Bally Air Aces 100 Point Relay Staying Entergized

billnaco

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Kinda of a newbie here. My husband and I did post one previous question and you were very kind in helping out. We need your help again with our Bally Air Aces (EM) Pinball Machine. Here's the problem:

1. Randomly the 100 point relay and 100 point chime will stay energized until we turn the power switch off and then back on and then it resets. Happens about every third or forth game but no scheme to it and can happen on any ball at any score. Sometimes we'll even play up to ten games before it acts up again.

2. We removed the play-field from the game and the backboard lights up fine and the 100 point relay (located inside the backboard) does not energize. This makes us think the problem is located on the play-field but to be honest we don't know for sure.

3. We do have a schematic and know that the components that energize the relay are the nine drop targets, left and right roll overs, bumpers, the two kick-out holes, and the 500 relay. All of these check out as okay both visually and with my multimeter set on ohms.

We are at a loss with this "ghost" problem and need your help again. Looking forward to your replies.
 
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Well, the first thing to do is clean all the contacts on the 100-pt relay. A dirty contact will sometimes keep it from releasing.

The next thing to try when it's stuck is to go to every 100-pt switch on the playfield and manually separate the switch to see if a stuck switch is causing it. If you find one, clean and adjust it.

If neither of these help, then you need to check you schematic and find out if anything else is in the circuit with the 100-pt switches and the 100-pt relay. Perhaps a switch in the score motor that needs cleaning or adjusting.

EM problems can be a pain to track down, but at least they're easy to fix when you do...
 
+1 on cleaning the contacts. Clean contacts and check for tightness of the switch stack screws, and adjust switches if needed. Sometimes the screws will loosen over time and cause weird intermittent problems. Is there a 100 point switch on the playfield that is dirty/ sticking. EMs require a lot of detective work and a good voltmeter with audible continuity meter to figure out.
 
When the relay sticks is it stuck because of electricity is energizing it, or could it be residual magnetism is holding it in? The chime is controled by the relay so if the relay sticks, so does the chime. When it sticks try to physically open it to see if electricity is holding it or not. I've seen this alot on old pins/bowlers/and six card machines.
 
Well again you guys are batting one thousand and I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I really mean that. We were focusing all our attention on the contacts in the play-field and the problem was indeed a contact on the 100 point relay that was sticking ever now and then. Took less than 5 seconds with the little burnishing tool. We know our machine is not a collectors item but we, the kids, and grand-kids have a blast with it and you folks really need to pat yourself on the back for helping us out. Thanks so much :)
 
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