Worn out kicker plate

[perre64]

I can't seem to get the wheels spinning as they should on my Aristocrat.
Could it be that this kicker plate is too worn out?

[treefrog]

Looks perfect to me, hardly broken in.

Could be clogged up reels/hub with old grease, misalignment of reels or not enough spring compression on operating bar. The last point can be adjusted on the large horizontal spring on side of the mechanism (right looking from back) it has wing nuts…….On misalignment does the kicker align correctly with each reel pay disc. On grease you can check putting reels in free play by blocking the clock fan, should be lever at front to do this and then see if each reel spins freely.

Last point common also is a clogged kicker, but looks like you already had this off.

[perre64]

Thanks treefrog.

I have disassembled the entire mechanism, cleaned and lubricated.
So that shouldn't be the problem.
I'll take a look at the large horizontal spring on side of the mechanism and try to adjust it.

[badpenny]

What about the spring that holds the kicker edge into the reels?
BP

[perre64]

Badpenny, changed to a stronger spring and now it's working.
Kind of....

[badpenny]

Check that the teeth on the three discs are in line when the kicker engages.
If they aren't then the kicker will skip and you'll get a misfire of sorts.

[perre64]

Thanks.
I will check that.

[malcymal]

Check that the teeth on the three discs are in line when the kicker engages.
If they aren't then the kicker will skip and you'll get a misfire of sorts.

Yes, I know from memory I had exactly this on an Aristo as one of the cog's teeth (far left) was worn down so it had a smooth curved edge; enough to make it misfire and just push the first reel feebly 'round, if at all, and the others in sympathy. I had to take the whole reel bundle out of the 'A' frame, which is a doddle and simply add a washer on one end of shaft so it slightly moved the disc teeth over by about 1-2mm, which was enough to engage the kicker full whack whilst keeping operation of everything else in order.