Sigma Mech 3 Reel IM - Wrong Reels

[NinjaBread]

Hi guys,

I've been working on a Sigma 'Winner's Choice' machine for a few months now. After replacing the 24V power supply, fixing a dodgy power cable, and swapping out a couple of dead logic ICs, I finally have the machine up and running!

However, I’ve hit a snag with the reel scoring. Every now and then, the machine awards a win despite there being no winning combination on the payline and vice versa. Using the test button, I discovered that the game software is expecting reel values that do not match the physical reels installed in the cabinet.

I did quite a bit of troubleshooting on the processor board earlier on, so it's entirely possible I have the DIP switches or jumpers set incorrectly for this specific reel layout. Otherwise, I suspect a software mismatch.

What would be the easiest way to get the software and physical reels aligned?
Is this typically controlled by specific DIP switch/jumper configurations on the board?
Do I need to flash a new game EPROM that matches my physical reel strips (assuming I can track down the correct binary)?

If anyone has a manual, DIP switch matrix, or advice on resolving Sigma reel mapping issues, your help would be massively appreciated!

Machine Details:
Model: Mech 3 Reel IM
Model No.: 13213
Game: Winner's Choice
Game EPROM: SM 35103-043 54 (I think)
Reels Installed: 8067-11035, 8067-11041, 867-11038
Software Required Reels: (W=WILD B=BLANK 1=1BAR 5=5BAR)
- Reel 1: WB1B5B1B5B1B5B1B1B5B1B
- Reel 2: WB1B1B5B1B1B5B1B1B1B1B
- Reel 3: WBB1BB5BB1BB5B1BB1B1BB

Thanks in advance!

[Chris-socal]

Can you post a picture of the machine and of the MPU board?

[NinjaBread]

Images provided!

[Chris-socal]

That is a standard SG-50 series. SG-32 and SG-150 uses the same board but later SG series used a newer board platform that utilized more complex computer chips. A few things about your machine:
1. The odds jumper must match the odds of the eprom, this has nothing to do with the reel strips. Typically the name of the eprom says SG then a number that represents the odds (94 ) for example. You then consult the jumper chart in the manual to match. 94. Since your game plays the odds jumpers are set correctly.
2. If the reel strips don’t line up to the winnings, the strips are either installed incorrectly or someone changed the game eprom. Do your strips appear to match the theme?
3. Unfortunately the Game Data Sheets are nowhere to be found so if you don’t know the odds and your machine throws a mismatch error you just go through the jumpers and change them until it boots correctly. Since yours runs I just share that for future reference.
4. The manual is available for download to contributing members in the File system. If you are not a contributing member you can make a one-time $10 contribution. Your account will have 30 days download access to all files. Note: if you contribute after hours you will get access the next day.

Having shared what I know I will share my theory, I think someone changed the eprom in your game…or simply found a working board and stuck it in the machine. Since the reels do match the game title (I can see in the photo). You can search around for someone who has that game and try to get a copy of the correct  eprom. I had a winner’s choice several years ago but unfortunately I did not copy the eproms. The only other option is if maybe someone pulled the reels and put them back in the incorrect sequence.

Chris

[Chris-socal]

Actually after looking at your second picture I see the ribbon cables to the reels are not locked in a track, it appears they can be plugged into either reel. Those ribbons are reel specific, any chance they are just out of sequence? Technically you should be able to plug all 3 except 1 in, spin the reels and the machine will throw an error telling you where that ribbon goes. Something like Reel1, I don’t recall exactly.

I also wanted to mention if your glass art appears to have any blemishes, the glass is not printed like other slots, it is likely 2 thin pieces of glass with printed Translite plastic in the middle. You can soak the panel in cool water (bathtub)for a few minutes and they will slide apart. You can then gently clean them and put back together. It will really brighten them up. If you search Sigma topics you will findvmy post on the subject.

Chris