Mills Castle Front getting stuck

[mazzeosa17]

That extra part is the cover to the back of the lower payout fingers, where the springs for those fingers are located. You don't need that part if you don't want to put it on.
You can also add coins to the jackpot, so that you don't have only one coin in it. You can do that with the mechanism out, from inside the cabinet, directly into the jackpot. Otherwise, it will take a while for the mechanism to slowly add coins to the jackpot and reserve jackpots.

[Bally Bill]

Hi, Glad you got that issue sorted out- great progress!! mazzeosa17 is spot on with the extra part and the hand loading of dimes into the jackpot assembly. I do see some issues with the payout components and payout jackpot slide-please refer to my pictures below as a helpful guide. Please straight out the bracket circled in Yellow and push the bar forward before reloading the mechanism back into the cabinet so the jackpot can refill as you play.

Issue 1 -jackpot post pin is missing! #2 screw (circled in yellow) that holds the jackpot assembly to the face plate is misaligned/missing.
Based on the payout card (1 cherry payout) and the reel color tapes this machine OR the mechanism might be a reproduction. ****need to see serial numbers inside (paper tag) or stamped numbers next to flat spot on the handle side to confirm***

[ChuckF]

Bally Bill & mazzeosa17 thank you for your helpful comments and photos. I'll just set that extra piece aside for now since it is not needed.

Bally Bill, I was able to get coins loaded just fine from inside as was suggested. And, yes, I had first pushed in the lever that resets the jackpot. One of the YouTube videos by "Mantiques" that I had watch many times shows that.

First question: You mention a bracket circled in red that needs to be straightened, but I'm not seeing a red circle. I see a couple of yellow circles. One in the pic of the jackpot components and the other in the pic of the manual page 17. So, I'm not sure what bracket you're referring to?

Second question: Yes I had seen that the screw is missing that holds the jackpot assembly to the front of the machine. Do you have any idea what the specs for that screw are? Is it a machine screw? I have tried an assortment of screws from my collection but haven't found one yet that fits, and I'm reluctant to force something and mess up the threads if it's a machine screw.

Last question, thank you for pointing out the missing 'jackpot activating post'. I never would've seen that since I don't have a manual. Will the machine operate without that part? In the meantime, I'll see if I can find that missing part on this forum somewhere or on eBay. By the way, I did send an email to Liberty Belle Books and got this response: "Your message couldn't be delivered to mfey@libertybellebooks.com. Their inbox is full, or it's getting too much mail right now." Maybe I can find one of this forum.

Thanks again for all the help you and others on this forum are providing.

[Bally Bill]

Hi Chuck Typo and corrected, here is some pictures of the bolt and correct jackpot arm, you will need a spacer in between the mounting post on faceplate to push the assembly back towards the mechanism, drill an 8/32 hole in a chair foot felt floor protector works or a metal washer (3/16 to 1/4 thick) FYI you don't need a screw/bolt with shoulder when your using the spacer but that's the mills setup. The slot will payout on all the combinations but not the Bar/Jackpot. If you can't find the top slide you can try to press fit or JB weld a pin in place to make it work until you do find one.

Steel bolt/screw with shoulder = 8/32
Overall ID Length=.450 long
Shoulder- OD .185 x height=.215 ---This is the gap in between the faceplate and jackpot assembly
Screw threads =32

[Bally Bill]

Slide and pin dimensions pictures
Pin Diameter =1/4
Pin Dimensions =Top of pin to top of slide=.620
Top of pin to bottom of slide=total .790

[ChuckF]

Bally Bill, thanks for clarifying the bracket that needs to be straightened. Good eye. See the attached 2 pix. I think you're saying get rid of that angle between the red lines.

[Bally Bill]

Hi, yes that bracket is bent outward too much and should be perpendicular to the jackpot assembly (example is 2nd post 4th picture from top)

[ChuckF]

Thanks Bally Bill - here's a before & and after of the bent lever. Thanks to the access panel, from the front of the machine I was able to easily remove it and use my bench vice to straighten it up.

So, if I understand correctly, I should be able to cycle the machine and get payouts on anything except the full jackpot? I'll continue my hunt for the jackpot activating pin, or (temporarily?) JB Weld something as you suggested.

I also ordered a manual from eBay. Up to 2 weeks for delivery. Can't wait to start wading through that to learn more about this machine.

I appreciate the help from you and this forum.

[Bally Bill]

Hi Chuck ,Your welcome and your fix looks great! You have to check but I think the Bell/Bar, Lime and Orange/bar may not payout, but the rest should work fine. Leave the backdoor off and cycle dimes and hold the timer fan from spinning (long screwdriver) and line up the Bell/lime/orange bar combos then release fan to see if the machine pays out correctly. Glad you got the book, and you will soon realize how fun and interesting this hobby can be and understand that these old mechanicals slots are built like tanks.

[ChuckF]

Unfortunately, it's not paying out on anything. I tried each of the combinations on the front one at a time, holding the fan as you suggested, lining up the reels, then letting the fan go. And none payout. Have I unintentionally a hit a lever somewhere that disables all payouts? The machine has paid out once since I started playing with it recently for 2 coins, but now I can't repeat that even when stopping the fan to line it up.