Gottlieb Gladiators Help needed - a few issues

andykmv

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just acquired one in pretty good nick. this is my first pin so i am a total newb at pin maintenance! needs some new legs/bolts but otherwise is super clean and tidy throughout!

Firstly, i need to convert this unit to 240v AC 50hz operation. inside the cabinet there is a packet with some jumbers using the MiniFit junior connectors with loop jumpers. the one i need for 240v operation is missing - where can i get one of these, or the diagram to make one ?

Secondly, there is a lead hanging down in the back under the headbox, that looks like it should plug into the playfield. how do i move the playfield back far enough to reach in ? a dumb question i know, there are two side rails that the playfield pivots in with a hooked slotone ach side toward the front - whats the best way to move it down to those slots ? you know, single handed =(.
 
....i need to convert this unit to 240v AC 50hz operation. inside the cabinet there is a packet with some jumbers using the MiniFit junior connectors with loop jumpers. the one i need for 240v operation is missing - where can i get one of these, or the diagram to make one ?

EDIT: Found a manual in the back of the pin. whoo hoo! page 57 details what i need to convert to 240v 50hz, now to find these 2 jumper blocks ready made!

anyone know where i can get these ?
 
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talked to Steve at PBR and didnt have the bits, but decided to get a stepdown trannie to get me going for now. and will order parts from Digikey.

so, finished scanning the interior for loose stuff, repaired one pin of a minifitjr connector (the tip of the pin was bent slightly so kept fouling when trying to engage theother half). got out my minifitjr extractor tool and popped out the offending pin. fixed the pin and re-inserted.

the mains lead was chafed so a temporary tape cover placed over the chafed bits

only had one ball so i dropped it down the thoat between the flippers.

connected game to stepdown, stepdown to mains socket, turned on the mains and Viola! nuttin. :001_ssad:

Aha! coin door was open and forgot to pulll out the interlock. pulled out the interlock and viola! nuttin. bugga. forgot the mains switch under the pin. flcik the switch and thrid time lucky, viola! we had lights and sounds

whoo hoo! my first pin. i do need to check ALL of the fuses. time to take a punt to see what is going to happen.

Pros:
1. 95% of lights work. translight backlight works. dot matrix display all works. sound/speech works. lots of clunks and stuff.

Cons:
1. no flipper action.
2. Stuck ball message.

hmm. what to do now ? Any hints and tips most welcome!
 
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i was having a brekkie cuppa and staring at a jumper block on the hearth near the fire and

DOH! realised i had forgotten to refit the shaker motor mains 4 pin jumper block!

will plug it back in again and see what that fixes.

also need to clean up the flipper switch contacts as they are in woeful condition - pitted badly!

need to buy:
2 x flipper button sets (4 total - incl a spare set)
2 x flipper switch sets (4 total - incl a spare set)
4 x balls - cant play multiball without em!
2 x minifit jr jumper block connectors (4 way, 10 way) and pins
1 x globe set
1 x fuse set
1 x set of chrome leg bolts
1 x coin box (got the lid)
1 x complete set of rubbers
1 x set of lock picks!
2 x locks (coin door, head box)

also spent some time reading the manual to check how the flipper controls work

and tonight i will try the self test process
 
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Help still needed! also if i get the terminology wrong here, pls forgive my errors! as i work throught the manual and technical details i will pick it up.

... realised i had forgotten to refit the shaker motor mains 4 pin jumper block!....will plug it back in again and see what that fixes.

plugged back in. shaker now works

... the lead hanging down in the back under the headbox....

- figured out where to plug it back in. repaired a bent pin the connector. fixed and plugged back in. note: i had a minifitjr pin extractor - essential to remove a pin for repair. looks like two skinny parallel pieces of steel sep by about 1.5mm or 1/16"

... move the playfield back far enough to reach in ?

- got it figured out and can move the playfield forward now. duh! but very awkward, just have to be careful!

... also need to clean up the flipper switch contacts as they are in woeful condition - pitted badly! .......and tonight i will try the self test process

- ran the self test, noted some issues and did some repairs as follows:

1. flippers DO work (phew)

2. bunch of lamps dont work - need to buy some lamps

3. most solenoids work fine but a few are i think a little sticky
- weak return spring maybe ? or a little oil needed ?

4. one post with rubber bumper (near one of the upper bumbers next to the rh silver ramp) is quite loose in its hole.
- what is the best way to repair that ?
A: found this tip: sawdust and glue - http://www.xmission.com/~daina/tips/pub/tip0508.html
But - is the glue a white pva glue or some other type ?

5. was checking over playfield after the "stuck ball" message and found the orange cap from one of the back row of lamps (under headbox) had both screw tabs broken off and was in the ball hole at the top of the playfield (where it gets kicked out into the bumpers).
- removed it. didnt fix the stuck ball error. is there a sensor either on the one way gate at the top, or nearby that the lamp cover may have damaged ?

