Vic Camp suggested I start a thread similar in nature to the current "Working on Roller Derby" thread.

I too wound up with one of the games dispersed from a collection from a Bingo guy who had passed on. I have the Palm Springs game shown in the later part of the Show us Your Bingo thread where the collection of machines from New Jersey have taken various new homes.

One buyer here in Wisconsin took two of the games, Bonanza and Palm Springs. I in turn bought one game from him, the Palm Springs, as it was located within a fairly close distance within 45 minutes of my home. It made it's way into my basement just this past Saturday. Just getting acquainted with it and it is my first experience with a Bingo machine.

Look for the adventure or saga of Palm Springs here and we'll see if we can get this game too running more reliably and with consistency. Vic sent me video's of the game running prior to it's shipment, and interestingly, it too like Roller Derby has become a bit cantankerous adjusting to being moved and placed in a new home. Offers of help from Vic and Nick (Bingopodcast) have been most welcome. We shall give it a go! Feel free to chime in with suggestions and help.

Here are photos posted for reference from the other thread for viewing convenience. These are shots taken yesterday set up in the "work" area for pins in my basement.

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Inside the head:

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Yes - I will post up progress, questions or quandaries here. Might be a little irregular depending how busy I am with the normal hustle and bustle of daily life, work etc. Busy during this work week and most evenings, though I might have time to post a few more photos later on tonight. May not to get to try and work on the game until later on in the week, but you can bet this thread will see activity as Palm Springs warms up.

A few more pictures showing playfield, controls on the apron for Coin drop, and Hold feature buttons.

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And a few closeups of some of the units inside the back box.

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a few more

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Should be enough photos to start off for a little general reference of the machine. I'll see if I get a little time by the end of the week... then I'll start to detail or explain initial operational / trouble shooting that needs attention.

Background prior to tonight. After setting up the machine and leveling it, putting in the eight balls, etc. The game would start and as you dropped dimes in lights would "strobe" or move across the backglass quickly for lack of a better term. If you put in enough dimes you would get the red arrow "teaser" lights to light up. On a few occasions I actually got the select a number to light. I did get super cards lit a few times. Yellow arrow teasers were quite stingy but I got one or two arrows once or twice. Odds would never lock on though. You could simulate a game and appropriate number would light corresponding between playfield holes and the backglass. I got payouts but nothing that corresponded to any known odds shown on the backglass. One time I got the four corners feature lit and it ran off nearly 200 replays but it seemed the counter was maybe a little sticky. After this progress seemed to go backward. ( note: I'll have to clean up the counter I think it's a bit gummy )

Further plays resulted in no features lighting, No odds locking on - No odds has been a consistent error to date. No teasers etc, and the "strobing" when a dime was deposited no longer occurred after the big payout.

Nick (bingopodcast) suggested a few things to check to start with. Check the fuses, specifically the two 6 volt fuses, check the anti cheat relay and clean the search disc. We also briefly discussed the reflex unit and how the Relex Unit stingy's up the machine after paying out. The conversation led to the first order of business - Getting the odds to work being the first goal toward better operation.

Tonight I got a little time. First thing, for the second time I recleaned and reseated all Jones plugs in the head. Next I checked all fuses for continuity at the ends of the junction to the fuse holders - all good. Then I gave a fairly decent cursory cleaning to the search disc in place in the machine with a scotchbrite. I also attempted to "reset" the reflex unit some by turning the gear closest to me clockwise a good ways while holding the relay so the gear moved or clicked freely. I then started the machine again. No changes, or betterment of game operation.

I then activated the the start relay simulating a coin being dropped and observed the anti cheat switch. It locks on and stays locked on - I do not know if this is proper? I gave the points of the Anti cheat switch a quick pass with a flexfile. Same action with the anti cheat switch, BUT - One improvement - the game "strobes" again across the backglass when you deposit a coin. Hooray - but Still no teaser lights, features etc.

Game does continue to light up correct numbers on backglass corresponding to the balls simulated play into the playfield. That is the one thing that has been consistent. Glad to see the game strobing again. Thats where it's at tonight.

Picture showing getting numbers lit - that much has been consistent ...

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Ok - I will look to the Score Unit next and see if I can get the odds to start working.

