Hi David,
Merry Christmas.
Thanks for the feedback on the procedure.
Since the sequence of tests failed where it did, I would examine the
10,000 point score reel PCB and the "wiper" that rotates around it.
Use a scotchbright pad or 400-600 grit sandpaper to lightly remove any
dirt/grime. Same for the wiper contact.
Once completed, restart the test again. Work thru the initial steps
again to ensure that the test setup is correct.
Let us know what you find out.
--
Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
www.Team-EM.com
http://webpages.charter.net/chibler/Pinball/index.htm
Hi Chris,
Merry Christmas, and thanks for taking time out of your day to
post the above !!!! I will do this tomorrow, and report back. I did
notice that when I would activate the 10,000 point score reel by hand
(after cleaning the score reel switches, although not the wiper) that
it never failed to award the free ball at the 50,000 point setting, so
I am guessing (and hoping) that your suggestion of cleaning the board
and checking the contact is the key (along with another cleaning and
inspection of the score reel switches).
What was weird in that test is that the other award was NOT earned
(currently set for 100,000, although it did not matter what I set it
to).
And just out of curiosity, is the "5th POS.SW." the 5th position
switch? And is it on the stepper unit itself?
Thanks,
David
Hi Chris,
Slight correction. I had just enough time to verify (or disprove)
my comment about the score reel, and what I found is that moving the
score reel manually to 50,000 or 100,000 does NOT cause the coil on
the WOW unit to fire. I don't know if I changed something when I
cleaned the score reel switches, but I will still follow your advice
and report back.
Thanks,
David
Hi Chris, Team,
I pulled the circuit board, and cleaned it and the switches on
the 10,000 point reel. I am happy to say that the solution is getting
closer! Now the 100,000 point award works. What's strange is that at
first (after cleaning the switches but before pulling the printed
circuit board), the 50,000 point award worked and the 100,000
didn't... I am chalking this up to the score reels needing a little
more attention. I say score reels (plural) because I've also noticed
an issue with the thousands score reel not turning the 10,000 reel
over consistently/correctly.
I'll report back with the results of the cleaning/adjusting. I'll
also run Chris' diagnostic test as described above again, and report
those results as well.
Thanks again for all of your help on this!
David
you must move it to one postion BELOW where it gives the award, and
activate the appropriate relay (ie 10,000 point relay. If there isnt
one, then activate the 1,000 point relay 10 times, this should roll
over the 10,000 reel, and score the award at the same time.
If it doesnt, then check the relay contact points.
Hi Chris, Team,
Here is where things are at:
The jumper wire test comes out the same -- that is, I get knock when I
touch the white wire on the knocker, and also when I touch the green/
red wire on the AAB/Novelty Jones plug (female side, as well as the
Black/white wire on same. I DON"T get a knock for either of the female
Jones plugs (50,000 or 100,000 points). I DO get a knock and WOW for
100,000 points, but not for 50,000 points.
I have disassembled the 10,000 score reel (including the printed
circuit board), and clean and adjusted the switches. The reel had been
sticking, but (at least for the last 5 tests) is not any more. I must
be getting close to solving this, as only that 50,000 (or any point
award on the "0" plug) point award issue remains !!!!
Thanks,
David
if both reels are involved in the scoring (ie award can be set for
120,000 (for example) then the normal procedure would be for the 0-9
segments of the reel PCB's to be wired together via the phone plug/
jack score setting adjustments. If it works on a 100,000 value for
example, you would have the 1000's plugged into a "zero position".
When the 100 000 reel is in the correct position for a replay, AND the
1000 reel is in the correct position for a replay minus 1000, then
there should be a path between the "common" contacts on both reel
PCB's.
A contact pair on the 1000 point relay should, when closed, send a
voltage into one of these common contacts, and should come out the
other one, to feed either the replay unit, extra ball relay or
whatever is used there and give the award. (note that the sequence
of contacts - relay, drum and award device) could be in any order
along the circuit, depending on what was the shortest wire run, ease
of assembly etc.)
Its possible that a setting plug put into a "zero position" socket (to
set the award level) simply bypasses the 1000 reel PCB and goes to the
same place as the "common" track on the 1000's reel PCB. This would
allow the scenario you describe, and it means that there is still a
fault or bad connection on the 1000 reel PCB if I am correct.
Hi Kreed,
Thanks for your post. I was wondering the same thing, and I will
check this theory by moving the "1" plug to a different socket (like
120,000) to see what happens. I'll report back with the results.
