Need help with my Silver Bullet slot machine, please!

[DGA3]

Jim and Pitts256 - you were correct!   

By clearing the CPU, the green test button worked and I was able to perform the hopper test.

The hopper spun and spun and the quarters tumbled around in there for a few seconds, but nothing came out. I did not see any movement at the top of the hopper, like the knife retracting (it remained out the entire time). The only movement was the wheel spinning and spinning.

Consequently, it looks like the next step would be to remove the 4 screws, washers, and springs from the back of the hopper so that I can figure out how what is going on, and why something is not working.

Suggestions and thoughts?

[Stayouttadabunker]

Follow Reply #9.

[Pitts256]

Here's some more info:

The first thing you can try is test just the kicker.

The hopper motor and kicker relay board solenoids operate off the same CPU 5vdc supply so were good there since the motor runs. They do though have separate CPU control grounds, a yellow wire for the kicker and brown wire for the motor drive at the CN-25 plug on the top of the hopper. With the hopper in the machine, CN-25 plugged in and then the main power turned on you can ground the yellow wire to a cabinet screw and the kicker should pull in. Use caution here...the grey wires are 100vac. If the kicker pulls all the way in then the hopper's all good. Bad news is there's a wire, CPU board edge connector or control chip problem.

If the kicker still doesn't work by grounding the yellow wire then we'll move to the next step.

[DGA3]

Follow Reply #9.

A typical problem is the coin kick out lever, it is a lever that sticks out into the coin payout path, its purpose is to pull in when hopper is on and when the count is finished it releases and prevent any other coins from coming out.

best way to see all the moving parts would be to removethe hopper bowl, four screws, take pictures to see how it is attached.

with the back off of the hopper, you can activate the solenoid with your finger and watch the lever operate, sometimes this gets gummed  up.

Hope this helps

Jim


 I think the kick out lever is the problem, because when I ran the test, it did not pull in. It continued to stick out the entire time as the hopper and coins spun around. I will remove the hopper bowl, and see if I can move it.

[DGA3]

Follow Reply #9.

A typical problem is the coin kick out lever, it is a lever that sticks out into the coin payout path, its purpose is to pull in when hopper is on and when the count is finished it releases and prevent any other coins from coming out.

best way to see all the moving parts would be to removethe hopper bowl, four screws, take pictures to see how it is attached.

with the back off of the hopper, you can activate the solenoid with your finger and watch the lever operate, sometimes this gets gummed  up.

Hope this helps

Jim


 I think the kick out lever is the problem, because when I ran the test, it did not pull in. It continued to stick out the entire time as the hopper and coins spun around. I will remove the hopper bowl, and see if I can move it.

Maybe I mean the kicker solenoid. It's the sharp blade that sticks out. Is it supposed to move?

If so, it didn't.

I will take a look at the back of the unit to see if anything is frozen.

[DGA3]

I pulled the back off of the hopper to check the moving parts. The lever on the right (circled in red) is easily moveable.

The one on the left (circled in blue), however, cannot be moved at all. It feels frozen.

Is this normal?

Are there other tests I can do?

[Pitts256]

The test is to push in on the plunger. It should move freely in-out easy with the only resistance being from the return spring tension.

The kicker plunger is probably gummed up in the coil.

You'll have to take the linkage apart, remove the plunger and clean both the plunger and the inside of the coil.

 

[DGA3]

Is the plunger part of the solenoid? If so, that piece sticking out feels very free and loose, so I'm not sure if it's stuck. I can easily move it around.

Seems like the L-shaped piece that the plunger is attached to (the other end of it sticks out into the hopper) is locked in place, so even if the kicker actuates and attempts to move it, it won't budge (I can't move it at all). It's the piece that the spring is attached to.

Maybe over many, many years of inactivity, it has locked up, or the grease/oil that keeps it operable has dried up like glue?

[Pitts256]

If the plunger has a loose fit in the coil then the linkage has a bind.

[DGA3]

If the plunger has a loose fit in the coil then the linkage has a bind.

