wow dude. I hate to be the one to say this but you have too many strikes here..
-oddball maker, youll never find parts
- multiple issues
- no diagnoastic/repair info
-rats nest style assembly of boards, even when new!
unless somebody here used to op these or something, i just see a daunting task ahead of you that you might not want to get into. (can of worms comes to mind)
sorry to sound so negative man, and by all means prove me wrong, but dude seriously yours really looking at a nightmare there to get this thing all squared away. You need to fix what you have because you probhably wont be able to find parts.
****IF**** you have dc powered crane motors, then this kit may be your only hope.
http://www.twobits.com/Cranes/
Youll basically gut all the boards and wire harness, and install this.
that will leave you still fixing your claw coil and string, but will eliminate the rest of the headaches...
EDIT: AHA!!! in the manual, they talk about hollywood cranes. TO use the kit, ou need a different claw coil anyways, so there ya go..
http://www.twobits.com/craneins.pdf