Help with a Betson Big Choice Crane?

mschwartz01

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I posted in the redemption section but I think this is the place I am supposed to post.

Picked up a Big Choice 2 button crane over the weekend... everything was functioning but the claw would not grab at the bottom of the decent. Found that the ground wire on coiled wire had frayed and detached from the solenoid. As I was stripping the tip of the black wire to resolder it back to the solenoid, the red wire popped off too. I redid the solder connections on each and I'm 99% sure I soldered red and black to the correct lugs...

Now when I power the game on the claw immediately snaps closed very fast. Everything else still works fine. The claw stays closed the whole time the game is powered on and won't open until I turn the power off. (I only leave it powered on briefly for testing as I don't want to over stress the solenoid)

The op I got it from said that I probably blew a transistor. I metered both the transistors in the claw path (per the schemetics) with red on base and black on collector / emmiter and everything checks out ok.

Is it possible that I soldered the red / black wires backwards on the solenoid? Would that cause this issue? I can say that the lug I soldered the red wire to has one little copper wire that loops down into the windings of the solenoid. It doesn't make sense that would be ground right???

Anyway I am out of options on what the next step could possibly be... Can anyone assist here?

I really need to have this thing ready for my son's birthday party in a week - so any help is greatly appreciated!!!!


This is the microprocessor board version if it makes any difference...
 
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I talked to Betson tech support - cool guy I talked to... he said it doesn't matter what which wire goes to which lug on the solenoid. And that maybe those transistors are a little leaky... Who knows...

Anyone have an Idea? I may replace the 2 transistors anyway because they aren't that expensive... The tested ok from B to C/E but gave a little off reading in the other direction... I figure it wont hurt.... I have a half day off of work tomorrow so I can get to the local M-F 8-5 electronics store.

I hope this takes care of it but what would you try next if it doesn't help?
 
Good news! Replaced the transistor on the board and the claw is now opening and closing as it should!

But now I have a new issue... From start the trolly moves forward, to the right, claw drops, grabs, goes back up and moves left. Stops, and opens...

So its not returning home....

Any thoughts? Could it be one of the switches in the trolley?

Any crane experts around?
 
*SOLVED*

My wife actually diagnosed the problem!!!!

As the carriage moved left and reached the left wall, it was not making proper contact with the arm that depresses the switch.... Therefor the carriage thought it was in the home position and released the prize.

A little teflon tape and a slight bend to the arm and we are back in business until I can order a new arm for the switch!
 
I had a hard time telling the difference between the problems you described and my experience with a properly working crane machine. ;)
 
I meant it as a joke. :) Darn things always drop my prize at the most inopportune time.
 
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