Game Maker v7000 disable hopper

[billkater]

I have a game maker slant top that I want to disable the coin hopper and play in demo mode. I have been fighting with a Game Disabled Hopper Jam/Error and am sick of fighting it. Here is the thread from that problem /nlg/index.php?topic=47341.msg252270#msg252270

Is there a way to disable the hopper?

[Chris-socal]

I’m sure I Speak for all involved parties when I say we would love there to be an easy answer and you can walk away happy.
However, I don’t think Demo mode only disables the hopper. I don’t think it allows you to play the game as normal. One must keep in mind that these machines are designed for Casinos and that means money in/money out. It is a requirement in order for the machine to operate. If either of those functions fails the machine is required to lock up. No one in the manufacturing or gambling commission cares about a home user.
As such, unless you have TITO installed which allows a payout alternative, the machine is designed to not work.
If you really want to get it into demo mode you will probably need to use the set chip and go through setup again and when you get to the end the machine will be in Demo.
Normally you would go into Terminal ID and set all 1111111111-s to get it out.
I think you will have another set of problems that are probably covered in the manual. I don’t know offhand what other functions are disabled but I am sure it’s more than just the hopper.

I thought at one point the advised approach was to send your board to someone who has a functioning machine to identify if the problem is the board or the hopper.

Chris

[billkater]

I have reset the machine multiple times by turning on both sw1-8 and also trying sw1-7&8. It shows demo mode on top left, but as soon as I put front door on I get the hopper error. I replaced the board on the hopper with a new one. Same problem. By the way it turns I am wondering if it isn't the hopper motor. But I haven't found a replacement or brushes for it as of yet.

[Chris-socal]

During the original troubleshooting I thought you said the hopper worked fine in test mode.
If the motor works fine in test mode there is no reason for it to fail during game play. Unless the coin count switch is not being triggered correctly. But that is tested in test mode.

[billkater]

I turns when pushing the test buttons. In reverse it spins fine. In forward it seems to drag but still spins. I have tested the switch with a multimeter and it works fine when operating by hand.

Do you know the sequence it follows during the test procedure? What is suppose to happen and when?

[Chris-socal]

As stated in the manual it spins and counts 10 coin. If it spins too long without getting a count-back from the switch it fails. It basically does exactly what happens when the game pays out but does not increment the payout meter. If it spits out more or less than 10 physically you know the switch is not counting correctly.

I located a hopper locally. It sounds like he has a complete and one that is in parts. He is going to let me know for sure tomorrow.


Chris

[Sunrise Side]

Disassemble the hopper motor and clean very well the carbon from between the commutator segments carefully with a razor blade, clean with compressed air and rinse with electronics cleaner

[Chris-socal]

Hey Sunrise Side, it is good advice but the previous topic on this machine went on for weeks and he said he did all that and the motor still runs slow forward.
I agree though, bushings could be gummed up or brushes stuck up and need to be cleaned so they flow smoothly in their housing. I can’t imagine a hopper motor running long enough to wear out brushes.

Until we get it in a techs hands all we can do is throw out ideas, so thanks for jumping in.

Chris

[Sunrise Side]

Well my reply about the hopper motor won't help. It's not a Bally hopper in that slant top. You have a different model hopper. Never seen that model in a Bally. Can't help with that model.

[Chris-socal]

I don’t recall seeing a picture of the hopper now that you mention it.
I found a fellow NLG member who has offered a motor, hopper body or complete hopper. We just need billtaker to reply.
We also need to see a complete picture of the hopper so we can be sure its a match , I suppose that could be part of the problem.

Chris

[billkater]

I am not in town right now. When I make it back home I will get a picture and some numbers off of it. My home time is very limited so troubleshooting takes me some time

[billkater]

Finally got back to work on this. Found a parts diagram and noticed a few things.

It is missing part #71 which is called a rubber jump. From where it is placed it prevents more than one coin going up the chute at a time. I am going to guess this is why it jambs up. (First picture below)

Next there is a metal tab I will call it in the hopper bin. It was bent away from the coin disk. It looks like it should be bent in to touch the disk and scrape off coins when going in reverse. (Picture 2 and 3 below)

And finally the coin disk will turn about one eighth to one quarter of a turn without turning the motor/gearbox. I am not sure if it sould do that since the motor has to cycle about 3 time before it even tries to send coins up the chute. I have a link to a youtube video showing this. https://youtube.com/shorts/4kpYnrVmSho?feature=share

I also have attached various other pictures of the hopper along with model numbers.

[billkater]

More pics

[Chris-socal]

I think you are now doing the type of self-diagnosis that can only be done in person. I suspect you found the primary reason it jams up when in play. That hopper needs all those parts in order to function correctly.
As I mentioned, there is a fellow NLG member who has parts to help you, you just need to identify what specifically you need….or possibly the entire assembly…if you are willing to pay shipping for it.

I don’t know which pic specifically you are referring to but I think the piece you are describing is designed to prevent 2 coins stacked from making it past that point.

Chris

[billkater]

It is part #71 in the first picture. The exploded view of the hopper. I am in the process of 3d printing a piece to test with it. If this works I will source a OEM part if I can find one

[billkater]

Good news and bad news.

The piece I 3d printed to keep the coins from stacking and jambing the hopper works. I don't know what the old one was made of but it crumbled as I scraped it off the backing plate. See pictures.

The bad news. The micro switch on the coin chute doesn't read every coin, so I am still getting the hopper error. I have adjusted and adjusted. No luck. I put a multimeter on it and switching it by hand doesn't always work either. Now I need to source a new micro switch. A google search with the part number from the manual I found gives me no results. Any suggestions on where to look for one?

Getting closer. A hour here and a hour there and I may have it playable again.

[Sunrise Side]

Where's a picture of the switch?

[billkater]

Forgot to make the second post with switch pics.

lol

[Chris-socal]

You can try spraying electronics cleaner generously into any open crack on that switch. You never know, it might just have buildup on the contacts.
Mouser or Digikey will have those, or someone on eBay.
Who knows, Amazon might have them. Thats a very common switch

Chris

[kcirrick]

I'm late to the game as usual.

That switch, D41, is actually discontinued, but it was also used in pinball machines.  It's a miniature switch with 1.05 inch flat actuator lever used for outhole and ball trough assemblies. 
(My game room has Game Makers and pinball machines.)
The switch also goes by Data East 180-5009-00.  The replacement switch for it is the Williams 5647-09957-00. 
The Williams switch is pretty common although often out of stock at various pinball vendor sites.  Pinball Life and Game Room Guys both have it in stock.
Mouser has a possible replacement 540-D413-R1LA-G2