Hi all,

See some threads from new bingo owners and issues they may have with their machines. The first electro Mechanical I bought was a magic screen Can Can Bingo three years ago. I got it home and that was the first time I looked inside anything electro mechanical…wow!

I have a link here to my topic but you don’t need to open (as its boring) to get the message I am telling you.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/bally-1961-can-can-bingo-machine-restoration-by-a-newbie#post-1905735
And no I have never met either of these guys below.

Here is the two things I recommend:

1. I was able to understand the games following information on this wonderful site. Make a favorite and read everything. It’s Phil Hooper’s site. http://bingovideos.cdyn.com/

2. I was able to fix the games; find faults, fix scoring, un stick occasional screen sticking only because of the clear repair videos prepared by Richard Gerlitz. There are other tutorials but I did not need anything more than what I mention here.

For the videos I downloaded from his site but there are some DVD’s on sale that seem a great deal and cheap for what it is.

Copies of the DVD’s are on sale on Ebay $39.95 with free shipping.

ebay.com link: Bally Bingo Pinball Repair Guide DVD Set 11 Volumes High Quality Close Ups

Here is what is on the video’s

Volume #1; Bally Main Course 29 Minutes
• Nature of Game
• Theory of Operation
• Component Identification & Explanation
• Common Adjustments & Trouble Spots
• General Lubrication- Playfields & Shutters
• Ball Return & Mechanisms
• Trough Switches
• Front Door Adjustments

Volume #2; Points & Relays, 28 Minutes
• Simple 1 Switch Circuit
• Switch Blades
• Switch Stacks
• NC-NO-SPDT Switches Explained
• Adjusting & Cleaning Points
• Relay Types Explained
• Repairs & Trouble Spots

Volume #3 Solenoids & Steppers, 24 Minutes
• Operation Explained
• Replacing Coils & Coil Stops
• Steppers Explained
• Disassembling & Cleaning
• Disc & Finger Alignment
• Spring Adjustments
• Wiper Tension
• Early & Late Designs

Volume #4; Control Unit, 36 Minutes
• Component Identification &Explanation
• Lubrication- Leather Clutches
• Drag Arm Switches
• Control Cams
• Replay Cams
• Search Index
• Search Disc
• Critical Adjustments

Volume #5; Mixer & Spotting Unit, 23 Minutes
• Pulse Switches
• Mixers- Mixer Latch Assembly's
• Mixer Latch Coil & Stop- Spotting Disc
• Clutches
• Critical Score Extra Step Adjustments

Volume #6; Ball Lifter & Shutter Motors, 6 Minutes
• Stuck Armatures
• Stripped Gears
• Linkage Adjustments
• Early & Later Designs

Volume #7; Replay Counter & Reflex Units, 8 Minutes
• Explanation of Operations
• How to Adjust
• Damage from Operators

Volume #8; Feature Units, 40 Minutes
• Game Features Explained
• Select a Lit Number
• Odd or Even- Magic Pockets
• Bump Feature
• Magic Lines
• Turning Corners
• Chain Game Magic Lines
• Screen Games

Volume #9; Short Circuits, 21 Minutes
• General Overview of Short Circuits
• Location of Common Causes of Shorts
• Circuit Interrupters to Locate Short
• Circuit Isolation to Diagnose
• Tracing on Schematic
• Manual Operation of Game
• Photo's/Tips Etc...

Volume #10; Serious Problems, 47 Minutes
• Burned Field Windings
• Broken Plug Pins
• Broken Plug Receiver
• Binding Magic Screen
• Stripped Magic Screen Motor
• Burned or Chewed Wiring
• Damaged Light Sockets
• Broken Search Wiper Hub
• Worn Cams
• Burned Wiper Disc
• Broken Wire in Harness
• Burned Trip Bank Coil
• Broken Wiper Blade

Volume #11; Manual & Schematic, 43 Minutes
• Wire Color Codes
• Symbols- Schematic Location Codes
• Pictorial Views Explained
• Locating Components
• Light Circuits
• Motor Circuits
• 50 Volt Coil & Replay Circuits
• Payout Circuits
• Practice Troubleshooting

I think I have lamented before that I am more a visual learner than a written word ace. The video's are well done, to the point and for me a crash course in learning. Phil's site is an invitation to a bingo advance knowledge feast. Together priceless. I notice Phil has linked the Gerlitz videos as well as another chaps called Alan Marriage DVD's.

Hats off to you Nick for learning without them.

Dave,

Happy to. Won't be able to post until tomorrow evening though.

I learned so much after that tear down and rebuild. The game is very reliable now. That smell is the old neatsfoot oil I think inpregnated into the wood. I got rid of it or got used to it as it does not smell now.

There is some guys in the Netherlands that restore bingo's in a serious way. Coo's put out a video that will possibly shock you how they clean them before working on them. I will hunt for the pinside link and post.

It's a must watch.

Steve J.

Yeh, forgot about that!

Good thing I had the Phil Hooper and Pinside site to guide me away from that.

Dave,
First picture is the Score Extra Step Coil relay

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2nd picture is the Score Extra Step Index that operates the Extra Step Index if yiou need it (not sure)

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3rd picture is the magic screen instructions on how to remove the screen.

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I took more so if you need other views just ask.

You do not need to remove the screen, that diagram is not needed for getting to the bulbs. Moving the magic screen plastic plate (number plate) to get at the bulbs is done from the front. Obviously the back glass is removed first.

With the power off, from the back of the machine you move the metal screen to the right by releasing the Index arm from its cam by pressing in the coil plunger and moving physically the screen by moving the chain. You have to do this in steps as the number plate slides out in about three moves. Go back around to the front and remove the small clips holding the number plate in place. Then slide out the plate as much as you can (1" or two).

You repeat this about three times and each time there is just enough room to pull the number plate out a further couple of inches as the screen is moved. Very simple and replacement is the opposite. Regarding the number plate you want to be careful not to scratch it. There is some one that sells them on eBay periodically if you need to replace.

The bulbs are a little difficult to get out. I used a piece of 5/8" garden hose I think. The Gerlitz videos show this method.

Sloppy fingers = duplicate post.

To remove the screen bulbs I have added the pics below to support the write up above. I always find the pics to be so much better and this is why Pinside is the best forum for our hobby by a mile. Note buy the 'Gerlitz dvd's or others for repairing videos and you will be an expert in no time at all.

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Agreed

Guys Here is the video link on how to really clean a bingo or any EM flipper game. We discussed this a couple of years ago.

Trust me on this.

I can't access either. Phil is an IT guy so he may be doing some maintenance.

As I understand Coos and the Netherlands guys wash the games this way a couple of weeks before they restore them. They do wonderful work. The games are very grimey.

The original mix they found to be to aggressive as it was product closer to a drain cleaner much more potent than our purple stuff.

That said I am not doing this to my games.

Shame you did not play one. Next time you got to play one and get how it works explained so you get the odds and features in play. It’s addictive.

I have a CAN CAN OK game. I have tried both ways. It is much easier to do the bulb change from the front. Yes you must be careful not to scratch the back of the number plate. There is plenty of room to get the number plate out on my game.