Gottlieb Class of 1812 Looks Like it is Starting but the Ball is not going to the plunger lane

Symptom

The game looks like it starts but the ball does not go to the plunger lane.

Resolution

I put one ball in the game. I pulled the ball out and it started. I then played and realized the game had multi-ball and there should have been two balls in the game. Once two balls are installed it works fine.

 Gottlieb Cleopatra blows a fuse every time the game is turned on during reset

Symptom

When the game is turned on, the general illumination fuse would blow.

Resolution

I checked all the wires on the playfield illumination to ensure that the wires were not shorted anyplace. They were not. Someone on RGP suggested taking a #47 light and soldering two wires to it. I used this across the fuse (with the fuse out). When the short occurred the light got very bright.

I turned on the machine. The light across the fuse holder glowed steady. Then after 5 seconds when the machine does a click-click before resetting the display, the light glowed very brightly for a second, then returned to normal and the machine reset.

While checking the click-click, I realized the Q and T solenoids (Tilt and game over) were momentarily engaging (based on watching what happened and reading the schematics). I looked at the wiring to the game over light and the tilt light. The tilt light on the back board was turned in such a way that the lug on the light was shorting to the ground wire. I turned the switch and locked it in place so it would not short out. The game worked fine.

 Gottlieb Countdown not booting

Symptom

When the game is turned on, the reset does not occur and the game does not work. When the problem originally occurred, the owner stated that the system made a shrieking sound and stopped.

Resolution

I pressed the reset button on the MPU and the game reset correctly. While playing the game, the game would reset. I have asked the owner of the game to see if this happens when there are power surges in the house or if it is happening at a certain time. In the future, the CPU may need to be sent to a board repair shop to fix an intermittent reset problem. Or since the owner is out in the country with sometimes unreliable electricity, the main voltage could be dropping momentarily below 5 VDC.

The boards were sent to Coin Service Technologies. Several of the boards needed some work. The game now works great.

 Gottlieb Countdown Credit button not working

Symptom

When the credit button is pressed with credits on the machine, the game will not start.

Resolution

The credit button switch was not being recognized in switch test mode. I checked the wires and noticed that wires connecting to an unused coin door mechanism were broken off the micro switch. I also noted that the two wires that were disconnected from the switch were not in contact with each. Further, these wires led to the credit button. I used a wire nut to connect them. I did not bother resoldering to the switch, since the coin mechanism was missing. This completed the circuit and the credit button worked.

 Gottlieb El Dorado Stuck On Tilt When Turned On

Symptom

When the game is turned on, the Tilt switch is on and nothing happens when you start a game.

Resolution

The 15 amp fuse at the bottom of the game was out. I replaced the fuse. The game turned on without the Tilt switch light on. I started a game and within a few seconds the Tilt light turned on and the game stopped responding.

I checked the 15 amp fuse and it was blown again. I looked under the playfield and noticed that the right flipper coils (both of them) were burnt. I played the game without pressing the right flipper and the game worked fine.

I purchased new coils and EOS switches. The right flipper would stick up electrically after a few seconds. I noticed that the right flipper switch was stuck together due to pitting. I sanded down the switch and the coil did not stick up.

However, the flipper was very weak and made an annoying sound. I think I traced it to a bad flipper switch. I ordered a new switch and the customer will install. This should work. The game sounds like the flipper button is being pressed rapidly. So maybe my sanding did a temporary fix but not a permanent fix.

 Gottlieb El Dorado Flipper Weak

Symptom

After replacing the coil, EOS and flipper switch, the flipper was still weak.

Resolution

After checking everything, I realized that the amount motion in the flipper that worked before the EOS switch opened was about the distance between the 2:00 position on a clock and the 3:00 position on a clock. The flipper that was weak was only moving about a quarter of the distance before the EOS switch opened. I carefully bent the switch to give the flipper the same amount of motion as the working flipper. This solved the problem.

 Gottlieb Flying Carpet Kicking The Ball To The Plunger (The Only Coil Working) But Nothing Works

Symptom

The game resets. The ball is fed to the plunger, but the flippers don't work and the game does not score. When the ball drains, it is kicked back to the plunger and the cycle repeats.

Resolution

I checked all the fuses. They were fine. I checked all the tilt switches. They were fine. (I should have realized this since the TILT light was not on.) I then noticed that the ball count on the apron did not say GAME OVER or light up 1. I moved the ball count mechanism manually. The game went to ball 1 and the game worked.

However, the game would not work with the ball. By hand, I could hit the switch that caused the ball count mechanism to increment. The ball would not increment the mechanism. I checked the switch. I adjusted it so that it was not almost touching. I manually tried it, it worked. It would not work with the ball. I then realized that when the ball drained, the switch closed and the ball was kicked to the plunger. The ball would hit the switch but the kicker kicked a second time and the ball count did not change to 1. I looked at the switch under the drain hole. I noticed that every time I hit the switch with the ball or my hand, the kicker would kick twice. The switch was always closed. I adjusted the switch so that it was open and closed only when the ball was resting on it. The game worked fine.

 Gottlieb System 3 Freddy will not boot

Symptom

When you turn on the machine, it continuously beeps and the display shows garbage.

