Slow Gummed-Up Mills Pay Slides

[Bally Bill]

I’m in the middle of cleaning up a very dirty Mills mech. (My very first try at this). I see why bead blasting is done. I find using an engine degreaser doesn’t really get it all. Soaked the clock and pay slides in carburetor cleaner. In the process of lubricating and reassembling. Have some new pay, and safety slide springs on order. Also springs for the vertical and horizontal leavers.

Many thanks to Napa Slot Machines for sourcing the Liberty Belle Books service manual literature for Mills and Jennings.

I have another question. What does it mean when the forth and fifth click happen almost at the same time. (Other machines I’ve heard have five distinct clicks spaced apart)
pppiv

[pppiv]

I’m in the middle of cleaning up a very dirty Mills mech. (My very first try at this). I see why bead blasting is done. I find using an engine degreaser doesn’t really get it all. Soaked the clock and pay slides in carburetor cleaner. In the process of lubricating and reassembling. Have some new pay, and safety slide springs on order. Also springs for the vertical and horizontal leavers.

Many thanks to Napa Slot Machines for sourcing the Liberty Belle Books service manual literature for Mills and Jennings.

I have another question. What does it mean when the forth and fifth click happen almost at the same time. (Other machines I’ve heard have five distinct clicks spaced apart)

[pppiv]

I’m in the middle of cleaning up a very dirty Mills mech. (My very first try at this). I see why bead blasting is done. I find using an engine degreaser doesn’t really get it all. Soaked the clock and pay slides in carburetor cleaner. In the process of lubricating and reassembling. Have some new pay, and safety slide springs on order. Also springs for the vertical and horizontal leavers.

Many thanks to Napa Slot Machines for sourcing the Liberty Belle Books service manual literature for Mills and Jennings.

I have another question. What does it mean when the forth and fifth click happen almost at the same time. (Other machines I’ve heard have five distinct clicks spaced apart)

[mazzeosa17]

To solve your fourth vs. fifth click problem, go to the Mead and Geddes Mills book, page 131 (under the "Machine Adjustments" section), and see "Timing Lever Adjustment" - it will tell you how to adjust the machine properly.

[pppiv]

The book says to adjust the timing lever adjustment screw. There is no timing lever adjustment screw. In that case, the book says, to bend the arm. It seems crazy to me because first, it’s a very thick piece of metal second, there is a roller center-shaft hole in it, which would likely jam the roller and third, it doesn’t seem to me that bending an upper down would make a significant difference in its length. I’m perplexed.

[mazzeosa17]

You have an earlier Mills slot, like most of us do, so you won't have the timing lever adjustment screw.
You're right, you don't want to bend the very thick piece of metal with the roller center-shaft hole in it. See Figure 14.10 on page 130 for the part to bend, not Figure 14.9 on page 130 (which is the very thick piece of metal you describe - I wouldn't bend that piece of metal either).
To clarify, the part you want to bend is the Reel Timing Lever Connecting Link, which connects the Reel Timing Lever with the clock. It's kind of shaped like the letter Z. You can find a picture of it in the Mead and Geddes book on page 192.

[pppiv]

Ah, yes. I see now. Thank you for clarifying. I’ll try this tonight. I just installed new reel strips and the payout, vertical and horizontal bar spring set arrives tomorrow. She’s starting to look good.

[pppiv]

Okay, I had soaked the payout slides in carburetor cleaner for 30 minutes. After that, I washed them in denatured alcohol. Then wire brushed them using a brass bristled brush and wiped them clean. After reassembly they slide freely. Guess what? Fifth click!!!! No need to adjust timing.

I thought I was home free.

After loading the tube with nickels and cycling a few times, the slides are getting jammed. It seems as though two nickels are getting under the top slide. Are they worn and need replacement?

[pppiv]

I’m still getting slide jams.

It seems I’m getting two nickels side by side right under the payout slide cover. I’m thinking the leaf spring on the next slide down (the jackpot slide) is somehow too short (worn). Isn’t the upturned part of the leaf spring supposed to stop two coins getting jammed like that?

Can someone with experience tell be if this is common and what can be done to fix it? Those springs are riveted on.

[ThirdGenAmusement]

pppiv, I'm curious with the slides in place and the slide cover secured how much slack you have if you pick up on the jack put trip post on the top slide pulling up and pushing down. Do you suppose there is a nickels thickness worth of clearance?

If not, I think your on the right track on the spring finger under the slide cover. I'm sure there are better ways to adjust it but you can remove the pay tube to expose that area so you can see what's going on. You can push down on that spring finger a little and give it a try. You might also look at that finger and see if the end of the finger is at a 90 degree angle vertically. Essentially the long portion of the finger angles down slightly to the payslide below it, then the end of the spring finger should be straight in a vertical fashion/principal from the pay finger it's a attached to. Hopefully that makes sense.

I'm curious if there is spacers between the slide cover and the posts it screws into?