New Member in Somerset

[thornebt]

Hi. I've recently managed to get hold of a Beromat one armed bandit but it hardly ever pays out on winning lines. I've tried cleaning the payout slots but that didn't help. I'm in Cheddar, Somerset and someone told me that there is a chap in Burnham-on-Sea who services one armed bandits. Does anyone have a name or contact details for him please?
Cheers. Bruce.

[pennymachines]

to the site, Bruce.
I'm not sure who that chap in Burnham-on-Sea is but meantime if you care to have a go yourself, you'll find useful advice here.

[thornebt]

Thank you. I will certainly look at it but if anyone knows of someone who repairs / services one armed bandits in the south west I'd be grateful to hear details. I found someone in Launceston but that's quite a trek from Cheddar. I'll have a look at it now anyway.

Cheers. Bruce.

[thornebt]

I've had a look at the mechanism and it seems to me that the top shaft that pushes down on the lever that operates the payout slides does not seem to be sufficiently sprung to put enough pressure on the lever. Sorry to be so vague but I don't know the correct terminology for these parts! I wish there was a Haynes manual! The top shaft has a spring at each end. I think if these springs were stronger then the machine would pay out.

So I think the way ahead might be to replace these springs. I will have a look on Ebay to see if I can find a selection box of springs. I've heard that many parts for Beromats are difficult to find but I guess that springs should not be too much of a problem.

The photo shows a pencil roughly indicating the location of the right hand spring.

Cheers. Bruce.

[pennymachines]

As a rule of thumb, if the springs are original and not damaged or corroded, replacing with stronger springs is not the answer. More likely, something is sticking due to grunge, lack of lubrication, misalignment of something etc.

[treefrog]

I agree with pennymachines, don’t waste your money on springs that do not fit the machine. I would first check the clock is running smoothly as this drives all the action. As mentioned more than likely old grease or crap

[thornebt]

I think the clock is OK as the machine seems to work well, it's just the payout that doesn't happen. I'm a bit stumped as everything seems very free i.e. there's nothing I can see that seems gunged up. What I really need is someone who knows what they're doing. I did email the chap in Launceston (banditrepair-den) but no reply from him yet.

Cheers. Bruce.

[treefrog]

Can you do a video showing the issue, obviously in the payout side......

I have seen people put a strong spring on the top bar to force the mechanism to complete the cycle, but it should not be needed.

[thornebt]

I haven't got a smartphone or any way of doing a video. This photo shows the lever that connects with rods to the payout slides. If I spin a winning line it doesn't pay out - but if I tap the top of the roller on top of the lever it works. However, in line with what you've said I'm not sure stronger springs are going to add enough force. I'll keep looking at it but if I don't get anywhere in the next few days I could really do with taking it to someone to get it fixed. I could combine this with a few days away with the wife so it doesn't matter too much if it's some distance.

It's very frustrating having a machine that doesn't pay out and not knowing how to fix it!

Cheers. Bruce.

[treefrog]

I do not know someone close to you and maybe they will respond if they exist. As I am sure you appreciate, we are all hobbyists, bar the two or three who do this as a business.

I assume if you rest your hand on the top bar when playing and you get a win, it then pays out?

I would check that the rod and arm that goes through the slides and triggers a win if freely moving when you operate the machine. If this has friction or the rod is slightly bent it will not lift correctly unless forced.....you can test this at the beginning of the cycle while reels are running as it should lift up and down freely while the slides are not resting on it