6. still have a "stuck ball" error. put the ball down the throat, coin up, press start, get stuck ball error, ball does not get transferred into the "ball shooter". ball does i think end up in the hole ready to kick into the "ball shooter". "stuck ball" message also appeared after i powered down and up the game.
- so whats is the next step to work out why i am getting the "stuck ball" message ? there is only one ball in the game - could that be the issue ? if not, what sensor or sensors should i check next ?

CHECKLIST:
To Do:
- need to clean up the flipper switch contacts as they are in woeful condition - pitted badly!
- look for and replace bad coil stops. known issue Gottlieb pop bumpers.
Need to Buy:
? x coil stops
2 x flipper buttons
2 x flipper switches
4 x balls - cant play multiball without em!
2 x minifit jr jumper block connectors (4 way, 10 way) and pins
1 x globe set
1 x fuse set
1 x set of chrome leg bolts
1 x coin box (got the lid)
1 x complete set of rubbers
1 x set of lock picks!
2 x locks (coin door, head box)
 
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Sounds like a stuck ball trough switch to me.

"Sounds like a stuck ball trough switch to me."

dumbo question here: what is the ball trough switch ? is this the switch inside the throat of the game (ie under the flippers) ?

EDIT: read the manual. DUH! trough is the slot with all the balls in it!
 
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well thanks to hindered i dont feel so alone with the problems, so i am inspired anew to get up early (well 7am) on saturday to get some brekkie and a cuppa, and get started on checking some ball sensors/switches.

damn puppywogs wont get outa bed again - gotta throw em off the bed at least twice cause they jump back in again! cheeky beggas :p
me in the chair browsing klov lookin for inspiration, with one of the slackas - grace - cant even use me own poof'e cause she wants to sit on it
GCH12-2.JPG

me in the same chair but lookin at the other slacka chester in the missus' chair
GCH14-2.JPG

both slackas (english bull terriers) in bed (dont let the lazy look fool ya!) and the pic reminds me of another project - fix the cabinet where chester "sampled" the door
GCH4-2.JPG

lazy sods

oh, and i have gotta try and crack open the headbox lock - game didnt come with any ruddy keys grrr
 
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fogot to mention to add to TODO list:
a small bag full of stickers.
yes stickers.
cleaned out the inside bottom of the pin, multiple times and collected about 30 small numbered labels. now i have to figure out which connector etc they fell off and glue the ?@#$%& things back on!

CHECKLIST:
To Do:
- need to clean up the flipper switch contacts as they are in woeful condition - pitted badly!
- look for and replace bad coil stops. known issue Gottlieb pop bumpers.
- stickers - figure out which connector etc they fell off and glue the ?@#$% things back on
- fix stuck ball issue
Need to Buy:
2 x small screws, playfield plastic covers, lh top pop bumper
1 x larger screw, hex post, rh ramp lh corner
20 x plastic rivets
missing playfield cover piece, top rhs cnr over shooters lane 1st curve
playfield post near sw94 with new rubber
? x coil stops
2 x flipper buttons
2 x flipper switches
4 x balls - cant play multiball without em!
2 x minifit jr jumper block connectors (4 way, 10 way) and pins
1 x globe set
1 x fuse set
1 x set of chrome leg bolts
1 x coin box (got the lid)
1 x complete set of rubbers
1 x set of lock picks!
2 x locks (coin door, head box)
 
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...stickers.
cleaned out the inside bottom of the pin, multiple times and collected about 30 small numbered labels. now i have to figure out which connector etc they fell off and glue the ?@#$%& things back on!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARG! everytime i touch a previously untouched connector the label comes off.

whats the best glue to use for the labels to plastic connectors ?
 
just ran through a list of the faults and darn it if the browser didnt crash and lose my unsaved post. grrr.

anyway, i figured out the "stuck ball" fault - i dont have enough balls loaded. it needs 5 balls and i only have 2! =)D literally. steels ones that is!

so i also figured out how to trick it - hold done the SW33 "trough" switchand the SW23 "outhole" switch. the game would then kick a ball into the shooter lane !

WHOO HOO!

EDIT: just played my first games or 10 with the glass off (caught the ball a few times as it headed for the outhole :p) WHOO HOO!
 
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time to reassemble everything for the moment and then re-run all the lamp, switch and solenoid tests again to work up the list of faulty lamps etc again.

played a few more games whilst the missus was riding the horse, but the dings cluncks etc were anoying her. too bad! :D:p
 
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Played lots more games - great fun!