Vic's bingo "work out" sounds like a good idea. I try to do these things fairly soon. May get a little time tonight otherwise it will be later Friday or Saturday morning probably. Hopefully the odds will get functioning and I can proceed to the work out.

(also....I will be careful if I have to do any cleaning at the replay counter. I am thinking if I have to do that it might help to remove the backglass. Anything to be aware of when taking the backglass out ?)

Ok - More good information. I will hold off on removing the backglass and cleaning the replay register meter and the replay counter units.

I did figure out where the Score Unit is. Everything has labels less one unit - The Score unit. It is located on the back door below the Mixer and Spotting Unit on the right side near the hinges. ( I have a copy of the manual now and so I made a reference photo for both the door and inside head with the nomenclature for reference )

Score Unit is the next order of business - going to work on getting those odds showing up.

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Ok - I stepped the score unit by hand - it would only advance two places, ditto. Game operation the same. No change.

Then cleaned stepper disc - Now it gives odds ! Hooray !

Then proceeded to Run a few quick test plays.

Deposit 2 dimes, 1st row of odds lights 96,16,4.... scored 3 in row paid 4 credits correctly. Pushed the red button to see if I could play with the credits - Nope dropped the balls and cleared the counter to Zero.

Deposit 1 dime, 1st odds lights, score 4 in row - paid 15. Push red button - balls drop, counter to Zero.

Deposit 2 dimes 2nd odds lights, add 18 more dimes, no increase in odds. score 3 in row - no pay out (waited long time - no pay)

Deposit 1 dime new game, 1st odds light, score 4 in row pays 4 , add 5th ball for 5 in row clicks off 11 more credit for a total of 15 on the meter. ( Supper time - power game off )

I was pushing the wrong solenoid on the Score Unit - the reset one - head slap - pushed the other one now located to the rear of this assembly by hand with the game on. Increments all 8 odds positions correctly and lights appropriate odds on backglass. Push the other solenoid and it resets to no odds showing.

After posting the result of hand stepping the Score unit odds in the post above I returned back to the game.

Put in 2 coins, 2nd set of odds lit. Added more coins to a total of 60 deposited with no increase in odds, no teasers etc.
Scored 3 in a row balls 18,10,2 No Payout.

Put in 2 coins 1st set of odds lit. 3 in a row, balls 18,2,10 now paid 4 credits correctly. Added the 5th ball for 4 in a row - no additional credits were paid. With 4 credits showing pushed the red button - all credits cleared again.

Put in 1 coin 1st odds lit, 2nd coin 2nd odds lit, deposited up to a total of 15 coins - odds remained the same. Hand stepped the odds to the 5th level odds, 150,48,18.
3 in a row paid 17. Tried to play off the credits again. One push of the red button cleared all credits.

(Note: the first day I was able to use the red button and use credits on the machine. Also the teaser lights - especially red would light and even got a feature or two to work, odds however never lit till tonight after cleaning the score unit stepper disc.)

Examining the Replay Counter I think it may be sticky or the wound wire return is weak or might not have enough turns on it ?
I swung the black peg by hand and it just hung there in position #2 in this photo. Moved from position #1 by hand. Action is sluggish or lazy.

You can compare position with photo in post#9 early in the thread if my marked up picture isn't clear enough in nature. Photo in post #9 shows At Rest position 1

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Tried a couple more games

2 coins lit 2nd odds paid 6 - correct pay out.
Tried the Yellow button - it clicked down 1 at a time with each push in an effort to light extra balls. Counter clicked down nicely to Zero.

2 coins lit 2nd odds AND Right Super Card ( Haven't seen that in awhile ) No teaser lights though... 4 in a row paid off 17 (should be 20)
Tried the Red button - all credits gone with one push.

That's probably it for tonight. Won't get back to the game until Friday, busy tomorrow evening.

Thanks Nick - I'll see if I can work on some of those things soon, busy tonight so maybe Friday I can start on the list.

I have cleaned the search disc once, but maybe not enough - it was a fairly cursory cleaning. The fuzzy wide blade might be dirty yet and re depositing a thin layer of film or gunk on the rivets. I'll clean the disc again. I am sure I might have to re-clean some items as I go along.

Encouraging to hear I'm getting closer and making progress.