Thanks,
David
I dont have a Gottlieb schematic for the era of your game, but a Bally
"Capersville" schematic I had on hand seems to confirm (not 100%
clear) that plugs that are in the "0" position for replay score
setting do bypass the reel pcb and connect straight to the common
terminal for that reel.
While its not the same brand, I dont think there would be much
difference in the way this "replay detection" circuit was designed
between brands. It really can only be done this way.
Hi Kreed,
You may not have the schematic, but you seem to be 100% on target
(as was Chris, who also suggested the pcb). When I moved the plug to a
different award socket, I get NO award. Unfortunately, I have now
cleaned the board and the wiper, and even replaced the wiper with a
spare, with no change in the outcome...
Maybe there is another obstacle (although I don't know what it
would be) ? ...
Thanks,
David
Hi Team,
I have taken apart, cleaned and lightly sanded the printed
circuit board 3 times now -- I've also replaced the "wiper" and
checked to be sure that it was riding on the board -- with no change
in the outcome. I also checked the V and JX relays, since on the
schematic they seemed as if they were "upstream" of the award sockets
(or at least that's what my caveman brain came up with). It made no
difference.
The JX relay seems to function correctly, at least in terms of
the fact that it activates when the score reaches 100,000. The 100,000
point light comes on, as it should. Moving the 10,000 score reel to
the 5 (or any number) and using the test wire gives no result -- no
knock, no activation of the WOW stepper unit.
What is the way to check whether or not current is getting to the
wiper unit on the pcb? I am feeling pretty clueless at this point. Any
help will be greatly appreciated !!!!
Thanks,
David
check it with a meter for cracks etc.
Power off -
Put one probe on the common, and the other on (say) 5 terminal.
Rotate the drum by hand until it gets to 5 and see if there is a
closed circuit.
Check that the wiper presses firmly on the board, make sure no cracked
tracks, pads worn out from decades of rotational rubbing on the board
etc.
Try this with other numbers, and if they work too, trace the wires
through to the score setting plugs and sockets and confirm with meter
that the signals are getting there.
Hi Kreed,
Will do. So do most ADD-A-Ball games work in such a way that the
current passes from the score reel switch back down through the award
level plug and then up to the WOW steeper unit? It makes sense, I'm
just checking...
And I am enough of a rookie that I have to ask: to check
continuity, I am setting the DMM to ohms, correct? And the lower the
number, the more likely there is continuity?
Thanks,
David
Hi Kreed, Team,
Update -- I followed Kreed's suggestion and checked for
continuity between the common terminal on the pcb and various soldered
terminals. All look fine...when I tried to check if there was
continuity between the pcb and the plugs (at the score jones plugs
area), I did NOT find continuity -- although I may not have been
running the test incorrectly. With the power to the game off, I tried
to run the leads between the 5 terminal (with the reel on 5) and the
50,000 point award plug (and also socket). No continuity.
Any hints on what to search for next will be appreciated !!!
Thanks,
David
depending on what reel it is, you have to subtract "1" from the number
for the reason
when (say) 1000 point relay is pulled in, and the score needed is
(say) 5000, the 1000's reel
will have to be on the "4" section since the usual design of the
mechanicals is for the reel coil to pull in, but the reel does not
move until the plunger is
returning (coming back out of the coil). since the coil can only
release after the 1000 pt relay has opened (and cut power), at the
same time the contacts that trigger the "replay" through the reel
pcb's are already open by the time the reel has moved to the "5"
segment. Therefore it has to be "4" section connecting and a contact
closure of the 1000 pt relay as the reel plunger pulls in (ie:
4000+1000 = 5000).
please be aware of this when checking continuity to the score setting
jacks / plugs.
To make it even more confusing, if 2 reel boards are involved, and
(say) 10,000 is used and there is nothing in the game that directly
scores 10,000 (ie: 10,000 can only happen from by 10 x 1,000 scores),
its possible that there might not even be a 10,000 point relay and a
replay score of (say) 15,000 might involve the 1000s board being on
"4" and the 10,000s board being on "1" (ie, the 10,000s reel is not
offset by -1).
regardless, if for some reason there is a relay for the highest
monitored score reel check both sets of contacts ie:10,000 and 1,000
point relay contacts that trigger replay. Its possible that the
1000's relay contact is being bypassed also when you set a "x0" award
value. If this contact is faulty, it could also produce the symptom
you notice.
