Advice on "cleaning up" / improving coin mechs?

[ARTIFACT]

A friend gave me coin mechs that "kind of work". He mentioned that although they are old, they are in great shape (nothing broken, etc).
He told me "they need some cleaning!"

Here is what is happening:

. one of the mechs gets the coin stuck in the beginning of the loop - if the coin goes thru, it ends up in the coin return door

. the other mech gets the coin stuch half of the time (and drops the coin successfully otherwise)

DO I NEED TO TAKE APART THE MECHS AND "CLEAN" THEM?
OIL THEM?
ANY ADVICE?
I DONT WANT TO LOOSE A PIECE/SPRING IN THE PROCESS

Are there step by step tutorials, or known things to do in this case? I couldn't find this in the wiki.

Thanks in advance!

[knave]

I know nothing specific to coin mechs...but if I were having those problems in any of my cabs I would spray some wd/40 both in the slot and on the moving parts of the mechs.

then I would press the coin return a few times to get everything loosened up.

If that doesn't work then I'd conseder a more invasive cleaning approach.

(It wouldn't hurt to look for any debris stuck in there though...)

[Disturbed013]

I would take the mechs off the door before you attempt any cleaning.  You don't want to knock any loosened debris into the switches or anything else.  They come out very easily don't worry.  Once you have them out, you'll see that they are spring-hinged.  Check for anything loose (screws) first, and if all is well, you will easily see where "gunk" has built up.  Pipe cleaners or Q-tips (the Dr. type with wooden sticks are nice but not necessary) will help you a lot.  Be careful not to bend anything forcefully or turn the adjuster screws and you'll be fine.  WD-40 will help you to dissolve any heavy build off, but wipe it down afterward, don't leave it wet on there.  Personally, I think it's kind of like a dust magnet.  Any decent lubricant will work also, something like Break-Free CLP(gun cleaning oil/lube, sold at wallymart), a little dab of white lithium grease, or even 3-in-1 household stuff if that's all you have.  You don't need a lot, just a tiny bit of lube on the moving parts, and work the release lever.  Before you put the mechs back in, visually check the coin slots and give them a quick wipe down.  Take a peek at the drop chute too, just be careful about not bending the switch wires.

All in all, it's real simple to do, and you will get a nice understandin of how your coin door functions.

D13

[Yarb]

WD40 is evil---- EVIL. Stick with CLP or Tri-Flow as they are light lubricants free of rust inhibitors that turn to goo over time. I service Office equipment (Professionally) and Pinball Machines (As a hobby) and I have seen many cases in both of WD-40 "Glue" causing issues so save it for a rusty gate hinge.



Mike

[ARTIFACT]

I haven't heard of CLP and TRi-Flo - do you think I can find this at Home Depot / Lowes?

thanks for the input!

[SavannahLion]

I haven't heard of CLP and TRi-Flo - do you think I can find this at Home Depot / Lowes?

You won't find CLP at Home Depot, at least not where I go, never heard of Tri-Flow.

I third the "Don't use" crowd of WD-40. I use it for long term storage of heavy tools where dirt isn't a factor, or as a cleaning agent. But when you're dealing with small intricate mechanical workings, I opt for machine oil or sewing machine oil. A four ounce bottle runs about $3 or so.

[miles2912]

Mechs are like hamsters.  When they go bad toss em and get some new ones. 

Don

[Ken Layton]

You have Coin Controls mechs installed in a genuine Coin Controls door. First thing to do is take the mechs out for a good cleaning. Remember that these are 100% metric hardware.

NEVER EVER use WD-40 on coin mechs/chutes. It will ruin them and gum up.

To clean:

Swing open the gate assembly. Wipe the metal main plate with Novus #2 plastic polish. Also wipe the plastic gate and the metal magnet face with Novus #2 plastic polish.

Take a very small straight slot screwdriver and carefully pop off the E-ring holding the cradle(s). Wipe the cradle shaft with a q-tip moistened with lighter fluid. Now moisten a pipe cleaner with the lighter fluid and run it thru the pivot hole in the cradle.

Reassemble and it should perform alot better.

[Kevin Mullins]

And be sure you are trying the right coin for the mech you have.   

(token, quarter, etc)

[Rocky]

Take the coin mech off of the door.  Do NOT use WD-40 or any oil.  Clean and dry them.

I usually use spray silicone as a cleaner/lubricant.  It usually gets things moving well and doesn't leave oil for things to gum up.

Also, you might need to adjust the screw near the top that sets the width of the opening. 

