how hard to repair a non-working spinner?

vintagegamer

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OK I'm getting the hang of my soldering iron, and am tempted to do my first pinball repair.. Since day 1 that I got my Sorcerer, the spinner that would allow you to get the last "r" in Sorcerer has never worked. I am pretty sure the part under the playfield is dead and that's what's causing this.

Would anyone be able to provide me with some steps on how I might be able to tackle this myself?
 
A spinner is just a switch. depending on the year, it will either have a leaf switch or micro switch w/blade.

Most have a leaf switch underneath. One blade is longer than the other, and there is a little bar that goes from the spinner above to the long blade below. As the spinner rotates, it causes the blades to touch - causing a score or whatever.

First get it into switch test and manuall close the blades underneath to see if it registers. if not, then you have a problem with either the switch contacts, the wiring to it, possible a diode or cap across the wired lugs, or a problem with a connector to the board, or even a problem in the switch matrix itself.

if it does register, then lower the playfield and roll a ball through it a few times to see if it registers that way. if not, then adjust the blade gap below....
 
Found the switch, cleaned them w card stock and touched them 2gether in game mode, nothing happens. Does it tell in manual how to go in switch mode?
 
OK I have finally figured out how to run the switch test on my Sorcerer (for you guys who do these all the time, believe me when I tell you it's very hard for someone who has not worked on pins to understand this test process immediately!!!)

I ran test "3" (the switch test), and in the "ball in play" display is the #31. Going off of the switch chart in the manual, switch #31 reads "Shooter Lane SW". But the problem switch that's not working is actually under the "R" of "Sorcerer", and that's the problem I'm trying to troubleshoot..

Am I getting this #31 because it's the one prior in the series that's not working and is causing the issue for the "R" spinner? I apologize in advance for my naivete, I just want to fix this stupid problem because it's the only one the game has, and it's costing me points to boot!! :(
 
Assuming Williams' switch test is the same as Bally's: You have to fix the stuck switch in question before it will indicate the next one.

The order switches are tested isn't necessarily numeric. It may work off the order in which they're connected to the switch matrix. So just because 31 is indicated doesn't mean the 10 isn't stuck.

For a spinner, make sure your switch is opening and closing when spun. Also make sure the close has travel (so the switch travels beyond the initial close point. If it just taps the close contact, it's not making a good connection)

I personally use contact cleaner on difficult switches. But if you do, make sure it fully dries before powering on... stuff is kind of flammable and switches have a tendency to arc.
 
For a spinner, make sure your switch is opening and closing when spun. Also make sure the close has travel (so the switch travels beyond the initial close point. If it just taps the close contact, it's not making a good connection)

Thanks FS.. nothing at all is happening when I push the contacts together on the switch for the spinner. I tried cleaning them and bringing them together again, and nothing. That's why I'm trying to determine what the next step should be in troubleshooting this.

It's a bummer bc it's the only thing not working on the pin! :(
 
OK I have finally figured out how to run the switch test on my Sorcerer (for you guys who do these all the time, believe me when I tell you it's very hard for someone who has not worked on pins to understand this test process immediately!!!)

I ran test "3" (the switch test), and in the "ball in play" display is the #31. Going off of the switch chart in the manual, switch #31 reads "Shooter Lane SW". But the problem switch that's not working is actually under the "R" of "Sorcerer", and that's the problem I'm trying to troubleshoot..

Am I getting this #31 because it's the one prior in the series that's not working and is causing the issue for the "R" spinner? I apologize in advance for my naivete, I just want to fix this stupid problem because it's the only one the game has, and it's costing me points to boot!! :(
Your probably getting that #31 because the ball is in the outhole and making that switch contact. As far as the spinner make sure you don't have a broken wire going to the switch.
Glennon
 
If it's JUST that switch, +1 on a bad wire. Test it with a DMM. Also check the diode/resistor if installed.

You can test the switch with a DMM to make sure it's closing. If that looks good, check it at the end of the harness. If it still looks good there, then it's probably the switch matrix. Inspect the harness connectors (could be a broken joint, or heat stress). Failing that, pinrepair.com should have more specific instructions for diagnosing your switch matrix.
 
Your probably getting that #31 because the ball is in the outhole and making that switch contact. As far as the spinner make sure you don't have a broken wire going to the switch.
Glennon

At the time that I got the number reading '31' in the "ball in play" display, I am pretty sure I had both of the pinballs out of the machine completely. I had the game on and the playfield up so I could see what was happening. I have checked the switch and the wires appear to be in tact. I checked the diode at that switch with my DMM and if I recally correctly it was fine when being tested in both flow directions.

The one thing I noticed with the switch test was, when the '31' is displayed, it's a repeated "blip" as I can best describe it. It's like a signal is sent and the '31' is what's hanging things up. It repeats 31, 31, 31, in about a 1-second interval. There is a game sound that is repeated with it, I think it's the sound you hear when you first launch the ball during gameplay.

I am hoping to go back and look tonight, can provide an update once I get to do that.
 
If it's JUST that switch, +1 on a bad wire. Test it with a DMM. Also check the diode/resistor if installed.

You can test the switch with a DMM to make sure it's closing. If that looks good, check it at the end of the harness. If it still looks good there, then it's probably the switch matrix. Inspect the harness connectors (could be a broken joint, or heat stress). Failing that, pinrepair.com should have more specific instructions for diagnosing your switch matrix.


Whenever I check where the wires are soldered to the switch, I'm getting a 0.00 reading. But of course it's hard to understand how best to troubleshoot because, all of the switches basically give that reading (or 0.01) until acted upon. I apologize, this is all new to me and I'm probably driving all of you seasoned techs crazy with my questions. :( If it wasn't that this is the only thing wrong with the machine I'd probably just play it and not troubleshoot it!

I have reviewed the pinrepair site, and that's what gave me the ability to figure out how to launch the switch matrix.
 
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