EM Cleopatra help

I'm definitely going to make some working copies. Thanks for the tips.

I've got the game working.. I'm amazed and full of smiles. It cycles the ball properly throughout the plays and ends the game. I loaded all 4 players and it cycled through all 4 properly. I'm sure there are a few things here and there with the scoring that may not be perfect so far, but its far enough along that I am going to give the playfield and parts a good scrub and wax and put the rubber on. The playfield graphics are well beyond my repair capabilities, so its going to be a down and dirty machine..
 
Nice job. I got one of these that was dead (like yours) and on "free play" (no such thing with this game).

I ran down the free play to the outhole switch - someone had just moved the switch so it won't register the ball leaving the playfield - thus, free play forever.

The lighting / score wheel issues were with the Jones Plugs (the pin and socket plugs in the head). I use a Dremel tool with a cotton polishing head for the pins, and then use jeweler's files (Menards 3 pack) to clean up the connection on the connector. It's slow work, but so far, I've done around 11 EM restores from "dead" and it works, every time.

I hope this helps you. I was sorry this one went when I finished it - I gave it to my kid's school for their annual auction, and someone nabbed it for $1200.
 
I'm definitely going to make some working copies. Thanks for the tips.

I've got the game working.. I'm amazed and full of smiles. It cycles the ball properly throughout the plays and ends the game. I loaded all 4 players and it cycled through all 4 properly. I'm sure there are a few things here and there with the scoring that may not be perfect so far, but its far enough along that I am going to give the playfield and parts a good scrub and wax and put the rubber on. The playfield graphics are well beyond my repair capabilities, so its going to be a down and dirty machine..

Excellent. Usually when we start helping people with an EM, they get scared off and don't post anymore. They're real easy to work on, once you understand the logics behind it. And best thing of all, you can't fry any circuitboards! :)

If you have any other questions, let us know.

-Pat
 
I will definitely be asking more questions once I get to ironing out the final issues. I still think there is going to be some scoring issues.. I'll know more once I get it cleaned up and playing.

This is my first EM experience and while it is very intimidating looking its not near as bad as it looks. The most important thing I realized is taking your time and cleaning and inspecting each contact and relay for adjustment. All the issues I've had with this game were all fixed by cleaning and adjusting the contacts. My first round was just running over the contacts with some sandpaper or a file. I didn't check them at that point to make sure they were making or breaking when the relay moved.

Is there a way to make this machine take dimes instead of quarters?
 
I didn't get to play long and one of the new rubbers snapped. I did discover that I don't think any bonus scoring is working. At the end of the ball, when it hits the ball return switch, the game goes through its reset and counts down the bonus on the playfield, but the score doesn't change. At the end of the game, the match doesn't happen, although not sure when its supposed to happen.
 
Thanks for everyones help so far on getting this machine running. I've been playing the heck out of it and having a blast. The sound of an EM pinball is something that just brings smiles to everyone that plays it. I've got a few minor issues I need some help with..

On the end of ball, it counts out the bonus according to the lights on the playfield. There are 5 rows of bonuses. The 3rd row doesn't score. The relays are clicking and clanking, but the score doesn't record 95% of the time. Only on that one row. I tried following it through the schematics, but I'm getting lost.

End of game match - Not sure how this is supposed to work. At the end of game, the match numbers light up and when it matches, its supposed to give a free game I thought. I've had a few matches, but get nothing.


ArcadeTechGW-- I read somewhere you can put the machine on freeplay by closing one of the switches on the credit wheel. I think its supposed to trick the game into thinking a credit was input.. I haven't messed with it. For now, I'm enjoying putting quarters in the game..
 
If you can take a picture, or scan in that particular section of the schematic, I can help you read it and go through it. But by all means, do not copy the entire thing and put it up here. That would be bad ju-ju.

-Pat

Thanks for everyones help so far on getting this machine running. I've been playing the heck out of it and having a blast. The sound of an EM pinball is something that just brings smiles to everyone that plays it. I've got a few minor issues I need some help with..

On the end of ball, it counts out the bonus according to the lights on the playfield. There are 5 rows of bonuses. The 3rd row doesn't score. The relays are clicking and clanking, but the score doesn't record 95% of the time. Only on that one row. I tried following it through the schematics, but I'm getting lost.

End of game match - Not sure how this is supposed to work. At the end of game, the match numbers light up and when it matches, its supposed to give a free game I thought. I've had a few matches, but get nothing.


ArcadeTechGW-- I read somewhere you can put the machine on freeplay by closing one of the switches on the credit wheel. I think its supposed to trick the game into thinking a credit was input.. I haven't messed with it. For now, I'm enjoying putting quarters in the game..
 
Thanks Pat.. Being new to this, my issue is knowing where to start in the schematic. The ball return switch closes which triggers the bonus to start counting. The bonus stepper operates properly, but skips one value on the scoreboard. I don't know where to look or how to find the relays that hold the bonus scores. The stepper must be working since it counts up properly and every other bonus is added. Here is the ball return, game reset section.. and the relay list and a pic of the playfield. Now that I'm thinking of this, I should look at the 1000pt relay?

