Troubleshooting Gottlieb mid "70s Em pins

Robomayhem

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Specifically Abra CA Dabra and Spin Out.

A lady called me and asked if I would take a look at her two pins that won't work, so I go over there last night. What I saw was two beautiful examples of mid '70s pins! Although they do need cleaned and new rubber, for sure. Both have a coin up mod that constitutes of a old- style door bell type switch mounted on the side of the cabs. So she turns them on, and:

Both games light up, Spin Out fully, but only the back box of the ACD.

On the ACD when the door bell is pushed, game tries to reset; I have observed the score motor in the bottom of the cab turn once, but the credit reel nor the score reel change. No blown fuses, and the voltage coming from the transformer is proper. Also I switched out the playfield light fuse for a known good one and still no lights.
It seems to me that something may be stuck to cause the score not to reset? I have spent a lot time reading this site: http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index2.htm#top and wow, there are many things that can go arwy...

The Spin Out does nothing but light up, and I haven't looked into it much yet, like to get the other one fixed first.

I have ordered tune up kits for both of them, and look forward to giving them the love they deserve.

Any ideas?
 
Specifically Abra CA Dabra and Spin Out.

A lady called me and asked if I would take a look at her two pins that won't work, so I go over there last night. What I saw was two beautiful examples of mid '70s pins! Although they do need cleaned and new rubber, for sure. Both have a coin up mod that constitutes of a old- style door bell type switch mounted on the side of the cabs. So she turns them on, and:

Both games light up, Spin Out fully, but only the back box of the ACD.

On the ACD when the door bell is pushed, game tries to reset; I have observed the score motor in the bottom of the cab turn once, but the credit reel nor the score reel change. No blown fuses, and the voltage coming from the transformer is proper. Also I switched out the playfield light fuse for a known good one and still no lights.
It seems to me that something may be stuck to cause the score not to reset? I have spent a lot time reading this site: http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index2.htm#top and wow, there are many things that can go arwy...

The Spin Out does nothing but light up, and I haven't looked into it much yet, like to get the other one fixed first.

I have ordered tune up kits for both of them, and look forward to giving them the love they deserve.

Any ideas?
Yeah here's an idea. don't go hacking up somebody's machines if you don't know how to work on them. By the way what is a tune up kit?
Glennon
 
Start with the obvious and check fuses.

From there, move to cleaning contact switches in the BB. EM's like to be played and when left to sit, corrosion and dust can build up on contacts. On my 1976 EM, in the cabinet is a motorized wheel with many leaf switches on it. There also is a schematic on the side of the cab telling me which leafs are to be closed and open. So check these games for similar as they can get out of spec over time.

What little electronic compoents can of course also cause issues. I recently fixed an issue on mine that stumped me forever and this function had probably not worked in decades with this machine! It did not work when I got it and turned out to be a bad diode on the relay board!
 
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I think what Glennon meant was if you don't know what you're doing with EM's...it's best not to learn on someone else's machines.

I hear what you're saying, but she called me, and I told her that I have only worked on newer pins. But she said,"they're in your hands if you want them to be, because they haven't worked for over 10 years, and I can't find anyone to come out and look at them." Furthermore, she also said that if I can't fix them, she would be selling them. So...

But tonight, on the Abra Ca Dabra, after soldering wires back on the second and third score wheel, freeing the credit wheels, cleaning all the pin connectors and replacing all the fuses, she fired up! What a sweet pin! And even though it was sluggish, it was fun to play. I will rebuild the flippers if she wants me to, cause they need it. I can't wait to clean it up! The blinking eyes that come on in the BB after a game ends is too cool!

But on the Spin Out, the BB keys have come up missing. So I told her that if she hasn't found the keys by the time the kits come it, I'll drill it out and replace the lock. No doubt a rather difficult task needed for this pin is soldering back on one of the numbers that has broken off the roto-target; found it in the bottom of the cab.
Truth be told, I hope to take this one home for compensation.. but we'll see :D

Thrird time I played Abra Ca Dabra, I got 62,000 ...
 

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I think what Glennon meant was if you don't know what you're doing with EM's...it's best not to learn on someone else's machines.
Yeah that's pretty much it. After reading my post again i can see where I sounded like and ass. Sometimes things come off different in print than hearing them spoken. Anyway if the OP needs any help trouble shooting let me know. My advice would be to go slow and just go through everything so the thing is bullet proof.


Edit. don't get suckered into buying so called tune up kits off of ebay.

Glennon
 
Good lord that tune up kit is a rip off!

You are better off ordering a ton of rubber from pinball life and a bunch of bulbs and springs as well.
 
