Williams Swinger gate solenoid doesn't stay energized

homearcade55

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Need your help. 1973 Williams Swinger has a gate that can be opened to divert ball to plunger instead of right side drain. Gate opens properly when solenoid energizes but then it almost immediately de-energizes and the gate closes. Is this a problem with the solenoid itself that could be fixed (clean, etc.), does the solenoid need to be replaced or is it something else
Many thanks in advance for any assistance
Best regards
 
If the gate moves at all, the coil is probably fine. Cleaning and adjusting switches on the gate assembly should be your next step.

It's also possible there's a relay that controls the gate somewhere under the playfield. The manual and schematic would be helpful here.
 
I have the manual and schematic. Appreciate your input. I will start there. Other input welcome. I'll you you know the outcome when I get there
Many thanks
 
Look at the relay that moves the gate. It sounds like the "hold" contact on that relay needs to be cleaned. The gate is dropping out due to low voltage.
 
No I don't. Are these some tools I should have?
Do you have links to them?
Thx
 
No I don't. Are these some tools I should have?
Do you have links to them?
Thx
Here is a link:

Plastone (R) Flexstone file. I buy in lots of 5 or 10 depending on the project.

L shaped contact adjustor tool - 1 works and I still have mine, it lasts forever with a little care.

1738471971335.png

If you are working on EM games, these are kind of indispensable.
 
Here's how your gate works. The gate is physically part of the gate relay under the playfield such that when the gate relay is energized, the gate opens and when not energized, the gate is spring-biased to close.

Your gate relay coil is working because you see the gate opening; it is just closing prematurely as noted above.

I've attached a bit of the schematic. The yellow path is how the relay (and thus gate) energizes. The green path is what holds it in the energized position and where your problem lies. When either of the 2 green highlighted switches open, the "hold" circuit opens and the coil de-energizes.

Your problem is either #1) the normally closed trough switch is not closed or is closed but dirty (i.e. it thinks the ball has drained and therefore it releases the gate relay) and/or #2) the normally open hold switch on the gate relay itself is not closing when the relay energizes or it is dirty.

@ArcadeTechGW suspected option #2 above.

Switch #1 is a normally closed switch at the trough with an orange-black wire at the solder tab and a yellow wire at solder tab. Switch #2 is a normally open switch on the gate relay and has an orange-black wire and yellow-black wire.

Inspect the mechanical openings and closings of the two switches: power off game; raise playfield. Look at #1 - is it normally closed with enough bias to keep it closed? Does it open when a ball enters the tough? Look at #2 while you manually pull in the gate relay actuator - is it closing when you manually pull the actuator in?

Even if both switches close, they also need to be clean to function as closed. You can clean the switch contacts with some fine sandpaper and adjust the contact blades with needle nose pliers or with a small screwdriver. Always adjust switch blades by bending them at their base. But as @ArcadeTechGW suggests, you should own the proper tools.

Let us know how it goes. You are lucky - these switches are relatively easy to access and see. Much better than working in the bottom panel or at the score motor.

IMG_3924.jpeg
 
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My thanks for all input - it will be this weekend when I can open it up and attempt the fix. I will post the results
thanks to all !!
 
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