Mills nickel slot erratic payout & last wheel slows first

[nickleslot]

Hello. My first time on this forum and interested in advice. This Mills nickel slot has been in our family for decades and it has been setting in a heated basement for that time. At first it would not payout at all but now (after WD 40 ) it pays on the 2 cherries and whatever but not on any of the high payouts. Fingers look correct in disc slots but nothing dispensed.
My 2nd issue is the 3rd disc/wheel slows down much sooner than the first two when making a pull. I have very low brake tension on this wheel. When the unit is out of the case, this wheel cycles and stops correctly.
Any advice is appreciated; I checked YouTube but limited on the depth of certain problems. Thanks!

[memphisbigdave]

First, this category is for the very old upright machines, like seen in the old saloons in western movies. Second, WD 40 is not an appropriate oil for these machines. It will eventually gum everything up. Buy a Mills picture repair book, and teach yourself. Everything needs to be cleaned, and re oiled. Use a Zoom type oiler or lightweight sewing machine oil. All the payout slides need to be disassembled and cleaned and bone dry, no oil. Then reevaluate. I would buy a new set of springs, they’re sold on eBay. The old spring have lost the strength and will not have enough oomph to pull some parts into place.

[nickleslot]

First, this category is for the very old upright machines, like seen in the old saloons in western movies. Second, WD 40 is not an appropriate oil for these machines. It will eventually gum everything up. Buy a Mills picture repair book, and teach yourself. Everything needs to be cleaned, and re oiled. Use a Zoom type oiler or lightweight sewing machine oil. All the payout slides need to be disassembled and cleaned and bone dry, no oil. Then reevaluate. I would buy a new set of springs, they’re sold on eBay. The old spring have lost the strength and will not have enough oomph to pull some parts into place.

Thank you for the quick reply and advice. I will do as you recommended. I will look for that picture repair book, it would definitely help! For future reference, what category should I use for this slot? Thanks again!!

[mazzeosa17]

memphisbigdave is correct on his restoration advice. A good book to buy would be the Mead and Geddes book "Owner's Pictorial Guide For the Care and Understanding of the Mills Bell Slot Machine" - a great picture repair book. And I think you just use the "Slots" category for the Forum without the subcategory "Uprights".

[wallruss001]

On the slow 3rd reel, it spins fine and stops correctly outside of the case? when in the cabinet/castings it's slow? Is the back door on or off? I have had a machine (Mills high top) that did not properly kick the reels with the back on. I found a slight bend, swapped the door with another.

3 in 1 oil is best and I use synthetic grease (Ace Hardware) for sliding parts, never lube the slides. I also use kerosene for cleaning with several brushes different sizes and blast dry with an air compressor.