Good luck,
Rocky

[Disturbed013]

The CLP (or BreakFree CLP) mentioned is probably not going to be at Home Depot.  You will find it in the sporting goods section of your local WallyMart.

[Yarb]

Tri-Flow is a light oil impregnated with Teflon. We use it extensively in areas that need lubrication in printers and copiers because it contains no rust inhibitors (Which turn to Goo) and it does not tend to migrate like a lot of lubricants. It also does not attract dust as badly as many lubes (Important in environments with a lot of paper dust and toner). NEVER BUY A SPRAY CAN!!!! Buy the small black 2 oz bottle, it has a thin applicator straw that gets into tight places nicely and lets you apply a tiny drop.

Also remember that less is more with any lube and that a good lube in a place not designed to be lubed is still a very bad thing.

Mike

[ARTIFACT]

ok i spent some time last night learning how mechs are put together, and essentially they are full of dirt / solid dust - not the kind you can wipe clean or blow (i aleady did that) and they need to be WASHED to remove the dirt...

Thanks Ken Layton for such DETAILED instructions (and everyone else as well)
I hope I can find the Novus product you mentioned ... is there a common clealing/polish product that would also work, or is this the only thing I should use?

. Novus #2 plastic polish
. Lighter Fluid

[Ken Layton]

Novus #2 plastic polish can be found at these locations:

Pinball parts suppliers (in Yellow Pages under "Amusement Devices")

Harley Davidson motorcycle dealers

Local glass companies

Any Novus windshield repair company

Some grocery/discount/hardware stores

Ronsonol brand lighter fluid can be found in the smoking/tobacco section of any store.

If worst comes to worst and you can not find Novus #2 then sub BRASSO polish instead.

[ARTIFACT]

OK! thanks again Ken...

[miles2912]

Have you priced new mechs compared to how much all the cleaning stuff costs?  These guys are outstanding resources on this stuff because they maintain or have maintained arcade machines for a living.  If you had multiple boxes to take care of you would clean em.  For a home user with one box I think I paid $5 a mech shipped.


Don

[ARTIFACT]

$5 shipped?

Where?

On ebay they are around that price, but it's always marked "as-is" and "we don't know if it works" etc..

[rockin_rick]

Remember that the mech needs to be level/plumb to work correctly, too.  If not, then you will get the probs that you are having.  Looking at your pic of the door assy. leaning back made me think of this... not sure if you are testing the mechs like the pic shows...

Rick

[ARTIFACT]

good point about leveling when testing.

it actually works better tilting back because of all the dirt stuck

[ARTIFACT]

i just got the novus number 2 from a harley davidson place
thx for the info

plastic polish product on metal though? the guy from the store was surprised iduse it on meta as well

ill try to use it tonight

[Ken Layton]

You'd be surprised at how well Novus works on metal. I use Novus # 2 exclusively on coin mechs/chutes and in particular on Coin Controls brand chutes.

Be sure to use a terry cloth to apply the Novus as it gets the dirt right out. Use some elbow grease too.

[Ken Layton]

Forgot to mention how to apply:

Dob the Novus onto a terry cloth rag and rub the dirty area of the coin mech/chute. You might have to work at it a little.

Let dry a few minutes.

Now buff clean with a clean rag (like an old T-shirt).

I use an old sock to apply the Novus with.

[ARTIFACT]

very cool

when you say 'terry cloth', this is where you use the old sock correct?

the poor foreigner that i am doesnt know what a 'terry' cloth is

thanks again ... i cant wait to see how well it cleans it)

[Disturbed013]

terry cloth = old sock 

good one!


Actually products like that do work very well on metals.  I use a similar product from Meguiar's to restore iPods and it works wonders on the silver metal backs that get scratched easily.

[ARTIFACT]

terry cloth = old sock 

good one!

I was actually serious ... lucky my wife is american, she told me what it was (wash cloth) and I have one next to me ready to start the process.

[ARTIFACT]

ARGHHH

I thought you meant removing the BIG SPRING on the flaps

I had the hardest time putting it back together! I think something got damaged in the process... a small plastic piece on the "hinge" of the flap that has a big "Square" nested in the other flap

(as you see I dont know the correct words to describe these parts)


Time to buy a replacement mech...


(the other mech seems to be working OKAY ... I'll clean it uisng this same product (I wont remove the large spring this time!!!)

[ARTIFACT]

OK I put it all together again (even with the plastic bit missing) and the coin mech that was most problematic now never gets stuck (!) but always drops the coin in the coin return location (NOT the chute / coin box)

the other mech is fine... I'd say it works 99% of the time.

Player 1 gets the better coin mech