What bandit to restore?

[brianh]

I'm relatively new to the restoration game having played the slots in the sixties then started dabbling in attempting to bring allwins back to life when I retired a year or so back.
I have so far resisted trying same with a bandit as they looked a bit complicated compared with basic allwins but time has come when I fancy having a go.
Question is ......what would anyone recommend as a good basic machine to look for as a starter and what pitfalls to avoid? I'm reasonably OK with working on the mechanical side of things but crap with electrics.

[treefrog]

Most bandits work to the same principle and in fact you do not need to do a huge amount to them other than clean and service certain areas like the kicker, clean slides, clean the clock and lube pivots and wear points.

In terms of cases, any chrome machine will be a pain if it is in poor condition, but if reasonable, being biased, I would say an Aristocrat is a good start. Most mechanical machines the most in terms of electrics you need to worry about are lights, if they have them....

Suspect it is more down to availability, price point and preferences, looks.

Good luck

[badpenny]

I agree with TF.
And .........
Avoid anything that relies on being plugged in to work.
Go for an Aristocrat Arcadian or Jubilee first.
Don't worry if it only spins slowly or has an intermittent problem, just so long as you get a complete cycle out of it now and again.
If it's an adventure for you, try and avoid buying something with missing bits it could put you off for life.

There will be project bandits at the forthcoming Coventry Auction Coundon Social Club. Come and play first and ask questions to your hearts content.

BP

[brianh]

Many thanks TF and BP - very helpful as always.
Looks like a trip to the Coventry auction is a good bet (my wife sends me there frequently so I should be OK finding it )
Maybe see you guys there.
Brian

[coppinpr]

The guys are right, of course. The only tip I'd add is, bandits look daunting but once you understand them all becomes clear (well almost all, well some of the time ), and the best way to understand them is buy a complete one that is so dirty it barely works. Nothing teaches you about them better than part dismantling them for cleaning. It is easy to dismantle them in sections so as not to lose your way. They are, for the most part, put together in a logical way, and most parts of the dismantle are to be found in the tips section of the forum. The case? Well the worse it is the less concern you will have about changing it from the original.

[geordy55]

I've only got into Bandits in the past 6 months and started with a Jubilee to learn on (still restoring) but have also bought a Jennings Chief and two Segas. They are very simple mechanics and I agree with previous posts that as soon as you start taking them apart to clean, it becomes clear how they work. There's plenty of advice on this forum and videos on YouTube are very helpful.

[brianh]

Thanks coppinpr and geordie55 - sounds similar to my first experiences with allwins where I was scared to unscrew or remove anything but soon learned that my camera was my best friend. So the one I'm working on now (Win a Kit-Kat!) was at one point in a hundred bits in my garage and it's amazing how soon you forget where that vital piece came from or have a bit left over . Long as you don't delete the pics it'll be fine! Must finish it soon as I'm in need of a Kit-Kat

Presume same principle applies to bandits - to not be afraid to dismantle just so long as you take copious photos as you go and it sounds good sense, coppinpr, to get a really mucky one to start with. And the bonus with that is the pleasure you get just with the results of the cleaning process.
Thanks for your advice and I will look forward to my first attempt knowing this forum always has answers if I get stuck (as I'm sure I will).

[brianh]

Oops, sorry geordy55, got your name wrong. Apols!

[widget2k4]

There is a good book (pictorial guide) for step by step strip-down. That's how I learnt and now can fully disassemble one, clean it, and rebuild it almost with my eyes shut. Well worth buying.

[coppinpr]

Your camera is indeed your best friend. I use my phone camera now, it's quicker to refer to.

As Widget says, a manual is pretty much essential. Problem is they cost a fortune in the UK. In my view the best is the Owner's Pictorial Guide (Mills slot machines). A quick search on Amazon will show you that the cheapest in the UK is £125. By far your best bet would be to buy from Amazon USA where it's $51. They might post direct to you but most US firms think the UK is on Mars and that we don't have postmen so they won't do it. Best bet is to get it posted to someone in the USA who will forward it to you at min postage (I can help with this if you need it).