Gottlieb EM help needed

jeff412

New member
Joined
May 1, 2009
Messages
893
Reaction score
0
Location
Buna, Texas
I have a 1971 Gottlieb that I can't get the hold relay energized. I've cleaned the contacts on the S relay and the hold relay and replaced the hold relay coil. What switch holds power to the hold relay? I thought it was the hold relay itself, but maybe not. If I hold the relay shut, the game works. I think that's my last problem with it. Do you have any ideas as to what to check?

Thanks,
Jeff
 
Do you have a schematic? I had some problems with contacts after cleaning where they are still not making good contact due to corrosion or need for adjustment. This quote from pinballrepair.com:

"On Gottlieb games (and many Bally and Williams games), after the power exits the main transformer, it goes to a "hold" relay in the bottom panel of the game. This relay usually has just one or two switches. If these contacts are dirty, no power will get to the rest of the game. Look for the most burnt relay in the bottom of the game cabinet, and that's probably the hold relay! It's on the entire time the game has power. Clean it's contacts. With the power on, manually activate the relay and look for lights."

seems to mean there is nothing between the transformer and the hold relay as long as the game is on. Is there a wire disconnected somewhere?

I have a 1971 Gottlieb that I can't get the hold relay energized. I've cleaned the contacts on the S relay and the hold relay and replaced the hold relay coil. What switch holds power to the hold relay? I thought it was the hold relay itself, but maybe not. If I hold the relay shut, the game works. I think that's my last problem with it. Do you have any ideas as to what to check?

Thanks,
Jeff
 
This was posted in another thread. This is why I thought the S relay activated the Hold relay. I'll see if I can trace the wires. The problem is they are all dirty brown and tough to trace.

Jeff

Here is the start up sequence for your game. Go through and check these in order.

1960s & 1970s Gottlieb Start-Up Sequence.
Games with score reels.
Inserting a coin or pressing the coin door start button (Gottlieb calls this the "replay" button) activates the "S" (start) relay. The start relay will lock on from its own switch and a score motor switch.
The "S" relay will energize the main hold relay to illuminate the game (if this is the first game after power-on).
The "S" relay will start the score motor running.
The "S" relay and the score motor increment the total play meter.
The "SB" relay (the secondary start relay) is activated through the score motor. The "SB" relay energizes the reset relays ("Z1" and "Z2"). If a single or two player game, there may be only a "Z" relay.
The "Z2" relay will reset the player 3 and 4 score reels to zero through the score relays (4 player games only). The "Z1" or "Z" relay will reset the player 1 (and player 2 if present) score reels to zero through the score relays.
The "SB" relay resets the player unit through the score motor.
The "U" relay resets the reset bank (or Ax, Bx, relays on 1975 and later multi-player games and Ax on single players) through the score motor. It also resets the bonus unit or drop target banks (if the game has these).
On multi-player games, inserting more coins or pressing the coin door start button activates the "PBx" relay, through the score motor. The "x" represents the player number (from two to four).
If the ball is in the outhole, the "O" relay activates. The "O" relay, through the score motor and a switch on relay "XB", will kick the ball to the shooter lane. Note: the "O" relay will not activate unless the bonus unit (if the game has one) is reset to zero (there is a bonus unit zero position switch).
When the ball re-enters the outhole after game play, the "P" relay kicks the ball back to the shooter lane. Switches on the "XB", "ZB", "P" relays and some score motor switches advances the player unit (if present) and player relays ("PBx").

Hope this helps,
Glennon
 
Ok. Pulled out the schematics. The circuit goes through the slam switch (cheat sw) in the bottom of the cabinet. Then to the S relay and then the hold relay holds itself closed once S closes it. My problem was that the slam switch was open. Once I closed it S now pulls the hold relay shut. However, for some reason, it isn't holding closed. Hopefully I can find the problem now. Thanks for the help.

Jeff
 
Ok. found the problem. The switch on the hold relay that holds itself closed was misadjusted. I was actually able to play a game after readjusting it. I have another problem now. The Player 1 lights don't light. The schematics say that switch P1F controls them, but I don't know which switch that is in the player unit. Can someone direct me to a link that shows how those switches are numbered?

Jeff
 
Ok. found the problem. The switch on the hold relay that holds itself closed was misadjusted. I was actually able to play a game after readjusting it. I have another problem now. The Player 1 lights don't light. The schematics say that switch P1F controls them, but I don't know which switch that is in the player unit. Can someone direct me to a link that shows how those switches are numbered?

Jeff
Those are normaly layed out in the manual.
Glennon
 
IIRC the player lights are powered through the switch stacks behind the disc on the player unit. The ones activated by the plastic cams. I think player 1 is the stack closest to the bakalite disc.
 
You are correct. I cleaned all of them for player 1 and that fixed the problem. I'm still not sure which one is P1F, but I haven't checked the manual yet either.

Jeff

IIRC the player lights are powered through the switch stacks behind the disc on the player unit. The ones activated by the plastic cams. I think player 1 is the stack closest to the bakalite disc.
 
Switches are lettered alphabetically in the stack, A is closest to the cam.
 
Thanks for the info. There are 6 switches on player 1, so the top one must have been my problem.

Jeff
 
Back
Top Bottom