Gottlieb Gold Wings ball release stuck open?

TheDrewster

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I have a Gold Wings that for the most part works, except the ball release coil is constantly open. From the second I give it power, the coil retracts and eventually starts stinking because its constantly engaged. Because of this, it releases both balls and does not hold them in. I checked all the wiring and fuses and all seems to be good. The coil itself is not burnt out. What is causing this?
 
Actually hold on, I think the driver board is the issue. Two transistors are missing on the board and one was replaced with the wrong type. Ill report back.
 
Actually hold on, I think the driver board is the issue. Two transistors are missing on the board and one was replaced with the wrong type. Ill report back.

Let's see a pic of the driver board.

I know on some Premier pins the drive transistor (bottlecap) for the outhole is located by the apron area.
 
By ball release do you mean the outhole kicker? Out hole kicker is controlled by Q59. It should be a 2n6043 between the 3 bottlecaps. You can swap Q53 (Knocker) to Q59 to see if that is the problem.

The missing transistors may not be a problem. MPS-U45 transistors are getting hard to find so It's common to see the unused transistors used where needed.
 
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The missing transistors may not be a problem. MPS-U45 transistors are getting hard to find so It's common to see the unused transistors used where needed.

I just bought a slug of CEN-U45 transistors from Mouser for $2 each. Same things right? Are they that hard to find?
 
Alright so I replaced Q59 with the correct transistor and replaced the two missing ones and I still have the same issue. Just to clarify, the ball gets kicked, but not held inside the trough, so both balls end up being kicked out every time the game is started. The balls dont stay in the trough. The ball gate locks open every time the machine is powered up. Does that make any sense?
 
Alright so I replaced Q59 with the correct transistor and replaced the two missing ones and I still have the same issue. Just to clarify, the ball gets kicked, but not held inside the trough, so both balls end up being kicked out every time the game is started. The balls dont stay in the trough. The ball gate locks open every time the machine is powered up. Does that make any sense?


Sounds like a switch adjustment to me then. Throw it in test and see if any show open are closed....
 
Test mode confirms all switches open. Each switch in the ball return assembly registers as it should. I am currently uploading a video of what its doing.
 
Check the MPS-U45 @ Q13 on the driver board. There is also a Q7 under the playfield It's a 2N5879.
What color wires are going to the coil?
Parts list shows that as the Ball return unit. Schematic only lists a Ball release coil. I assume that is the right circuit.

Schematic shows Red-Blue-Blue and Red-Green-Green to the Ball Release Coil and Q7 should have the Red-Blue-Blue and Brown-Orange-Orange to it.

Edit: That circuit is fused by F11. Try to pull that and see if we have the right circuit.
 
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Check the MPS-U45 @ Q13 on the driver board. There is also a Q7 under the playfield It's a 2N5879.
What color wires are going to the coil?
Parts list shows that as the Ball return unit. Schematic only lists a Ball release coil. I assume that is the right circuit.

Schematic shows Red-Blue-Blue and Red-Green-Green to the Ball Release Coil and Q7 should have the Red-Blue-Blue and Brown-Orange-Orange to it.

Edit: That circuit is fused by F11. Try to pull that and see if we have the right circuit.

Yes, the wires are Red-Blue-Blue and Red-Green-Green. F11 controls that coil.
 
YES! Q13's transistor was shorted and now the ball release works as it should. Then I had to fashion a gate wire to keep the 2nd ball in, and now it works perfectly. Thanks!!!
 
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