[HOWTO] Put a Wurlitzer 2000-3300 into "Free Play"

[phillg]

There are a few different methods, depending on the machine, that will let you put the machine into "free" play (i.e., you don't need to put coins in the machine to play). What's below is a non-destructive method that will allow you to easily swap between free play and pay-per-play. This method works for a large set of machines since many of them feature very similar playraks so one set of instructions will work for many machines. I believe this is the 2000 through to the 3300.

Note: The PlayRak is the Wurlitzer name for the Credit Unit



The playrak is generally found in the lower-left side of the cabinet when you remove the rear door. If you can't find it, look for it in the service manual for your machine. While there are some variations, all playraks in this age have a toothed wheel that's incremented as coins are dropped and decremented when coins are dropped. Since we want the machine to be "free", we need to modify it so there's always credit available. In order to do this, we want to stop the cancel wheel from decrementing when a play is made.

Open the playrak using the small handle on the front and look for the cancel wheel on the 'reverse' side of the playrak (away from the credit adjustment levers) - you'll see a spring wound around the wheel that pulls the wheel to decrement the credits.



Unhook the spring from the wheel and feed it the "wrong" way around the center pin so that the spring pulls the cancel wheel in the opposide direction, providing the machine with constant credit.



Tuck the playrak back away, put the rear cover back on and you're finished!

To reverse the process, wind the spring back round the correct way.

[gordo]

Does this keep the latch-bar solenoid energized? If so, is that OK?

[robnyc]

Jun 23, 2018 22:23:52 GMT gordo said:

Does this keep the latch-bar solenoid energized? If so, is that OK?

The method described above has long been the typical way of setting these models for free play. However, there are a couple of considerations;

1) The 5 watt current limiting resistor that protects the latch solenoid is run at it's full wattage dissipation and gets very hot. Increasing it to 10 w or more (space permitting) is a good idea if long hours are expected.

2) Keeping the keyboard in the latched position eventually deforms a few of the flimsy contact blades in the keyboard assembly. These are easily re-formed and you'll eventually have to do this even if used on-coin as intended.

On the machines I rebuilt for home use and sale, I usually added the small toggle switch at some inconspicuous place to turn off the electronics and leave the lights on for decorative purposes. This is how most home jukes are used anyway.

RobNYC

[rbb]

I'm a new member trying to figure out how this works. I'm trying to get my Wurlitzer 2150 into free play mode because the coin mechanism will not work. Coin drops through but doesn't hit the proper switch (?) that signals the machine to activate a selection. I can reach the switch through the opened door of the coin return and active manually each time giving me one play. So the machine works but I have to do that each time. Would be nice to have this working but I have no clue what to do.

[Ron Rich]

Rbb.
Sounds like the slug rejector is in-correctly mounted--just install it correctly ! ( Do you have the manual --should show you !)
Ron Rich

[phillg]

Rbb,

I've added pictures to help you modify the machine to freeplay although you should look at repairing the slug rejector anyway... you never know when you might like pay-per-play!

Phill

[Ron Rich]

Hi Phil,
GREAT photo's ( look at the first post to find them !) Ron Rich

[Bosco]

My 2100 does not have the coin mech. On the 2100 there is a free play switch. It's located inside the keyboard, on the right side.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Thom,
Is there a point, or a question here ? Most coin op phono's have a switch such as this for testing purposes--
Ron Rich

[Bosco]

Just saying, if the issue was setting the machine to free play, why not simply flip the switch? My 2100 has been running that way for 20 years. Of course, my machine came to me without the coin mech. I never put one in. Maybe there're other considerations if a coin mech is in place.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Thom,
No--what happened on your phono, is "someone" rigged that switch to stay closed--it was equipped with a spring, that opened it, when it came from the factory. What do you mean by "coin Mech"-- the portion that accepts coins-rejects "slugs", or the "price setting portion ("Playrac" in WurliTzer-ease). Ron Rich

[phillg]

Ron, you beat me to it.

My 2400 also has a "free play" switch on the keyboard but mine is original and has the spring inside that Ron is talking about so the switch provides a single free play (it pings back as soon as you let go). Excellent for testing, but a bit painful for free play mode. Remember these phonos were made as money-making machines and they were never intended to play for free.

It appears that a previous owner of your phono has modified the switch to remove the spring and provide free play. It obviously works perfectly, but does involve modifying the switch. The method above is much easier to implement, is simple to undo and leaves the phono intact.

Phill

[Ron Rich]

Phill,
I have seen that switch "rubber banded" once--guy said he need to replace it about every 3 months--so I axked him if he wanted it "set" to play for free--he said no--might hurt the machine--so I didn't tell him how to do it, nor show him--- sometimes, it's just easier that way ! Ron Rich

[Bosco]

I never asked questions.  I just know it runs and has since got it in 1989,  so I doubt rubber bands are involved.  Perhaps the switch was replaced.  My 2100 spent 15+ years in Texas, then went to Mexico.  Who knows?  “Coin mech” refers to the entire coin mechanism.  Drop a centavo in the slot and it hits the bottom of the cabinet. The only thing in the machine is the playtak, and it doesn’t do anything.

[Bosco]

Playrak, I mean.