Same would apply if there is a "100,000" relay (that locks in when the
scores are "rolled over").
therefore please pay particular attention to the wires to the setting
plugs, they may or may not go to one number less than what you think
they should.
Hi Kreed,
Thanks. I follow what you mean regarding the switches on the
score reels, how the switch pulls in just before the zero position,
etc. In the case of this issue, since the wiper on the printed circuit
board is always in contact, it seems like the main thing that I'm
looking for is to confirm current to the common terminal on that
printed circuit board, and whether that current is making it to those
plugs and sockets on the score jones plug set... right?
Or am I off on this?
Thanks,
David
David,
It's hard to figure where you are with all of this since the responses
aren't being trimmed and the thread is getting pretty long.
So...back to the test I outlined. When you follow the procedure (to
the letter) and you don't get knock in step f, that identifies the
problem. The part of the circuit path you are testing is through
power, female point score adjustment plug, wiring to the 10000 point
unit, thru the PCB, thru the wiper, back to common on the PCB, then on
to the 5th position switch which you previously verified.
You can further isolate the problem by touching your jumper wire to
the common terminal on the 10000 point PCB as a step (f minus 1). If
you get knock from that test, then touch your jumper to the "5"
terminal on that PCB. If you get knock from that test, then go back to
the female "50000" plug. At any point when you fail to get knock, the
problem will exist in the wiring or the wiper between the last point
that tested positively and the failed test point.
For "kreed"s info...Lucky Hand awards AABs only at 10,000 point
increments so the 10,000 point reel is the only one involved. Also,
the test procedure jumpers around the switch actuation necessary in
normal game play to score an AAB (namely the "On add 10,000s unit")
switch.
pindude77...let's knock this one out!
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your post !!! I will do the test again, as you have
described. What is especially helpful is the advice about the further
steps (Put the probe on the common terminal). Another thing that
(finally) occurred to me is that since I actually have two of these
games (Lucky Hand), I can run the same diagnostic on a "healthy" game
to be sure that I am doing the test correctly. I will also examine the
WOW stepper unit on both games, to be sure that they are set up
somewhat the same.
Is the 5th POS.SW "5th position switch? And is it by itself on the
WOW stepper unit with the black/white wire attached?
Looking forward to pulling a "Rocky" on this game...
Thanks,
David
Hi David...
I can hear "gonna fly now" off in the distance...
Yes, the 5th position switch is probably on the WOW unit to prevent
any more than 5 WOWs from being earned. See if you can find it there
with the black/white wire. It should be opened by a peg on the stepper
when it reaches the 5th position.
Hi Chris,
Well, now you have made this whole situation even more
interesting... because the switch I was referring to (and thought was
the 5th Position switch) is attached in such a way that it rides on
the outside of the WOW stepper unit disc, only to open when the notch
in the disc comes around ! It does have a black and white wire (along
with a red/green wire) to it, which may explain why I stopped looking
elsewhere... DOH !!!!
Next, I will flip the WOW stepper unit down again and look for
the mysterious (and apparently, in my case, difficult to locate) 5th
position switch.
In other news, I did the test that you suggested (touching the
test wire to the common terminal while the 10,000 score reel was set
at 5 (one of the score award levels, and corresponding to the plug/
socket on the Jones plug "rack"), and sure enough, there was a
knock !!! Same thing to that switch that I (until reading your post)
thought was the 5th position switch... I touched the black/white wire,
and got knock.
As I said above, I'll go all the way back to what you and Mark
originally suggested (about that switch) so long ago, and verify that
it is cleaned, closed, and only opened at the 5th position. I should
be able to report the results tomorrow morning.
With any luck, I'll be able to KNOCK this out in the morning, and
then get back to trying to finish off the target Alpha game that
several of you (especially you, Chris and Kerry) have been so helpful
with.
Thanks!
David
Good Morning David,
It occurred to me that Gottlieb may have used a different
implementation for the 5th position switch than what was normally used
for this type of function (on a coin unit for instance). The switch
you found, with black/white and red/green wires on it, is the right
one. The switch rides the outside of the bakelite disk until it
reaches the 5th position where it drops into the slot.
Restart the test procedure. I'm armed with a set of schematics again
so let's get this think KNOCKED out!
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your post. I flipped down the stepper unit in order to
spot my elusive prey, only to realize the same thing -- it was there
on the outside all along!
To recap a little bit: I did do (and will shortly) re-do the
tests above, and was able to achieve "knock" on all tests except when
placing the wire on the award plug or socket. I have been placing the
test wire on the socket with the plug in it, and I have been touching
the test wire to the bump on the plug where the wire is soldered on.
