Help! I blew something on my dad’s Bally slot machine. Won’t power up.

[Soto2011]

The machine was humming and I was looking
Into it and something popped and there was smoke and the reset slider thing doesn’t work.

It won’t power up at all!!

It’s an old Bally machine. I read about fuses and solonoids.  I want to fix it.

[shortrackskater]

Please post a photo of where the smoke was coming from. 

[Soto2011]

I was screwing in the light plate cover and it popped.

[Jim]

You probably blew the 110vac fuse. Check all your fuses, repair the wire, and don’t do repairs with the power on!  You will be looking for trouble and more than likely you will find it!!!

Hope this helps

Jim

[Soto2011]

I don’t know anything about fuses or electricity for this
Machine. Any guidance would be appreciated.

[wolftalk]

post a pic of the entire machine front.  If there's a serial/model number plate on the outside of the cabinet below the handle, what's the top number (model number).

the fuses are almost always behind the hopper, so open the door, grab the handle on the hopper unit at the bottom and pull out the hopper and in the back you'll see something like the attached.  There may be more stuff back there depending on the model, but you care about the bracket with the black fuse holders.

turn the black cap and the cap/fuse will lift out.

the fuses are normally AGC fast blow.  In the pic, the 120V fuse is 8A.  The voltage rating these days is usually 250V ... it's the amp rating that matters.  Hardware or auto parts store should have them ... and of course amazon.

you may have just touched a lamp socket wire to the metal chassis and blown the 6V fuse.  In that case, the fluorescent lights should still work and the game would play/pay.

hum/buzz on the door is usually either the diverter coil or the coin lockout.  Happens from wear on the armature plates or coil tops.  Pics of entire machine front and inside of the door will help.  If you're running into size issues when posting pics, email highest possible resolution pics (e.g. actual size if sending from a phone) to slotpics@cdyn.com.

if ya got the patience, you'll get it fixed.  Blowing up a few things along the way is part of the fun.

[Soto2011]

Thank you.  Email incoming.

[DavidLee]

Possibly touched a bare spot on a wire for the fluorescent lights.
Locate the associated fuse on the inside back of the machine.
Replace the cover and be sure there’s no bare wire in contact with any metal machine parts.
Insert fuse, cross your fingers plug it in.

You might want to check the wires that ride over the metal door edge.
Look at the side closest to the metal for bare copper. This could be a very slight almost unnoticeable cut.

[Soto2011]

Thank you.  I know nothing about these machines and am grateful for all of the help from this community.

[Soto2011]

Here is a link to a drive that has a video of me narrating what happened and photos of the machine.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1J9ETSM6sjOt1rdS-Ddn9BvX_-Uy5hxQE

Thanks Alex.

[DavidLee]

Remove the hopper by pulling the handle with your left hand and support the right side with your other hand. If it hasn’t been removed for a long time, it might take more effort than usual.
Depending on how many coins are in the hopper it may be heavy. Set it on newspaper or cardboard.
If the guides are dirty, clean them with a folded paper towel with a little oil remover product.
Replace the hopper gently, there will be some resistance right before the hopper’s completely in.
This is where the beau-plug pins meet the sockets and will take a bit more force.

Regarding the short, remove the cover and look for burn marks.
Once located, isolate the cause with electrical tape and or move the wire away from the metal.
Post a few pictures of what’s behind the cover. The burn marks might be on the cover itself.

The buzzing from the coin lockout coil is quite common.
Probably diminish as the machine warms up.

Thanks for the Google photo link.
Going to look into it, seems like a handy app to have

[Soto2011]

Hopper removed.  The light plate removed (this is where the “short” happened.”)

New photos.  Thanks again to everyone providing insight. My dad is relieved I found this situation. 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ieo6EUUPzU0E_-EZ6KKHBQbTKWI6rAGt

[DavidLee]

Check these wires in areas of darkness from excessive heat and soot residue.
Possible burn marks.