"pressure arms and slip rings" - I'm a little vague on all the nomenclature - you may have to explain or point that out for me. These I take it are different parts than the fingers, the disc and wipers ? If you can explode a photo or drawing with some labels or perhaps I can call you to clarify what they are and what I need to do to check these parts. (I have a photo of the search disc in post #9 of the thread that might be good enough for reference ?) Thanks

Ok - I should get some time this afternoon to get back to the game.

I found a photo on the Bingo Site in the glossary with a labeled photo - here we go. You described the position well and the photo confirmed it for me.

( PS - if you ever want to use a photo and label it, draw arrows etc - this is my easy method - I make a copy of the photo I want to use, open it with paint, select a contrasting color to the background and apply text, draw lines etc, save it and your done - pretty easy - if you can fix a Bingo you can do that one in your sleep ! )

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Those cards look fantastic Dave ! Thanks at least 5 in a Row ! 300 Replays for you.

Ok - did a lot of work on this list today - but nothing has changed - Don't know about being 90 % - that might be generous. I thought I'd make one improvement somewhere today. More challenge ahead.

I took out the backglass and lowered the"white board" down onto the cabinet for ease of work.

Cleaned the Replay Counter Unit - mechanisms - now steps up and resets much better. Also cleaned the disc on the opposite side and contacts since I had the inside of the head open and the front board down.

I also checked the replay register unit - it seems to step up numbers fine manually - checked the levers and such on the sides - reasonably clean. Cleaned a bit more. Did this again since front board down.

Cleaned the search disc again. Cleaned slip rings and slip ring wire wiper arm contacts. Did this both on the Search Disc and the Spotting Disc on the mixer.

Played a number of 3 and 4 in a row games then tried to play off the credits using Red Button - each time they would all click off to zero. I don't think there is a short, nothing in the wiring at the switch looks suspect I don't believe

photos of Red button in each position, at rest and then pushed in or activated ..... what about that common blade between, that bends to the left without any points ?? is that supposed to stay like that in each position ?

The Red Button I think is irritating me the most - that should be simple, It did work previously when I played with the machine the first day. Yellow button is counting down ok simulating trying to buy extra balls off credits earned. Should be able to play off credits/replays won with the Red button

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Disc under the Replay Counter - after cleaning ( photo with Qtip ) and also a before shot
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slip rings and wires cleaned

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found one surprise - three partially bare wires above the mixer unit - they don't appear to be touching together anywhere though and this seems to be the extent that these are bare and missing some covering. Doesn't look like the lack of covering on those three wires goes any further into the wire bundle.

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White board with the backglass off, just prior to lowering the board down to do some work.

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Previous owners work - back of the backglass - touch ups and sealed.

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Board down and also a shot of the replay register- mechanicals were fairly clean

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Yup - operator knock off button works and clears credits every time if you push it. That has been consistent from day one.

I did get some 4 in a rows to score too. I didn't get to doing a full blown methodical test. (Was actually a number of hours just cleaning) Mostly did three scores and started new games just to see if I was making any progress.

Still no teaser lights, haven't seen them for a long time, and odds still just step the first two levels with coins. You can step all eight levels of the odds by hand off the score unit.

The Red Button bugs me. Would like to get it where it plays off credit won. This would make testing and exercising the machine much easier.

I think I have the search disk and spotting discs fairly clean. White cloth is coming up with very little in way of smudges when ran over the rivets etc.

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Test plays - See Chart below. Heavy numbers are odds as they appear in order across backglass. Results in thin numbers.

Red Dot : One time the credits were added very slowly. At first looked like a No pay, maybe 15-20 seconds or so and then the Counter slowly started counting up and stopped in the 25ish credits or so range, clicked off a few more very slowly, paused again and then ran off the rest of the winning credits. This was a vertical 5 in a row scored through the middle of the board. This same vertical combo was tried in the next odds row without incident.

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Ok Nick. I have some things to do today also - it can't be pinball 24-7. Thank you very much for all the help so far. We'll tangle with game maybe later on today or this evening or tomorrow.

The Red Button has been taunting me - so for the time being I made the machine free play via a tip on the bingo info site - a piece of a popsicle stick keeping the anti cheat relay closed for now. Ha Ha Red Button - you won't run off my easily won simulation game replays ! We'll fix your butt-on later.

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