Bally 821-ZH Custom Payout Issue

[Braden L]

Hey all!

It has been a while since I visited here and have an issue that has me TRULY stumped at this point in time. I have a Bally "821-ZH", which is in quotes because it was a custom redo by Sparks Nugget Casino that converted it over to a single line, 3-coin multiplier. I have a second machine, a Bally 831-ZZZC that I have been dabbling with to try and solve this issue, but that is a 3 line machine with no multiplier so it has been limited...


First question... BOTH machines do this, when I put in the first coin it ALWAYS registers. When I put in a second coin, you can hear the solenoid kick in the top box, but sometimes it does not stick and the lights come back on for the first coin. Trying one more coin always successfully steps up. The final step up (what is supposed to be the third coin) ALWAYS works fine. I have cleaned and adjusted all of the coin relays, cleaned the step up mech, made some minor spring adjustments, made sure the EOS switch doesn't open until the very last second AFTER the ratchet locks into place. Not sure why they do it, mildly annoying but I'd be accepting of any ideas to get them working perfectly.

Now the real big issue... on the 3 coin multiplier machine, it ALWAYS pays out the right amount when you only have one coin put in. Without. Fail. Once a second or third coin is put in, it is completely 100% sporadic. I had this machine working perfectly for years and one day the glass got a crack. Took it out to have it remade, and it sat unused but covered for almost half of a year. Glass came in and was installed (door had to be removed) and ever since then, the payouts have been hosed.

All 1 coin payouts: Work every time consistently. This is the case for low, medium, and jackpot payouts.
All 2 and 3 coin payouts, random underpay with no consistency that I can tell.

For example, two oranges and a BAR should be 20 coins, 40 coins, or 60 coins depending on coins inserted.
1x coin, 20 coins paid every time and works perfectly.
2x coin... 10 coins one time, 3 another, 7 the next, 8 the next, 18 the next (literally just ran it and these are the results)

This behavior will occur on the lowest payouts (single cherry should pay 2, 4, or 6), middle values (oranges should pay 20, 40, 60), or high/jackpot values (777 or 3xBAR).

When a payout is short, the machine stops paying, the arm remains unlocked for another play, and winner paid never comes on. Advancing the spiral cam etc does not cause pay to continue. This is an electrically stepped hopper as well. The issue is ALWAYS under pays, I have never once seen an over pay. If you pull the lever and win again and get a short pay, you can just keep playing until a loss or successful payout, then the handle locks.

What I have done:
I have checked every switch, cleaned all of the contacts and contact plates, checked for loose wires etc. I found that on the left side of the reels, there was a set of 3 switches (the c switch stack) was always closed and fixed that. I rebuilt the two pinball style score reels in the top, cleaned and moving freely. I am hoping someone here that knows more can help point me to the right place to look!

Thanks!

[Braden L]

So I stumbled upon something really interesting here.... it appears that the random payout still does trigger a winner paid light to come on. I did not realize that was burned out before.

I did figure out that I can get an accurate payout every single time the game pays no matter whether it is a low, medium, or high payout, 1, 2, or 3 coin by just lifting up on the handle lock bar that trips by the solenoid on the right side of the cabinet when a coin is inserted. It appears that with the 2 and 3 coin payouts, something is triggering that solenoid causing the handle to unlock after it has dispensed a random amount of coins. I have verified this by just lifting that lever over and over again until the payout is complete.

I traced a couple of iffy connections at the door connectors and replaced both of the connectors and all of the pins with a different much more reliable style. Unfortunately it seemed to help for a while, and did improve the outcome, but it still randomly misses sometimes.

Thanks for any more help!