Greyhound Crane Game help needed

fireman

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HI All,
New here and need some help with a Grayhound Crane Machine. It works great with one exception. You start the game normally and move it forward and then to the right. The claw drops and closes like it's supposed to. On the way up, the claw opens and continues up and the carriage returns to the home position.

This is the version with the two rectangular buttons. The left one moves the carriage forward and the right one moves the carriage to the right.

greyhound.jpg


I would also like to convert this to a single Happ joystick if anyone has instructions to do it.

Thanks,
Jeff
 
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It sounds like the claw coil cable has a break in one of the wires or at the connection inside the claw where the coil mates to the wire.

Does it seem to always open at the same height?
 
Hi,
Thanks for the reply. Sometimes the claw doesn't close when it gets to the bottom. I have adjusted it with the potts on the board following the instructions. For the most part it does seem to open at the same height on the way up. I am going to check the wires out and seeif there are any breaks or bad connections. Is there a switch that tells the claw to open once it gets to the home position? I was thinking maybe it is stuck and may falsely telling the claw it is home.

Thanks Again,
Jeff
 
It would not be the homing switch(s) as the bridge & trolley would freeze as the PCB would belive that the game is over.

I'm betting on the cable and / or coil connection. Just about every crane I have had the same problem with was due to the above issue.
 
OK. I will start there and trouble shoot the claw coil and the coiled cord for it first. Hopefully that will resolve the issue. Once I fix that and make sure everything is running right, I am going to go through and check all connections and wires to mitigate any other potential problems.

The steel rods that trolley rides on seem sticky and not smooth. Should I just use some cleaner and make them nice and shinny? Is any type of dry lube required? Any other hints or tips I should do or watch out for?

Like I had posted above. I would like to make this joystick operated. I have found some other threads about the Grayhounds were people have stated that they converted theirs but didn't say how. Does this one have the capability to move back and forth and left and right?

I was a engineering technician before I became a paid fire fighter and am very fluent in electronics. I have looked over the schematics and it seems like it can be done by just adding a joystick and some rewiring but want to confirm before I even think about beginning.

As usual thanks for the replies and help,
Jeff
 
I believe they can be converted to joystick control (Some older versions may not though).

I have not touched a Greyhound crane in probably 10 years so I cant help you with that aspect. There are some members here who still have them and know them well enough to point you in the correct direction.

I'm sure some of them will be checking in.
 
Success!!!

I pulled the claw out and checked for continuity of the coil at the connector. I found there was none. Right were the coiled cord was attached to the coil, they had it folded back on itself. The wire was broken at this point. Unsoldered the connections and cut the bend out. Made new connections and shrink tubed them. Now I had continuity at the connector. Re-installed the claw and reset the voltage. The machine now works like a champ. Thanks to those who gave advice.

I still want to install a joystick so any advice on that or anything else dealing with the machine would be appreciated.

Thanks a million,
Jeff
 
I pulled the claw out and checked for continuity of the coil at the connector. I found there was none. Right were the coiled cord was attached to the coil, they had it folded back on itself. The wire was broken at this point. Unsoldered the connections and cut the bend out. Made new connections and shrink tubed them. Now I had continuity at the connector. Re-installed the claw and reset the voltage. The machine now works like a champ. Thanks to those who gave advice.

I still want to install a joystick so any advice on that or anything else dealing with the machine would be appreciated.

Thanks a million,
Jeff


I had the same issue (and more) I went threw boards and everything trying to find the issue, finally cut back the old shrink tubing and there it was a broken wire (felt like somewhat of a dumb ass) as soon as funds allow I am going to order a top fire joystick and see if I can convert mine, if so I will take notes and let you know how it goes!!

Cool to meet another fireman on here, I am a fire/medic here in KY
 
Joystick

I have the 3 separate boards. I have the manual which has the wiring diagram in it. Looks like the wires are there to convert to joystick.
 
sweet.. black should be ground then the other colored wires will be left right up down.

You can momentarily touch one at a time to ground diring gameplay to figure out which wire does what. Or if you cant figure it out i can pull my cp and tell you which wire does what.
 
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