Simple solution for lost key or broken lock

[Siouxzan]

Greetings fellow tumbling-steel-ball nutjobs!
I just made the following unlocking mod to my vintage machine and I'm hoping the idea will help others.
I'm about to mount my first vintage in my first DIY wall cabinet, so no more reaching around back to open it. No key and not particularly interested in obtaining one, so I took out the superfluous bolt in the lower right (leaving behind the chrome finish washer), hammered in a nylon sleeve, epoxied a sink pull knob to a brass rod, and the rest is self-explanatory. Easy peasey, took about 5 minutes, and I'm surprised how well it works. The built in spring action of this method automatically retracts the knob tight against the finish washer.
Whee!

[wrkey]

Cool fix!

[Ikaria]

I like it! Thanks for posting that mod!

[NJ_Mike]

Great idea - simple, inexpensive and it works. It's also reversible if you want to put it back the way it was.

[CoventryCat86]

What kind of machine do you have? My Nishijin B has a completely different door latch mechanism than the pictures you show here.

[Siouxzan]

Forgive my ignorance. I'm a noobster to this hobby, but rapidly loosing control of myself. It is a Nashijin-- 70s from the looks of things. How do I identify it as an "A" or "B" or whatever?
Thanks.

[hanabi]

Forgive my ignorance. I'm a noobster to this hobby, but rapidly loosing control of myself. It is a Nashijin-- 70s from the looks of things. How do I identify it as an "A" or "B" or whatever?
Thanks.

This thread should be of help to you

Noob question about types (A,B,C)

if you read some of the posts, you will also see pics of the backs of them too

[Siouxzan]

Hanabi:
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

I clearly have a Model B.

CoventryCat:
All the pictures from the back of the Model Bs that I can find online show a locking mechanism identical to mine, so I'm not sure why yours is not the same. I bet someone here knows though.

[CoventryCat86]

For some reason, the site won't let me post pictures in almost every thread including this one. Here are links to my photobucket account:
This first photo shows the latch mechanism, thetab at the bottom is where the door lock pushes it up to activate this mechanism to open the machine.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...hCaseUpper.jpg
Here's the lower part of that same assembly:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...hCaseLower.jpg
On my Nishijin B machine, the stationary latches are on the machine (door) itself and not on the frame that's mounted to the wall. This is the lower one:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...DoorLatch1.jpg
And this is the upper one:

As you can see, I only have hooks on the door and the spring loaded catches are on the case itself. Ths is completely different from the photos that are posted in the beginning of this thread. My machine is a 1973 Nishijin Model B with a June, 1974 expiration sticker.

[Siouxzan]

Well, that is different. Hmmm...
If you're interested in a similar approach (looking at that last picture) perhaps you could make the "hook" a nonfixed piece by loosening the screw and putting a spring on it. Then that can be manipulated with a pull-rod?
Cheating, I know, but I think it might work.

[CoventryCat86]

I was thinking about putting some kind of a push knob that would push against what is actually a finger release button/area from the rear. You see that in the second photo near the bottom.

Presently, I'm working it with the lock completely removed from the machine. There's enough friction to hold the door shut while I play and I just pull it open by grabbing the thumb rest. Sometime in the future, I'd like to get a ball lifter but those things are big $$$. I could get a pachislo for less than a ball lifter or a modern for probably around the same. Those are priorities over a ball lifter at the moment.

[Siouxzan]

Okay, I think I see how it works now. I like the push button (rather than pull knob) idea, and it would be equally easy to build. Same idea, but with a little compression spring between the housing and the knob. Please send pics when you figure it all out. It is doable!

When I finish my cabinet (which is turning out to be a lot more work than I bargained for, starting with very rough solid oak boards scavenged from a friends garage), I plan on building a ball lift or two. I'd buy one but, like you said, too much $$, and where's the fun in that. I plan on starting with an Archimede's screw and have been working on th escrew itself on and off (acrylic). I've been told that many have tried and all have failed, so I'm determined. Can't wait to share that with the group!

[hanabi]

For some reason, the site won't let me post pictures in almost every thread including this one. Here are links to my photobucket account:

I'm not sure what could be causing problems with your pics, are you attaching using the 'paper-clip' icon or are you embedding the images??

This post may help resolve the problem

how to post a pic

[CoventryCat86]

I'm not sure what could be causing problems with your pics, are you attaching using the 'paper-clip' icon or are you embedding the images??

This post may help resolve the problem

how to post a pic

I never knew about the paper clip icon. When I've posted pictures here, I embed them by clicking he "insert image" icon which was missing when I tried to post here. I contacted Sid and he has since fixed it (now you can view the last picture I posted, in my previous post, thanks Sid!)

Thanks for the link, I did not know about the other method!