeter.  Got those?

if you're familiar with schematics, you'll find documentation for some 742A slots in https://bingo.cdyn.com/slots/ - the 742A-261 is a trip bar machine.  The handle release coil is around D10 on the schem, and you need a closed circuit up to wire 90 and left to wire 30.

if the payout always works, the 30->90 path is ok and your problem will be in the 90->51-1 path.  Since the 261 schem is hard to read, see the 742A-107 schem for wire ids.

note the wire color code chart on the schem ... e.g.:
90 = solid grey
57-1 = white with orange tracer
36-1 = yellow with brown tracer
25-1 = blue with white tracer
51-1 = white with red tracer
52-1 = white with blue tracer

'course, all the above probably have faded and crudded up to look grimy grey :-) 

if you can post a picture of the inside of your door, that'd help.  If you can't because the picture is too large, email highest possible resolution pics to slotpics@cdyn.com.  Ideally:
- entire left side of reel mech (reel mech A, C, D switches)
- entire inside of the door (rejector armature)
- entire right side of reel mech (dashpot)
- relays on the hopper (payout relay)

if emailing from a phone, send them "actual size" so the phone doesn't downscale them.

OK, emailed you some pics.  Let me know if I got what you needed or need to take any more and again thanks for the help!

[wolftalk]

I put the pics on https://bingo.cdyn.com/slots/742A-241/

from an ipad or earlier iphone?  Apple didn't figure out light helps until the iphone 12 :-)

it's a bit hard to make out the left side of the reel mech.  Ideally you want a picture like the below, that that slot probably has some differences.

anyway, on your "inside door" pic the coin mech is pretty much in the center.  The microswitch below it is the coin switch, and a different microswitch on the left side of the mech is the reject armature switch.

if you drop in a coin and get the "coin accepted" light turned on but the handle doesn't release, gently open the door and hope the handle is still locked.

if it is, jiggle the reject armature switch and see what happens.  If nothing, do you have a jumper wire or voltmeter?

if a jumper, pull up the plastic sheath on the yellow/brown 36-1 wire on the reject armature switch enough to see the wire/solder.  Clip one end of the jumper on the yellow wire on the left lug of the coin switch and touch the other end to the 36-1 wire.  Does the handle release relay trip and unlock the handle?

if you have a meter and ideally a couple jumper wires, yell and I can suggest a setup for testing with them.

[Goslin]

I’ll get better pics, get the jumpers and a meter and let you know!

[Goslin]

Ok.  Handle issue fixed.  Switch and linkage at the coin mech gummed up. 

Have a payout issue now.  Everything pays out except single bars.  Seems like the reel on the right stops too high.  I can open the door and move the reel a bit and it’ll start paying out.  Ideas on how to fix that?