Help with Kramer Krane - Claw doesn't drop

TormundGiantbutt

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I recently acquired an old Kramer Krane and everything works except the claw doesn't drop.

I've looked over all the other threads I could find, and have gone through the troubleshooting listed below, but still can't get it to go down.
  • Checked to make sure the string is routed correctly/wound the right way
  • Checked the claw limit switches (one switch needed it's lever bent a little so it wasn't always engaged, but continuity test on both was fine)
  • Can manually pull the claw down and it will unwind/go down, then the motor will retract it back up properly, but it just won't go down on it's own.
Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm not sure what to check next... Relays maybe? Or possibly swap out the motor? (I have a spare claw assembly that came with it, so I might be able to pull parts from it. However, it's from a different machine, and I'm also not sure if it even works)
 
I recently acquired an old Kramer Krane and everything works except the claw doesn't drop.

I've looked over all the other threads I could find, and have gone through the troubleshooting listed below, but still can't get it to go down.
  • Checked to make sure the string is routed correctly/wound the right way
  • Checked the claw limit switches (one switch needed it's lever bent a little so it wasn't always engaged, but continuity test on both was fine)
  • Can manually pull the claw down and it will unwind/go down, then the motor will retract it back up properly, but it just won't go down on it's own.
Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm not sure what to check next... Relays maybe? Or possibly swap out the motor? (I have a spare claw assembly that came with it, so I might be able to pull parts from it. However, it's from a different machine, and I'm also not sure if it even works)
String might be wound up backwards. It might try to drop but instead it's pulling back up. It also might be that the switch that tells the claw it's reached the top is either engaged or not engaged when it should be the opposite. Try playing the machine while holding down the different limit switches in the trolley. One of those might make it drop. If it's able to pull the claw back up then your motor is fine, but it could also be the claw drop relay if there's one dedicated to that function.
 
String might be wound up backwards. It might try to drop but instead it's pulling back up. It also might be that the switch that tells the claw it's reached the top is either engaged or not engaged when it should be the opposite. Try playing the machine while holding down the different limit switches in the trolley. One of those might make it drop. If it's able to pull the claw back up then your motor is fine, but it could also be the claw drop relay if there's one dedicated to that function.
Thanks for the reply!

I believe the string is the correct way. I can pull the claw down to wind it out a little, then when I play, it'll wind back up normally after sitting for a second where it should be dropping the claw.

I've also tested continuity on both the limit switches and they should be working. That's what led me to believe it may be the relay. I'm going to look through the service docs this evening and see if there is a dedicated drop relay.
I also have a couple of other boards for it, in unknown condition, so I may just try to swap out the board and see if that fixes it.

I'll try to get some pics/video this evening to show what's happening.
 
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