Target Alpha

OHEMIO

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I scored a 76' Gottlieb Target Alpha Pin from a gentlemen in Latrobe, PA. The gentlemen I purchased it from gave me a great price. As goes the great price comes the issues. He was up front regarding the problems with the game. All that being said this is one of my top 5 to own and I'm up for the challenge.

First experience with Gottlieb. A "Non" reset bank Gottlieb. Clay is right on pinrepair very tough to adjust the Ax/Bx/Dx.

Found that the "coin" step unit was mis aligned on the snow shoe side and step up gear side. Gear and post side didn't reside between the 1 and 4 player switches.

Have additional issues occuring with the "player" unit in the back box advancing one too many on the rivets.

Main playfield lights are on but bonus lighting is not.

Back glass lights are on but ball count, match lights, and player lights are not.

I recently set it to free play. The game will reset most times but when it's set to one player game it plays a 4 player game.

Going to post a restoration on this game once this one is up and running!!!
 
jbk

Sorry to hear that you've been on the hunt for a TA this long. Had to take a mental break tonight because this game is defying logic. If I see another out there local on CL or the Bay I'll shoot you a PM.

What happened to me was pure luck, right time, right place. Will be hard to ever part with this pin even if I have to work on it for a year to get it right. Best of luck on your search...have a great New Year.

OHEMIO
 
I've had mine for about 5 years now. Usually the stuff that's broken has just been grease or adjustments. I have a Gold Strike to restore as well. That's the one I can't wait to tackle.

Target Alpha is a great game. If anyone is looking, don't forget Solar City (2 player) and Canada Dry are the same game. Gold Strike (add-a-ball) and Eldorado are the 1 player versions. They all use the same playflied. There's a terrible SS version as well.

Fun game though!
 
sjfreddy - I agree regarding the Canada Dry, very rare, never have seen one for sale. Just looked it up on You Tube pretty cool art work. Would love to own a Jack in the Box one day. Know the layout is different but love the title.

awarner - It seems that at Christmas the rare games come up for auction the most. This is my first Gottlieb and I believe I have my work cut out for me on this one looking at the issues I'm having. Going to order a few new coils for the hold, tilt relays. Pulling some low readings on the Ohm meter.

Since you own a Target I'd like to ask you a question related to the "bonus" unit attached to the bottom of the playfield. Is there a braided wire soldered between the two snow shoes? I believe if you open the coin door you can see this unit in plain sight.

Thanks for the comments on the posts!
 
I have a Canada Dry. In 20+ years I`ve only heard of 2 others for sale. Most of them were shipped to France.
 
I have a Canada Dry. In 20+ years I`ve only heard of 2 others for sale. Most of them were shipped to France.

sjfreddy that is very rare...Surprised many didn't end up in Canada having the French ties...I've seen on You Tube one ended up in the pinball museum in Vegas. Not sure if it's still there or not.

I don't know if you have your Canada Dry set up. If you do I have a question regarding the bonus unit under the playfield. Does yours have a braided/flexible wire soldered between the two snow shoes that ride on the rivets? I believe there should be one on my TA but one was not present when I purchased this game.

I have several other issues occuring but this would be one off the list...

Last day of holiday vacation going to spend it working on the Target.

OHEMIO
 
No problem thanks for responding. Spent about six hours working on it. Have backbox lights now. Making progress...I must say the AX/BX/DX relays on this game are very sensitive.

Again great chat talk to you soon...
 
Update

Score motor was running sluggish. Completed a complete tear down of the score motor unit. Cleaned all of the switches top to bottom. Dismantled the motor, armature, and gears. Used 91% alcohol to degrease all the gunk. Need to learn what readings I should be getting when I test the motor itself with the multimeter.

I used the multimeter and tested every relay coil in the bottom of the cabinet and looked at all switch alignment. Purchased several coils as they tested lower than they should. Especially the hold relays. Also with the Ax/Bx/Dx relays I decided to purchase a switch adjuster from PBR and a metal contact file for the flipper switches. Going to need that anyhow for the WMS Space Mission restoration.

Still need to clean the 1000 player one score reel as it's hanging up in the 9 region and causing mis scores. May just bite the bullet and clean them not sure yet. Want to install the new relay coils first to see if that was that will be one piece of the puzzle resolved. Once I have the game up and running and tested multiple times I'll make the modifications to the 220V relay coils so they will no longer burn.

Still have issues with the bonus lights one side is working and the other is not. Believe that is a switch that needs aligned or adjusted under the playfield. Post a vid when I'm done walking though all I did to get it up and running.

OHEMIO
 
So close - Target Alpha

Bump

Almost there regarding the start up sequence on this machine. However can't get the coin unit to step up one spot on start up. Therefore players 1 and 4 are lit. I believe I have the Ax/Bx/Dx adjusted properly. All coils have been tested on the entire game and those burned replaced with new. Targets are not resetting on start up sequence.

I would like to ask if anyone has a Target Alpha and could sent me a photo of the top of the score motor I would be eternally greatfull. I believe a previous owner snapped off a switch blade and I need to judge how long and what form the replacement blade needs to be. Seems to be multiple switch adjustments that may have not been needed were made.

Thanks for any help in advance!
 
satanas

I really appreciate that. If you could post the photo on this post that would be all I needed to check the top switches on my score motor. The length and space of these switches are critical for the game working properly!

Look forward to the picture and thanks again in advance!

OHEMIO
 
Target Alpha Update

Well I'm happy to report that I have resolve 95% of the issues on this pin. I have three remaining issues.

1. What I have to say about the Ax/Bx/Dx relay set up is WOW for as simple as they seem in their nature there is little travel for these switches and the have to be adjusted perfectly for this game to function properly. However the more complicated the more I feel that I've accomplished by repairing it to this point. The Dx was the reason my coin unit wouldn't step up one position to player 1...2,3,4

2. When I hit the start button (on schematic this is Replay Button) the targets won't reset for the first ball. On ball two through game over they reset every time. I've done some schematic research and some adjusting contacts and have yet to find out why. I believe it's a contact on the Dx (first ball relay) or S (start) relays that's causing the issue. As the P relay (Add Player Unit Relay) will only reset the drop targets for balls 2-5.

3. I believe the score motor is still sluggish and there could be two reasons for this as I've tested the motor windings itself and I'm receiving the reading and power that I should:

The first is I've done some research and I now believe I'm missing a light weight spring that the armature rests on. Will also have to ask what side to place it on. In the pinrepair guide it states that most times this spring is lost or due to it's light weight nature is frail and breaks. I need to contact Steve at PBR this week and ask the question and if he has one available for purchase.

The second thought score motor hesitation issue and it may be my score reels. Now that I've been able to play a few four player games I notice that all of the score reels need torn down and cleaned. After the ball play has ended the bonus is added by the score motor turning, the G relay (bonus score control relay), and the score reels. I notice that the score motor hesitates, and the bonus unit while adding. Looking on Youtube the bonus sequence should not stall. It almost sounds like a machine gun when it's adding.

Youtube Vid series coming soon on all these repairs with hopes it'll help someone through the Gottlieb Multiplayer saga for restoration.
 
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Satanas I appreciate the pics. However I'd like to ask if you or your friend can take a pic of the top of the score motor much like pic 2. Top view of the round metal disk with the three switches.

One last note I have this machine up and running. The reason why I want the pic is to check the length of the switch blades that reside on the top level. Any additional pics you you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
 
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