Coin advance not working

[LotusGuy]

On my second Diamond front, I'm looking for some advice on the coin advance system.

When I purchased it, the unit was working in a free play mode - no coin needed, just pull the handle. There were four coins in the escalator with a missing coin where the check detection level looks for a check. The coin advance operating lever from the mech does not contact the coin advance lever on the escalator, so nothing moves in the escalator but the machine plays the full cycle - of course there is no payout as the machine thinks that a check was played.

Operated manually the escalator works smoothly and correctly.

How would someone have accomplished setting these two levers to never contact each other? I've looked at the base plate and all seems normal. The mech seems to fit without hitting anything. The base appears to be mounted in the original position in the case (not moved rearward). There is no apparent bending on the coin advance operating lever or of the coin advance lever on the escalator. What am I missing?

[memphisbigdave]

When I have seen this in the past, the escalator needed a thorough cleaning and lite oiling. The whole machine probably needs its and new springs

[LotusGuy]

Yes, the escalator was my first suspect. Problem is that the operating lever hook never touches the escalator coin advance lever. The hook goes up and down just to the rear of the escalator lever, never touching it. If I move the base a quarter inch forward, the two will work together. Looking at the screw in the center of the base, it appears to be in its original position with no other holes. I’m just not sure how someone managed to get these two items misaligned.

[memphisbigdave]

Have you pulled the entire mech out and looked behind where it fits in? Sometimes a coin is blocking the mech from being able to seat correctly

[LotusGuy]

Yes sir, It's out. The only thing I've found so far is the lever on the right hand side of the jackpot was bent across the rear to the JP. No idea why someone would do this. I've replace the lever with one from my other basket case machine. I also cleaned and oiled the JP unit. I don't see where this bent lever would have contacted the mech. I think this levers only purpose is to keep the JP from dumping when the mech is removed.

Picture is the JP as received in this machine. Besides the bent lever there were a number of missing parts that I scavenged from my basket case machine's JP.

[Bally Bill]

Hello I think if you post a picture of the entire escalator/mech in the case maybe we can identify your issue, here is a few pictures of a working setup in a mills castle

[LotusGuy]

It was cold and dark last night, but here are three pics of the escalator.

[Bally Bill]

ok that helps, your free play is caused by the check detecting arm being pushed too far back and will affect the coin advancing bar lever. The coin advancing bar locking lever looks like its bent upward too much and should be flat then the tip bent up.

[LotusGuy]

Thank you Sir! when the sunlight returns tomorrow, I’ll look over that lever

[LotusGuy]

I hate it when people ask for help on a problem then never post what they found to cure that problem. That said, here is what I found:

I did everything to the escalator in the way of cleaning and oiling with no help. Everything looked ok so I switched gears to fix the jackpot that was missing some parts.

When I remove The front castings I discovered some very rusty and very bent carriage bolts. I also discover that the case was not really square. It seems this machine led a rough life before I purchased it. After fitting the parts to the jackpot, squaring and re-gluing the case, I reinstalled the base plate and things just seemed to line up correctly. The unit now plays and pays as originally intended.

Thanks to all who suggested places to look and things to do to fix it.

Like every one I wonder when it was built but can find no readable serial number anywhere and nothing stamped into the base. The castings are aluminum, the steel anti-drill panels are installed and the mech is very complete (it even has the fan stop lever installed!). Would this indicate a post war manufacture?

Here is what the machine looks like today with a replaced OEM old stock bib: