Firepower- 1 solenoid (flipper) working

razzamanaz

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I have been restoring a firepower and have everything working except the solenoids. I replaced the cpu/driver board with the rottendog mpu326. (great board btw)

Only the left flipper works when I start play.

Are all the solenoids power (daisy chained?) I'm at a loss here, newbie that I am. Would appreciate any help..
 
I have been restoring a firepower and have everything working except the solenoids. I replaced the cpu/driver board with the rottendog mpu326. (great board btw)

Only the left flipper works when I start play.

Are all the solenoids power (daisy chained?) I'm at a loss here, newbie that I am. Would appreciate any help..

All the solenoids should have +28v (could also be higher, up to 40v I've seen) voltage when they are in a game or in the solenoid test sequence. They activate by switching the ground side of them.

Could also just be a dirty switch as well, so I'd also clean the contacts. Look for any broken wires on both the flipper and switch.

-Hans
 
Thanks,

I have both flippers working (was a disconnected wire -molinex- on power board).

Ill clean the switches and check power. The kickers, pop bumpers and ball eject are the only ones still dead.

Special solenoid problem? What gets me it that its a group and not individual solenoids...

I'll work on it in the morning
 
Thanks,

I have both flippers working (was a disconnected wire -molinex- on power board).

Ill clean the switches and check power. The kickers, pop bumpers and ball eject are the only ones still dead.

Special solenoid problem? What gets me it that its a group and not individual solenoids...

I'll work on it in the morning

Check for positive voltage at those coils. If it's there you have a problem with the ground path. Manually ground the tabs of the transistors that drive those coils. If they work you've got a board problem (driver, pre-driver, logic, etc...). If not you've got a connector or wiring problem.

Given that you've got a new driver board I would suspect it's a problem with power getting to the coils due to some kind of cabinet wiring problem or a blown fuse somewhere under the playfield. Could easily be a single wire disconnected.

EDIT: I wouldn't think the ball eject would be a special solenoid but I could be wrong. If it is and all of those special solenoids are on the same 7408 (IIRC) it could definitely be a logic problem but again I kind of doubt it with a new driver board. In any case... the procedure I've mentioned above should troubleshoot the problem from end to end.
 
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Thanks

Thanks guys everything is working now except one thing. It was a combination of the F2 SB fuse (did not look blown but when i metered it.. blown), and a solenoid 22mfd cap with a broken wire. I believe Occam's Razor applies here...

Play is fine until 2 balls get locked for multiball, then the ball eject solenoid just keeps ejecting and will not stop.

I forgot how fast this game is and its a wonder the top glass never breaks (ball going airborne).
 
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