Silent Sphinx

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Silent Sphinx

Postby Bruin » Wed Jul 17, 2019 4:41 pm

Hello and it's great to find a forum for slot machines. I have a silent Sphinx slot machine I would like to get working. If you put a nickel in and pull the handle the reels do not spin very well. Is it one of the pumps that need rebuilding? There are two one at the bottom has oil in it and the top one on the side I think just goes by air pressure? There is no one in my area who rebuilds slots so I am on my own so any help would be great
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Re: Silent Sphinx

Postby radiorich123 » Wed Jul 17, 2019 6:19 pm

I can repair slots located in NORTH N.J.
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Re: Silent Sphinx

Postby MONTI » Fri Jul 19, 2019 9:26 am

Caille used a hydraulic pump for the timing clock and after sitting for a long time they can bind up!
It's sometimes caused by low fluid in the pump.
Here's what you can do about it, without completely dismantling the device:

1) Remove the three screws that secure the pump to the frame and pull the cotter pin connecting the crank arm, and remove the pump.
2) Unscrew and remove the timing screw which sticks out sideways from the pump casting.
3) With the timing screw-hole stem pointing upwards, insert a small plastic funnel into the hole.
4) Add Dot 3 brake fluid (which is a reasonably close match to the original stuff) in small amounts while turning the crank arm back and forth, until bubbles no longer rise into the funnel. Fill it up all the way, until fluid backs up in the funnel instead of all draining into the pump as you push the crank back and forth.
5) Replace the timing screw, and try pushing the crank arm back and forth-- it should offer much greater resistance in one direction than the other.
6) Replace the pump into the slot machine. Turning the timing screw clockwise should slow down or even stop the cycling of the slot machine, while turning it counter-clockwise even a little can speed the cycle greatly. That is your only adjustment option.

Also servicing the hydraulic pump assembly is rather straightforward as shown in the link below;

https://www.flipjuke.fr/regulateur-hydr ... 03436.html

It is in French and you may have to use your browser's translator to read it but it has great breakdown photos!

Hope this helps.
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Re: Silent Sphinx

Postby Bruin » Fri Jul 19, 2019 1:19 pm

Thank you for that info. Would it be best to drain all that old oil out and replace it with new oil?
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Re: Silent Sphinx

Postby MONTI » Fri Jul 19, 2019 6:05 pm

Personally myself I would say it is probably not necessary but you could if you want to but as you are putting in the new fluid and bleeding it somewhat you could tell if it is necessary!
Is there any signs of leakage, if so a break down of the assembly may be required!
They are fairly easy to disassembly as the photos on the link show so to be thorough you may want to do that!
Your Call!
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Re: Silent Sphinx

Postby marsonion » Sat Jul 20, 2019 10:48 pm

MONTI wrote:Caille used a hydraulic pump for the timing clock and after sitting for a long time they can bind up!
It's sometimes caused by low fluid in the pump.
Here's what you can do about it, without completely dismantling the device:

1) Remove the three screws that secure the pump to the frame and pull the cotter pin connecting the crank arm, and remove the pump.
2) Unscrew and remove the timing screw which sticks out sideways from the pump casting.
3) With the timing screw-hole stem pointing upwards, insert a small plastic funnel into the hole.
4) Add Dot 3 brake fluid (which is a reasonably close match to the original stuff) in small amounts while turning the crank arm back and forth, until bubbles no longer rise into the funnel. Fill it up all the way, until fluid backs up in the funnel instead of all draining into the pump as you push the crank back and forth.
5) Replace the timing screw, and try pushing the crank arm back and forth-- it should offer much greater resistance in one direction than the other.
6) Replace the pump into the slot machine. Turning the timing screw clockwise should slow down or even stop the cycling of the slot machine, while turning it counter-clockwise even a little can speed the cycle greatly. That is your only adjustment option.

Also servicing the hydraulic pump assembly is rather straightforward as shown in the link below;

https://www.flipjuke.fr/regulateur-hydr ... 03436.html

It is in French and you may have to use your browser's translator to read it but it has great breakdown photos!

Hope this helps.
MONTI


Wow Monti-- that sounds exactly like something I would say! 8)

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5710&p=20492

Seriously, the refill-through-the-timing-screwhole method is just a quick-and-dirty means I came up with for getting old, partially-drained Caille pumps functioning right away, because you sure can't get a decent cycle out of a '30s Caille when the pump is low on fluid. Yes, tearing the whole thing down for a complete refurb is certainly indicated in many cases, such as when fluid is percolating out the top... but since the pump was never meant to be taken apart-- and the seals were cold-worked and even peened together tight at the factory-- a full-blown overhaul of the pump can be a pretty tall order for a beginner. Also, I've seen plenty that didn't leak at all after the screw-hole refill, so that has saved me a needless chore more than once.

In answer to the question, whether it would be better to drain the original fluid (through the aforementioned screw-hole, presumably) before adding the Dot3: it's certainly an option. I had some of the original fluid analyzed once, and came up with light oils, glycol ethers and alcohols... it's brake fluid! It's an old (and very smelly) formulation of brake fluid, and it makes an excellent paint-stripper. Since modern Dot3 mixes seamlessly with the old stuff, just never saw any need to drain the residual fluid. I guess I just like the idea that some of the original stuff is still in there... but draining and replacing it would make just as much sense. It's your call!
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Re: Silent Sphinx

Postby Mills » Sun Jul 21, 2019 8:00 am

MONTI wrote:Also servicing the hydraulic pump assembly is rather straightforward as shown in the link below;

https://www.flipjuke.fr/regulateur-hydr ... 03436.html

It is in French and you may have to use your browser's translator to read it but it has great breakdown photos!