-Ken
 

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Thanks Pat.. Being new to this, my issue is knowing where to start in the schematic. The ball return switch closes which triggers the bonus to start counting. The bonus stepper operates properly, but skips one value on the scoreboard. I don't know where to look or how to find the relays that hold the bonus scores. The stepper must be working since it counts up properly and every other bonus is added. Here is the ball return, game reset section.. and the relay list and a pic of the playfield. Now that I'm thinking of this, I should look at the 1000pt relay?

-Ken

On section 23 all the way on the right, that whole line is the "bonus control relay". This may be where your problem is since you are saying 4 out of the 5 bonuses work fine.
When reading a schematic, there is an index (I can't see the letter section, but I know the section to guide you to is #23 or #24) so we can guide each other using those numbers / letters from now on.

I'm assuming the 3rd row out of the 5 is the blue row. On the schematic, there is a switch that has black red on one side (then either black or red on the other) on the "Bonus Control Relay" itself, that switch may be dirty or out of adjustment. Moving further to the right there is another switch on the "Sequence Bank" Section 3b, that could be dirty or out of adjustment. How I found this out is looking at your second picture, there is a legend of where on the schematic, and the game all of the units are located. I would try the switch on the relay first, and the bank second, as I would have to assume the bank is a little more difficult to work on.
If you adjust these switches or clean them and it still doesn't work, I'd try the jumper method. You can take a jumper wire with alligator clips, put them across the switch (so you are simulating the closure) and see what happens.

If this fixes it (I don't see why it wouldn't be anything other than 1 of both of those switches), it's a good explanation of: "It's better to not go cleaning everything and adjusting all the switches. Just figure out which switch or two that do need the cleaning or adjusting and fix those instead).

Let us know what you find.

-Pat
 
Thanks.. I'll have a look at that tonight when I get home. The sequence bank is hinged and fairly easy to get to.. I'll have a look at those switches. Looks like both relays are in the sequence bank. Since it steps and counts properly with the exception of the one row, I figured those switches would be good.

I didn't adjust too many of the switches before playing, but I did attempt to clean them all. In the beginning, I probably man-handled some of the switches a bit too much.
 
Thanks.. I'll have a look at that tonight when I get home. The sequence bank is hinged and fairly easy to get to.. I'll have a look at those switches. Looks like both relays are in the sequence bank. Since it steps and counts properly with the exception of the one row, I figured those switches would be good.

I didn't adjust too many of the switches before playing, but I did attempt to clean them all. In the beginning, I probably man-handled some of the switches a bit too much.

That's alright, you can always fix it. There is a little slot on the sequence bank that a bar fits in. Just make sure you "hinge" the sequence bank back tight before playing. Also, there is 110v AC to the coil on that, so be careful around there if you have the game on.

-Pat
 
I didn't get much time to play with it last night. I did check 3b and 9b and they are both adjusted and cleaned. I thought that fixed it, but not 100%. It does now score on the single bonus sometimes. It seems like when the blue and one other are lit, it credits the score. When all bonuses are lit but the green one, it scores. If the green one is one of the 4, the blue doesn't score. When double bonus is lit, the blue scores by itself. If there are more than one lit, the blue doesn't score. If 4 are lit and the blue is not, they will all score. I'll try to get a video of it - I'm sure I'm not explaining it right.

I looked at the green rollover relay and the double bonus relay and they look good. I did see the red/black wire on the 3b relay, but didn't see it on the bonus control relay (9b).
 
So I'm back on the game trying to get the last few minor issues done. I was able to get the credit meter working properly. The pivot bolt was sticky.. took it apart, cleaned it and now that works.. I'm still chasing the bonus issues with the blue selections.. I started making a list of the different combinations in hopes to narrow down whats going on.. I really feel like something is out of sync. I checked the bonus unit wheel and it looks like its set right according to the pics I've found. I thought it was strange when the bonus unit counted down that it went past the rivets on all the shoes.. Here are a few pics..
 

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I got it!!!! woooohoooo... :D I still don't understand why what I found caused the problem, but I found the problem.

On the green drop target switches-- one switch was touching the common on the switch above it when the target was reset. I didn't trace that switch to see what was really happening, but it works.. I think this was my last "problem" with the game..
 
I've been working on the solid state version of this... watching the bonus happen at the end of the ball, it's pretty amazing they worked that out on the e.m.!
 
Its pretty cool how it works. There is a lot going on inside that cabinet. I'm new to relay logic and its pretty amazing.
 
I've been working on the solid state version of this... watching the bonus happen at the end of the ball, it's pretty amazing they worked that out on the e.m.!

Did you see my restore? I did the ss version and reworked the boards.

I bought extra cpu/driver boards they are in my queue.
 
Excellent. Usually when we start helping people with an EM, they get scared off and don't post anymore. They're real easy to work on, once you understand the logics behind it. And best thing of all, you can't fry any circuitboards! :)

If you have any other questions, let us know.

-Pat

On stern EM's, you can burn up the spotting disks.
 
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