Ok. The plunger does fit loosely in the coil, so the linkage has a bind.

I could try to take it apart, or maybe use some Liquid Wrench penetrating oil on a couple of the joints that are possibly seized up.

[DGA3]

On a side note: the little Phillips head screws that hold the back of the hopper cover in place are very soft!

I've had a lot of trouble removing them without stripping them.

I am trying to remove the two that hold the knife/blade? that sits on top in place, and they are not budging.

[DGA3]

I think I found the problem. It's the pivot point (green arrow) of the piece attached to the plunger. Whatever grease or oil was in there years ago must have solidified like glue and locked it in place.

I soaked it with Liquid Wrench last night. and today - with the help of some channellocks - was able to move it back and forth a little. It is still extremely tight.

I'm thinking that maybe with time (and more penetrating oil) I will be able to get it moving more. I'm not sure if I can get it loose enough to freely move when the plunger is activated.

At the worst, I might have to take it apart. Looks like there is a small c-clip on the top of it that I would somehow have to remove, and then maybe I could detach the piece. Of course, I would also have to remove the screw and nut on the end of it where the spring attaches.

Hopefully, I am on the right track!

 

[Pitts256]

Sounds like you're on the right track. That arm assembly should move freely when pushed with your finger. Once freed up you can use the tests mentioned above to verify it's working.

[DGA3]

Update:

With lots of patience and elbow grease, I was able to remover the arm that was stuck on the post. I have cleaned both, and am prepared to see if - with some WD40 or silicone lubricant (would one be better than the other?) 0 I can get it moving freely again. Hopefully, it just needed a good cleaning, since it hadn't been moved in years.

Question: I know I did not damage it in any way while removing, but is the arm supposed to have this slight bend in it? That's exactly how it appeared as soon as I removed it, and I am sure I did not do anything to it in the process. Plus, it is far too strong for me to be able to bend it down while wiggling it from side-to-side.

So - the next step is lubrication, and once I have it moving freely, I will reassemble the unit, put it back in my machine, and run the 10 coin test.

Slowly but surely, we are getting there!

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

[DGA3]

The correct angle (horizontal view):

[Pitts256]

It's looks pretty close. If there's no binding or rubbing when you reinstall and stroke the coil plunger you should be good. The thing to watch for is the distance of the kicker to the coin wheel, it has to be as close as possible without touching each other (see photo). You may be able to loosen the coil mount screws to adjust the gap. If that gap gets too big a coin will jamb between the kicker and the knife.

[DGA3]

WE DID IT!

My Silver Bullet is up and running properly thanks to you all!   

You put a quarter in, pull the handle or push the "spin" button, the reels spin, and if they come up in a winning combination, the hopper spins and shoots out the correct number of coins No "tilt" or "error" lights; just continuous play.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

At this point, I still have a couple of small questions.

1) It's been so long since I used my machine that I don't remember - do the reels have to align perfectly to win a payout? Sometimes my machine will payout, but the numbers and symbols are not straight across the line (see photo). It seems like they should at least be touching the line, or better yet, aligned straight across. If they are supposed to be straight across, how do I fix it?

2) What is the little coin receptacle on the bottom right of the machine for? Occasionally, a quarter will drop in there, and eventually, I have to fish them out. Is it some sort of overflow storage?

[Pitts256]

Fantastic! 

Looks correct in your photo for the payout. If you played one coin, one cherry rolls up on the payline, you win 1 credit. Play with the MAX  BET of two coins/credits for awhile and verify the payouts with the top glass.

The discharge chute is for the hopper overflow. When the coins in the hopper get high enough to touch the high level probe the coin diverter will open and allow the coins passing through the coin comparitor to discharge to the chute. Since most of the coins are going into the hopper that's probably not your problem. Check to see if the hopper isn't pushed too far back in the cabinet. There's a stop at the backside that gets pushed back. Move the hopper towards the front about 3/16-1/4".  If that takes care of the problem then move the stop forward the same distance. Be careful not to move the hopper too far forward, don't want the hopper chute to hit the coin photo eyes when the door is closed.