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I recently acquired my late granddather’s Jennings Sun Chief $.25 slot machine that was a big part of my childhood. The machine worked fine when I got it, but I subsequently had it shipped and have been having problems ever since; while the mechanisms all seem to work fine, the machine never pays out. I have largely filled up the jackpot area and have coins flowing to the “house,” but never get a payout of any amount.

Would love any ideas on how to fix this — I really want to share it with my daughter!

Thanks!

I'm a player, not an able machine mechanic, so I'm sorry that I can't help you. Are you talking about the jackpot not paying off or are there no payoffs at all? I've had my machine about 15 years and play it intermittently and it has hit the jackpot maybe three times. The odds are pretty long.

Unfortunately, it’s not paying out at all - cherries, blueberries, oranges...it doesn’t matter. I get nothing.

Thanks!

Your 5th click may be out of adjustment. This part sets behind the slide stack which is below the coin tube on the front of the mechanism. You will need to see if the 5th click locks behind the slide stack just before the reels kick. With a flash light and a helper pulling the handle you should be able to see if the 5th click engages properly. The 5th click should move to the left to engage and then it moves to the right to release the slide stack. Keep watching the action and also count the cycle. 1-3 clicks are the three reels stopping. 4th click is the upper fingers engaging the pay out plates. Then the 5th click releases the pay slides even if there is no winner. If there is a winner you will know as the coins will drop all over.

If you did not drain the coins from the coin tube and jackpot prior to shipping, you most likely have a coin turned sideways in the slides or a loose coin obstructing the slide operation. A slot machine should never be laid on its side with coins present unless you know what you are doing....and most shippers don't.

Thanks for the helpful suggestions, @mechanic! Something was definitely off on the clicks and plates. The good news is that it will payout - but not the right amount and not necessarily when it’s supppsed to. I’ve attached a couple of pictures — the only thing we can figure out is that it pays out somewhat randomly when the little lever shown is to the right, and not at all when it’s to the left.

Would love any further assistance — again, many thank!

That part is the check (coin) tube unloading arm. When engaged it keeps the horiz. fingers from resetting. This allows the coins to drop on every pull of the handle unloading the tube. The other position allows the tube to fill and releases the fingers so they pay out as they are supposed to. That may also be the problem your having. Flip in each position and watch the operation of the horiz fingers.