Slow Gummed-Up Mills Pay Slides

[pppiv]

I have a Mills Black Cherry. I’m not getting that fifth click and getting jams or no payout. It looks like the payout slides are gummed up. I can pull out on them with needle nose players and they spring-return very slowly. The book I have (Meade Publishing) says these slides are NOT to be lubricated, just cleaned. Is there any way to clean these in place (without disassembling the entire stack? I was thinking of just flushing them with a volatile solvent like denatured alcohol. Any thoughts on this?

[radiorich123]

Try the alcohol and work the slides in and out and repeat process .

[mazzeosa17]

But if the alcohol doesn't work, take out the slide set, wire them together so you keep them in the right order, and clean them with solvent and rinse with water. You may also have to take rust off of them with a rust remover (like Rustoleum Rust Remover Gel) and/or some fine steel wool.

[grapeman1]

based upon your description of your machine, no 5th click, no pays, slides gummed up...you need to clean your machine and lube it. There is no shortcut and if you take that path, you will deal with these problems again down the road. Remove the slides and clean really good. Clean your mech. If you have access to a solvent tank, remove the reel bundle and put the mech in a solvent tank. Or if no solvent tank, use engine degreaser, purple power, etc but it sounds like your machines needs a major cleaning degreasing. If you do this properly, your machine will run like it is supposed to. you will be pleased with the results

[pppiv]

Thanks for all the good advice. It is much appreciated. This is my first attempt at repairing a Mills mech. I am using a book called “Owner’s Pictorial Guide for the Care and Understanding of the Mills Bell Slot Machines” by Robert N. Geddes and Daniel R. Mead (Mead Publishing Co.). This seems to be a very good book. I’m going to follow the instructions of Chapter 5 on “Cleaning of the Mechanism”. This calls for a partial disassembly (reel bundle, clock, coin tube and payout slides.

I am also interested in acquiring another book called “Mills Slot Machines - The Complete Service Manual for Mills Slots from 1906 to 1969” by Michael Fey (Liberty Belle Books). I cannot find where I can purchase this book. Unavailable from Amazon, eBay and other publication outlets. Any suggestions?

[63mini]

You can get that book from the source.

http://libertybellebooks.com/2013%20new%20pages/manualfrontpagereplacement.html

[pppiv]

I’ve emailed Liberty Belle Books with no reply. Also, I called the number on the website and the phone number is disconnected. I suppose I could fill out the form. They have posted on their website and mailing a check, but I’m afraid they have gone out of business. I’d like to confirm their existence before I mail in a check.

Any other suggestions?

[63mini]

pppiv,

Good to know. I had a friend who purchased a Jennings book last year from him. After a bit of searching, it appears that he passed away last November.

https://www.coinopclub.org/entry/marshall-fey-passed-away-at-age-96

[pppiv]

That’s a shame.

I would’ve bought the Mills and the Jennings service books from him. If anybody knows if his estate is selling the books, please let me know.

[grapeman1]

I have those books available, plus most of all of the other slot books. I also have a lot of parts available if you need something. Plus A LOT of machines for sale Napaslotmachines. com