Hope this helps.
MONTI


Very good article !! :D :D :D :lol:
37 slots machines.... May be more ?
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Re: Silent Sphinx

Postby MONTI » Sun Jul 21, 2019 5:47 pm

marsonion wrote:
MONTI wrote:Caille used a hydraulic pump for the timing clock and after sitting for a long time they can bind up!
It's sometimes caused by low fluid in the pump.
Here's what you can do about it, without completely dismantling the device:

1) Remove the three screws that secure the pump to the frame and pull the cotter pin connecting the crank arm, and remove the pump.
2) Unscrew and remove the timing screw which sticks out sideways from the pump casting.
3) With the timing screw-hole stem pointing upwards, insert a small plastic funnel into the hole.
4) Add Dot 3 brake fluid (which is a reasonably close match to the original stuff) in small amounts while turning the crank arm back and forth, until bubbles no longer rise into the funnel. Fill it up all the way, until fluid backs up in the funnel instead of all draining into the pump as you push the crank back and forth.
5) Replace the timing screw, and try pushing the crank arm back and forth-- it should offer much greater resistance in one direction than the other.
6) Replace the pump into the slot machine. Turning the timing screw clockwise should slow down or even stop the cycling of the slot machine, while turning it counter-clockwise even a little can speed the cycle greatly. That is your only adjustment option.

Also servicing the hydraulic pump assembly is rather straightforward as shown in the link below;

https://www.flipjuke.fr/regulateur-hydr ... 03436.html

It is in French and you may have to use your browser's translator to read it but it has great breakdown photos!

Hope this helps.
MONTI


Wow Monti-- that sounds exactly like something I would say! 8)

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5710&p=20492
:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

Well, I guess it is something you said!
Had a Caille customer a couple of years ago that had timing pump problems and your wording was so on point I had pulled it and sent it to him!
I had also placed it in my Caille folder and apparently without credit to you, MY BAD!, I pick up a lot of information in various locations, original manuals I make pdf copies of, my own shop experience, the many sites on the internet and apparently from you as well! LOL Sorry About the Plagiarism!
But they do say "Imitation is the Best Form of Flattery" LOL

:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

Seriously, the refill-through-the-timing-screwhole method is just a quick-and-dirty means I came up with for getting old, partially-drained Caille pumps functioning right away, because you sure can't get a decent cycle out of a '30s Caille when the pump is low on fluid. Yes, tearing the whole thing down for a complete refurb is certainly indicated in many cases, such as when fluid is percolating out the top... but since the pump was never meant to be taken apart-- and the seals were cold-worked and even peened together tight at the factory-- a full-blown overhaul of the pump can be a pretty tall order for a beginner. Also, I've seen plenty that didn't leak at all after the screw-hole refill, so that has saved me a needless chore more than once.

In answer to the question, whether it would be better to drain the original fluid (through the aforementioned screw-hole, presumably) before adding the Dot3: it's certainly an option. I had some of the original fluid analyzed once, and came up with light oils, glycol ethers and alcohols... it's brake fluid! It's an old (and very smelly) formulation of brake fluid, and it makes an excellent paint-stripper. Since modern Dot3 mixes seamlessly with the old stuff, just never saw any need to drain the residual fluid. I guess I just like the idea that some of the original stuff is still in there... but draining and replacing it would make just as much sense. It's your call!
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Re: Silent Sphinx

Postby marsonion » Sun Jul 21, 2019 7:09 pm

MONTI wrote:
:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:
Well, I guess it is something you said!
Had a Caille customer a couple of years ago that had timing pump problems and your wording was so on point I had pulled it and sent it to him!
I had also placed it in my Caille folder and apparently without credit to you, MY BAD!, I pick up a lot of information in various locations, original manuals I make pdf copies of, my own shop experience, the many sites on the internet and apparently from you as well! LOL Sorry About the Plagiarism!
But they do say "Imitation is the Best Form of Flattery" LOL
:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:


No, Monti, I really am flattered! You're obviously one of the Good Guys around here, and you're very welcome to share anything I post if you think it'll help anyone, anywhere, anytime. You're great at that. You've been a big help to all of us, and your decades of involvement and experience comprise a very valuable resource for people with a thousand questions, like, uh... me. For instance, I've got your illustrated/annotated Mills jackpot guide in a folder, and I'm always going back to check it every time I'm stuck with a JP problem, which is pretty frequently. Many thanks for all of your consideration and help!
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Re: Silent Sphinx

Postby MONTI » Mon Jul 22, 2019 7:07 am

Well, Marsonion, thanks for the kind words My Friend!
After working in the casinos in the 60's/70's and restoring/servicing vintage slots for 40 years I enjoy speaking to people on the phone and helping people with their slot issues and occasionally telling a few stories about "The Good Old Days" in the casinos!
I do miss however speaking with old friends on the phone in the hobby who have left us, Tom Krahl, Bill Whellan "Slot Dynasty", Dick Beauschel to just mention a few but such is life!
There are still many of us around however that enjoy the hobby and sharing our thoughts, Rick Frink, Dave Berten, Mike in Vegas, Watling Boy, Etc!
Just a few as there are still many from the Hey Day of vintage slot collecting and we enjoy keeping the Spirit Alive!
And Thanks must go to Dave for establishing and keeping this Forum going to also Keep The Spirit Alive!
Take Care My Friend!
Bona Fortuna!
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