Depending on how the game is, it might be normal for the lights to be off when the machine is first turned on until the start button is pressed and the reset sequence starts.

You might be chasing after a phantom. My GTB Lawman isn't here so I can't turn it on to see, but If it were me, I would get the reset sequence started first. Try manually tripping the start relay and see if that does anything with the lights.

Some things can easily be cleared up with polishing the Jones plugs; I usually start by doing that. The last game I fixed for some reason I skipped that in my brain and went chasing problems that didn't exist. I could have saved myself plenty of time by doing that.

As far as tools you will need, I would heavily advise a contact burnisher and a few flexstones. If the game is playing sluggish, usually the switches just need to be cleared off. Only use the burnisher on things like flipper switches and end of stroke switches. Don't use flexstones on those as it will wear out the flexstones fast. Flexstones are cheapest at the Pinball Resource.

Do not forget a leaf adjuster tool. That is the only way to adjust switches. You will be getting yourself into a nightmare with something such as a flathead screwdriver. I was hard headed about that when I started with EMs; don't make the same mistake I did!
 
Thank you for the constructive replies, and heck yea, those machines are sweet! As far as buying the kits, I know it's not the most cost effective way to do it, but I don't have a row of pins like I do vids... yet.. so the specialized kit works for me, plus she is buying these particular ones.

I am highly enjoying working on these pins, for sure. I certainly could use some more specialized tools though.

So, it seems as though there may be bare wood right above the flippers on both of these games, though it may be clear covered, I am not sure.

My question is, is it cool to Novus2 this area, and then wax it?
 
Yep, Novus 2 works great. I've found Mothers California Gold to be a good wax if you need to pick some up. Meguires has a good equivalent but I forgot the name of it.

The wood above the flippers is finished with lacquer just like the rest of the playfield. Novus can shine it up a bit if it isn't too worn.
 
EM pins can be a bitch. I wish I had help on mine. While they are pretty straightforward, just about any thing can cause them to not work at all. I've been working on one I got for several months now off and on, and still am not much further to solving it's problems. I would say, if you can at least get it to play, you're on the right track. Unfortunately, mine has never played. The pinrepair guide is great, but I wish it was more specific to certain models. I sorta wish there were a few more decent EM repair FAQs on the net.
 
Yep, Novus 2 works great. I've found Mothers California Gold to be a good wax if you need to pick some up. Meguires has a good equivalent but I forgot the name of it.

The wood above the flippers is finished with lacquer just like the rest of the playfield. Novus can shine it up a bit if it isn't too worn.

Sweet man, I will give it a go as soon as the Novus 2 gets here... Ain't gonna use my stash.. lol

OT Maybe picking up a Big Deal soon... then I can work on my own EM game ha ha.. :D
 
EM pins can be a bitch. I wish I had help on mine. While they are pretty straightforward, just about any thing can cause them to not work at all. I've been working on one I got for several months now off and on, and still am not much further to solving it's problems. I would say, if you can at least get it to play, you're on the right track. Unfortunately, mine has never played. The pinrepair guide is great, but I wish it was more specific to certain models. I sorta wish there were a few more decent EM repair FAQs on the net.

Well, what do you have?
 
Is that Abracadabra going to be for sale? I really like that pin. Last time I played it I had the bonus maxed out and just needed 2 drops for the special and choked. Pissed me off so bad it made me want one. It's probably too far away from me though. :(
 
Is that Abracadabra going to be for sale? I really like that pin. Last time I played it I had the bonus maxed out and just needed 2 drops for the special and choked. Pissed me off so bad it made me want one. It's probably too far away from me though. :(

I don't know if she wants to sell it now that is working. I suppose at the right price she would sell it, but I belive that she would rather keep it around for her grand kids, etc. I do hope to bring the Spin Out home though.. :D
 
Start with the obvious and check fuses.

From there, move to cleaning contact switches in the BB. EM's like to be played and when left to sit, corrosion and dust can build up on contacts. On my 1976 EM, in the cabinet is a motorized wheel with many leaf switches on it. There also is a schematic on the side of the cab telling me which leafs are to be closed and open. So check these games for similar as they can get out of spec over time.

What little electronic compoents can of course also cause issues. I recently fixed an issue on mine that stumped me forever and this function had probably not worked in decades with this machine! It did not work when I got it and turned out to be a bad diode on the relay board!

Most important ..get rid of the old grease. That stuff is like cement with all the dirt smoke dust that is gathered. Check your stepper units and mark them well. Take apart clean well . Remember to never use contact cleaner or water displacement 40th try worked :) This will arc leaving all the wires blackened.
 
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