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I have a Mills QT 5 cent slot machine that I’m trying to restore. The reels do not spin. I think that the brake doesn’t release during the cycle when the handle is pulled. While I’m simulating pulling the handle with a screwdriver, I click it very slowly feeling the tension on the reels with my hand. The reels never get in a free spin prior to the kicker activates.

Can you see if the brakes are releasing as the screwdriver winds up the machine? Are the vertical fingers being backed away from the reel discs?

So...the machine never engages to start the clock? The first thing to check is the reel stop levers on the main shaft (3 with slightly longer springs) and either push down on them (engaged with the reel sprockets) or pull each lever forward a bit from the back of the slot. Obviously, if they are "frozen" from old grease the reels won't move, and the machine will not pay. If frozen, you can apply heat from a heat gun at the back of the reel shaft and that could loosen them. Be careful not to apply high heat to the springs. The reels should be movable on the reel shaft (try a few notches) so make sure they are not rusted and stuck to the shaft. If both are fine then there could be other issues but I would have to see pictures of the right, left, front, and back sides. You can message me the photos or post them here. Good luck. Robert McCurdy

Looking down to the reels from the front there is a horizontal bar that moves the 3 brake stops. If I keep moving that bar which starts moving the stops from the reels. It gets to one point that seems to be the end, it still hasn’t released from the reels. If I continue to move it towards the front, it finally extracts from the reels and they spin freely. But it only goes that far if I pull them. Can it be adjusted to go a little further so it pulls them away from the reel sprockets.

If your reel stop levers, payout lever, and jackpot levers are all functional then here are a few areas that can cause problems. On the left side of the main shaft is a lever with a taper pin. This lever can wear at the tip and not provide enough downward force to make sure the reels are free to move in the cycle. On the right side is a large cam that interacts with the handle. On the back there is a small pin (crescent shape) that can wear sufficiently to inhibit the pull back start of the cycle. Another is behind that cam where a fork interacts with the main shaft. The tines of the fork can break and the small round protrusion on the main shaft can also wear (not too common). Hopefully the pictures will help identify these areas. If you don't feel comfortable disassembling your mechanism then you can have it worked on by a repair person. I work exclusively on QTs.

I’m about ready to give up on getting it to work. I’m not a collector. I’d probably try to see what I can get for it on eBay. I’m sure it’s worth more if it’s working but the easiest way is to just sell it as is.