In addition, placing the test wire at the common terminal on the
pcb is also providing a knock, as is a brief touch to the 5th position
switch black/white wire. I also tested for (and found) continuity on
the pcb by using the DMM set on ohms and placing one lead on the
common while placing the other wherever the score reel was set. I also
visually inspected my other copy of Lucky Hand for obvious differences
in the WOW stepper unit, and so far have not found any major
differences....
Thanks again for all of the great tracking advice, and keep those
ideas coming. I know we are getting close to a knockout!
Thanks,
David
Hi Chris, Kreed, Team,
After trying the same tests on another Lucky Hand that I have
(long story), I discovered that the test was also negative at the
award socket and plug phase while the 10,000 point score reel was set
at 5... This got me thinking about a comment that Kreed posted about
the score reels, so I tried the test again with the 10,000 point score
reel set at 4, and this time the test wire test resulted in a loud
knock, for both the socket and "bump" on the plug (with the plug in
the socket). And just to check that something wasn't completely
goofy, I then ran the 'good" game until it hit 50,000 points (they are
set up for the same award levels), and sure enough, the game awarded
the WOW correctly.
I then took the test wire back to the game with the issues and
tried the same test, with the same positive results! Since I am just
a caveman, I am not sure what this means, but I thought it might help
to "observe and report" that there IS current that flows through the
plug and socket -- at least under those circumstances.
Unfortunately, I am just as confused as ever, since it seems like
so many possibilities have already been ruled out, but hey -- that's
why I mentioned that I am a caveman, even if that caveman that is
learning :-)
Thanks,
David
What it means David, is that I missed a detail in the schematics when
I was reading them, and kreed was right. The score reel should have
been set on 40,000 during all of the test setup that I described.
So...amend the test, start from the beginning, and walk thru it again
for us.
Given another clue that you provided (the game awards correctly at
100000 but not 50000) the JX relay has to be suspect. JX has a make/
break switch on it that creates the circuit for awards less than and
greater than 100,000 points. I'll bet a cup of coffee that the blue-
white/green-white side of that switch, which is supposed to be
normally closed, isn't making.
Your mission is clear soldier. Carry on. Report back... :-)
Hi Chris,
I OWE YOU A CUP OF COFFEE !!!!!!!! You were absolutely right --
the blue- white/green-white side of that switch on the JX relay looked
fine, but when I checked it with the DMM, it read that it was not
closed. I cleaned and adjusted the switch one more time, and then
looked at the attachment point of the blue/white wire, and noticed
that the while the wires were attached, there were only 3 sticking out
of the insulation, and they were spread apart. Out of curiosity (and a
bit of impatience and excitement at being potentially close to the
finish line), rather than re-solder them right then and there, I
simply twisted them back together and tested the game.
At 50,000 points, I was greeted by a loud KNOCK !!!! All
continued to be well until I got to the 120,000 award level (I had
changed it temporarily, to avoid any cross-wiring pollution while
testing), when nothing happened. So back to the JX relay I went, this
time focusing on the OTHER switch activated after the game crosses the
100,000 point mark. Clean, adjust, test again -- and WOW -- KNOCK-
OUT !!!!!!!
Just to be sure, I played 5 games before posting this very happy
update :-)
THANK YOU, CHRIS !!!! THANK YOU KREED, AND THANKS TO TEAM
EM IN GENERAL -- YOU GUYS ROCK !!!!! Now, it's back to my Target
Alpha project, with which so many of you have been patienltly helping.
I can truly say that for the first time, I am starting to feel the
"Zen" that you spoke about, Chris. The schematics are still largely a
mystery to me, but all of your help (Kerry's too :-) is making the
path a bit more clear when I try to read the schematic and follow
along wiith what you have written. So thanks for that, too !!!!
Happy New Year !!!!
David
Another Wedgie will be posted at the Team-EM site.
You've come far Pilgrim. Our late Team-EM Grand Poo bah AL Garber
would be proud.
Take some time to marvel at your achievement. Play some games with the
family and enjoy trying to get to the WOW feature on that game (with
the glass on). It's a tough shooter.
Enjoy
Thanks, Chris, Team...
I will !!! Happy New Year, and watch for my next series of lame
posts about target Alpha!
Thanks,
David
Ahhhhh....success. Congrats!! This explais why I had a infusion of
good vibes yesterday out of nowhere around the time of this post!!!
Enjoy!!!
Sean