I have just picked up an old Bally Mystic Gate bingo machine that has not worked in years and I have noticed that almost all the stepper units are gummed up so they won't turn freely. All the contacts look to be in good shape but they just won't turn. There are two electric fans in this unit also and they seem to be gummed up too. I don't know if somebody tried to lube them up at some point or if it is just years of dirt. What is the best way to clean these units?
I found this to be very helpful on repairing EM Machines: http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index2.htm#top
Take'em apart...91% alcohol and Q-tips. Throw a dab of your favorite teflon lube on the metal to metal stuff and play away
Thank you for the responses. I have always used the alcohol and Q-tip method for all that I have done. I guess I am just a little intimdated about getting in too deep on the stepper units.
Quoted from Guru-420:I found this to be very helpful on repairing EM Machines: http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index2.htm#top
Thank you for the link! This should help me out a bunch!
^^^
that site is invaluable... it's what convinced me i could take apart a machine and put it back together again...
you can do it... 
just be patient, don't force anything, and take more pictures than you ever think you will need...
I will say make sure you use the teflon lube...you already see what happens to anything thing else. Eventually it just gums up.
Even teflon will attract dirt..thus I use it very sparingly. So far I haven't had to re-clean\lube a stepper I've gone through
Quoted from dsuperbee:In addition to pinballrepair.com, try to locate some copies of 'This Old Pinball' DVDs. The 1st 2 cover em game repairs
i'll second that... i've watched them a couple times... good to actually see stuff being done, plus they are rather amusing...
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