CHECKLIST:

To Do:
- need to clean up the flipper switch contacts as they are in woeful condition - pitted badly!
- look for and replace bad coil stops. known issue Gottlieb pop bumpers.
---> had a captain cook at the sticky kicker and it looked ok.
---> still need to check the others
- wirebrush the leg leveller threads, remove, cleanup threads, grease and replace.
- get headbox lock picked. and replace lock.

Need to Buy:
2 x small screws, playfield plastic covers, lh top pop bumper
1 x larger screw, hex post, rh ramp lh corner
20 x plastic rivets
1 x missing playfield cover piece, top rhs cnr over shooters lane 1st curve
playfield post near sw94 with new rubber
? x coil stops
2 x flipper buttons
2 x flipper switches
2 x minifit jr jumper block connectors (4 way, 10 way) and pins
1 x globe set (need more #44s)
1 x fuse set
1 x set of chrome leg bolts
1 x complete set of rubbers
1 x set of lock picks!
2 x locks (coin door, head box)
- stickers - figure out which connector etc they fell off and glue the ?@#$% things back on

Ordered:
5 x 1-1/16th pinballs
1 x set of leg protector pads
1 x set of 10 #44 bayonet bulbs
1 x coin box (got the lid)
1 x set black leg bolts (for GS)

DONE:
- fix stuck ball issue
-> DONE! only needed more pinballs. pfft. ordered new set of 5.
- look for and replace bad coil stops. known issue Gottlieb pop bumpers.
-> had a captain cook at the sticky kicker and it looked ok.
 
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......oh, and i have gotta try and crack open the headbox lock - game didnt come with any ruddy keys grrr

good news! i was working on it tonight and b*^^% me if i didnt find 'em on the far side of the coin mech in the corner attached to a key hook.. doh! :D i now have keys for the headbox or light box whatever you like to call it. AND i can now securely bolt it to the main body - phew - was getting worried about bumping it and breaking the rear latch which would have ended in disaster! :)
 
Unpacked the parts that came in today.
Installed coin box, new pinballs (nice new shiny set! ) & fixed outball sensor/switch.
Found headbox keys and checked i could unlock head box - YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS!

Played lots more games tonight - fun fun fun!

CHECKLIST:

To Do:
- Replace blown playfield bulbs and light box bulbs - a supply of #44 baynets obtained and need to be fitted.
- Fit 1 x set of leg protector pads
- need to clean up the flipper switch contacts as they are in woeful condition - pitted badly!
- look for and replace bad coil stops. known issue Gottlieb pop bumpers.
---> had a captain cook at the sticky kicker and it looked ok.
---> still need to check the others
- wirebrush the leg leveller threads, remove, cleanup threads, grease and replace.

Need to Buy:
2 x small screws, playfield plastic covers, lh top pop bumper
1 x larger screw, hex post, rh ramp lh corner
20 x plastic rivets
1 x missing playfield cover piece, top rhs cnr over shooters lane 1st curve
playfield post near sw94 with new rubber
? x coil stops
2 x flipper buttons
2 x flipper switches
2 x minifit jr jumper block connectors (4 way, 10 way) and pins
1 x globe set (need more #44s)
1 x fuse set
1 x set of chrome leg bolts
1 x complete set of rubbers
1 x coin door lock 7/8"
- stickers - figure out which connector etc they fell off and glue the ?@#$% things back on

Ordered:

DONE:
- Needed 1 x set of 10 #44 bayonet bulbs
-> DONE! delivered today!
- Needed 1 x set of leg protector pads
->DONE! will fit them after i relocate the machine to it's temporary home.
- Needed 5 x 1-1/16th pinballs
-> DONE! arrived today! put in machine, fixed outball sensor and played some games - no more manually operating the microswitch!
- Need 1 x set black leg bolts (for GS)
-> DONE! arrived today.
- Need 1 x coin box (got the lid)
-> DONE! new one delivered today. lid fits!
- faulty outball microswitch sensor
-> FIXED! just had to bend back the lever as the ball wasnt closing the switch. consequence of having manually operating the microswitch as a workaround until the new pinballs arrived.
- get headbox lock picked.
-> DONE! found the keys!
- fix stuck ball issue
-> DONE! only needed more pinballs. pfft. ordered new set of 5.
- look for and replace bad coil stops. known issue Gottlieb pop bumpers.
-> had a captain cook at the sticky kicker and it looked ok.[/QUOTE]
 
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Gottlieb Gladiators pinball - photo of missing playfield plastic needed

Help please! i need a photo/scan of a missing playfield cover over the shooter lane as it curves around at the top rhs corner.

at the very least i need the outline to scale so i can fashion a replacement piece from clear plastic.

a colour photo or scan would also be good so i can replicate the pattern as the plastics at the top of the board are mostly solid purple with a border so should not be hard to hand paint/spray to suit

ideally i would like to find a replacement piece if anyone has one or a full plastic set!
 
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