bill validator issues

Fatality83

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I have a bill validator of unknown type. It starts to take the bill and than spits it back out. Any ideas what may be causing this? Does it need cleaned. It is in a rowe ami jukebox.
 
Without knowing a specific make/model I can only answer in generalities.

Are the optics in it clean?

Is the bill path obstructed by dirt/debris, or pieces of a torn bill?

Are the belts clean and in good condition?

Is the stacker (if present) properly attached/secured/locked?
 
Hi Ken, it is a Rowe bill changer out of my Rowe Eagle Laser star wallbox. I pulled the validator out and immediately noticed that the green wire that comes from the power plug was torn. It was supposed to mount to the validator frame as a ground. I put a new wire end on and ground it. I pulled it somewhat apart and blew canned air in the mech. The belts seemed somewhat loose so I tightened them. There is some type of tiny sensor that is right at the begining of the assembly closets to the front where the bill goes in and I cleaned that. I pulled this circuit board off that was clipped underneath the rollers which had an led light on it and cleaned that off. There was a small circuit board where all the wires connected to and I pulled that one out and cleaned it. Reinstalled everything.

Now, it fully takes the bill in the validator and immediately spits it backout. I tried multiple bills and it just keeps rejecting them. Any ideas what could cause this?
 
I am not quite sure, I can check when I get home. I believe there was a sticker that said rowe and had a serial number but I dont remember seeing a model number. It did have the bill stacker on the back and its latched closed. If you open it and insert a bill, you can see the bill go in and start heading up towards the stacker and than it gets rejected. Ever since I tightened the belts up it takes the bill right in fine the entire way, it just isn't accepting it now.
 
According to my manual it's a Cba-2. When I insert a bill face up the one led blinks twice while the other is always lit. If I insert the bill upside down it blinks 5 times
 
According to my manual it's a Cba-2. When I insert a bill face up the one led blinks twice while the other is always lit. If I insert the bill upside down it blinks 5 times

The most common problem that I remember with that unit was dirty optics in the center of the bill unit. The optic is mounted on a narrow 3/4" by 2" pcb which is held in place by a set of black clips. ( It's tricky to get at but not impossible ). You must remove the bill box and the lower portion of the bill unit to get to it.

Dave.
COINOPSHOP
 
I looked at this board. It is the one that clips in and has a green LED light on it. I cleaned the LED and Sensor with alcohol and a q tip. I also cleaned all the other sensors in a similar fashion. It still does the same thing and keeps rejecting them with the LED flashing a similar amount of times. I also tried turing dipswitches 1,2,3 &4 on and leave the rest off as referenced in Bruno's documents. It still rejected the bill.
 
I looked at this board. It is the one that clips in and has a green LED light on it. I cleaned the LED and Sensor with alcohol and a q tip. I also cleaned all the other sensors in a similar fashion. It still does the same thing and keeps rejecting them with the LED flashing a similar amount of times. I also tried turing dipswitches 1,2,3 &4 on and leave the rest off as referenced in Bruno's documents. It still rejected the bill.

Lube all the plastic "wheels" also. This bill unit must run at the correct speed to accept bills. There is no speed adjustment. Other than that, you most likely just have a bad bill unit. I few months back we threw out all those rowes we had laying on the shelf.
 
Your jukebox manual set will have a section on maintenance of the CBA-2 bill acceptor. If it doesn't (it should) then try this section:

http://thearcadeboneyard.com/Jukebox_Manuals/rowe/ROWE CD 100C VOL. 2 SECTION 4.pdf

Bruno Puglia (the world's foremost Rowe bill acceptor expert) has a repair page for the CBA series:

http://www.eastcoastamusements.com/images/uploads/brunopdf/CBA_UCBA.pdf

By the way, some versions of the CBA-2 do indeed have motor speed controls to adjust. There are upgrade kits to allow acceptance of newer currency too.
 
I did put a couple drops of oil on it per what my manual says and I tightened the belts. That got it to actually take the bill in all the way but it gets rejected right away. Flashes twice after rejecting the bill inserted the correct way. If I insert it upside down it flashes 5 times.

I would just let it go but I am one of those people that can't sleep until everything is working 100%. Since it is for my home use only I don't want to spend a lot of money to get a new one.
 
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