CoinOpCollectorForum.com

New here . Hi everyone!
i just picked up a gretchen columbia. the pull handle just flops around and doesnt seem to be attached to anything inside.
i need a schematic or repair manual. can anyone help?
big thanks.
yanto

if you want, you can email me @ yanto_lee@hotmail.com

yeah i was lookin at ebay. i was hoping for a pdf or a Columbia guru to chime in.
thanks!

yanto wrote: the pull handle just flops around and doesnt seem to be attached to anything inside.

Does the handle return to upright position by itself, or just flop forward when you let go of it?
Do you know how to remove the handle and pull the mechanism from the case?
Will you provide pictures so we can determine whether or not you have a complete and operational machine? (It may be just a typical coin jam between the escalator and carousel that stopped your machine, followed by somebody trying to force it without first clearing the jam, that left your machine in its present state... but it would be futile to guide you through correcting that if your machine was nonfunctional to begin with.)

thanks for responding. the handle doesn't return upright. is seems disconnected from the internals inside.
i'm not sure what connects it to the internal mechanisms.

yanto wrote:thanks for responding. the handle doesn't return upright. is seems disconnected from the internals inside.
i'm not sure what connects it to the internal mechanisms.

1) Take off the back door and top casting of the machine.
2) Holding the handle upright, look where it connects to its axle. You should see a small leaf spring retaining a pin which locks it in place; take a flat screwdriver and pry the leaf up a little to raise the pin, and the handle can then be pulled off.
3) With the handle disconnected, also disconnect the spring to the swinging ramp at the upper right rear and remove the thumbscrew holding the mech to the base of the cabinet. You should now be able to pull the mech from the cabinet.
4) Reattach the handle to the extracted mech-- it should just snap onto the bare axle.
5) Take pictures from the handle side, top and rear of the mech and post them on this thread.

thanks i will give it a try tomorrow.,]

thank you! removing the handle was a big help.
i was able to reposition the handle to engage the mechanisms.
its a bit sticky as it doesnt seem to pull the mechanism fully forward at times when pulling the handle down. i have to give it an twist from the inside with my hand.
i will play with it a bit more.

yanto wrote:thank you! removing the handle was a big help.
i was able to reposition the handle to engage the mechanisms.
its a bit sticky as it doesnt seem to pull the mechanism fully forward at times when pulling the handle down. i have to give it an twist from the inside with my hand.
i will play with it a bit more.

Yanto!
Which model Groetchen Columbia do you have as there were two different coin entries!
Is this your first slot machine?
If so you picked one with a real learning curve attached to it, just my opinion, at any rate here is a couple manuals for it!
Getting the payouts right on that puppy can be a real challenge so be patient and really think it through!
Bona Fortuna!
MONTI

PS
Pictured below are the two different coin heads also!
I am not the expert on these puppies in fact I dodge the bullet on these little devils every chance I get!
Again, just my opinion! LOL

not sure of the model.
i have a mills high top also.
let me see if i can post a couple of pics of the columbia.