Resolution

The 5VDC is below 5 volts and the system cannot boot. With the machine on, put the black wire to ground and touch the thing {fill in} in between the heat sinks in the middle of the power supply board in the middle of the back box. Check the voltage. It needs to be about 5.1 5.3. DO NOT ADJUST ABOVE 5.3. Use the potentiometer on the power supply board to set the voltage.

Test the voltage on the MPU board, not at the power supply. This ensures that voltage is not dropping between the power board and MPU. This can also indicate a problem with the cable.

 Gottlieb System 3 Freddy boots after adjusting voltage, but will not boot next time turned on

Symptom

Based on the above question, Gottlieb System 3 Freddy will not boot, the voltage is adjusted and the game plays great. When the game is turned off and turned back on, the same problem re-appears.

Resolution

The battery is probably dead. Replace the battery and it should work. Gottlieb System 3 machines will not boot with a dead battery.

But the battery showed 3.3 volts (it is a 3 volt battery). The battery is good. It is probably a game ROM that needs to be replaced. Sent the board to Coin Service Technology for them to fix. Then the game worked.

 Gottlieb Hot Shot Game Not Working

Symptom

The game would not start.

Resolution

It turned out the customer opened the game and moved some leafs. This was fun to track down and fix. It was in the start solenoid that I had to adjust to get it to line up correctly and work.

 Gottlieb Hot Shot Game Shorting Out

Symptom

One of the fuses on the left side of the cabinet was constantly shorting.

Resolution

Tracked it down to a A-1118 coil in reset bank. Traced it down and replaced coil.

 Gottlieb Ice-Revue No Power

Symptom

I plug in the game and there is no power.

Resolution

I tried pressing the left and right flipper button. The power did not come on. People on RGP told me that a coin needs to be placed in to turn on the power. This did not work.

I then checked the main fuse. This was fine. People on RGP told me to check continuity on the fuse holder. This was bad. I sanded it down and got continuity. I also closed the slam switch on the door.

The game turned on when a coin was inserted and worked 100%!

 Gottlieb Rescue 911 Helicopter Not Turning Correctly

Symptom

The helicopter does not line up with the ball correctly.

Resolution

Needed to buy a friction wheel and tweak the direction of the helicopter.

 Gottlieb Rescue 911 Helicopter Stopped Lifting Ball

Symptom

The customer called and said the helicopter was not lifting the ball.

Resolution

I asked if the helicopter was aligned over the ball correctly. It was. I asked if the magnet was working. It wasn't. I asked the person to see if the wires or solder was broke. He said it was not. I ordered a solenoid. It turns out the a wire was broke luckily right as it entered the sleeve. But with a continuity test it was obvious it was the wire someplace.

 Gottlieb Silver Slugger One Digit On Bottom Display Does Not Work

Symptom

The digit to the left of center does not work at all.

Resolution

I took the display board off the back glass. I looked at the back of the board. There was a hole without any solder or a pin in it. I turned over the board and noticed that the pin was jammed in sideways. I used the end of a thin screw driver and pushed the pin through the hole. Soldered the pin in the hole. The digit worked.

 Gottlieb Silver Slugger Lower Bumper Light Does Not Light Up

Symptom

The bottom bumper light does not turn on when the game turns on or in solenoid mode (test for solenoid 10).

Resolution

I checked the resistor board. The 33 Ohm 5% 5 Watt resistor that controls this light gives a reading of OL while all of the others were giving readings between 33.6 and 34.8. This resistor is hard to find. I finally found it at Digikey.com for $10 for 5 (minimum $25 order). I replaced this resistor. It tested fine. I turned on the game and it still did not work.

I realized that a wire was not connected to the light on the bumper. I saw this before but did not put 2 and 2 together. Then I realized that the previous person that fixed this probably simply disconnected the light since there was a bigger problem.

I touched the wire to the lamp lead. It lit really brightly. I realized that Solenoid 10 (12N10L) was probably bad. I took off the board. Solenoid 10 tested bad. I replaced solenoid 10. The bumper light turned on as GI and also worked in solenoid test mode when solenoid 10 was activated.

But then I noticed a problem with the right bumper light not turning on.

 Gottlieb Silver Slugger Right Bumper Light Turns On and Off Randomly

Symptom

The right bumper light turns on and off randomly.

Resolution

I turned on the game and the right bumper light did not work. As I lifted the playfield and bumped the playfield, the light turned on, then off. I pulled on the wire into the resistor board and it seemed to work Then stopped working. I tightened the pin in the connector and made sure that the wire was securely tightened to the pin. It still stopped and started randomly.

I noticed that the light socket in the bumper had the bottom part broke off and not always connected. I replaced the light socket and it still did not solve the problem.

I realized, as usual, to check for cracked solder joints on the resistor board. I reflowed and added solder to the pin, and the two connectors to the resistor for this bumper light. I put the game back together and it finally worked.

 Gottlieb Silver Slugger Drop Targets Not Always Working

Symptom

Drop Targets are not always being recognized.

Resolution

I adjusted switches on the targets and they worked better. Target three is still not always working but will need to adjust it some more.

 Gottlieb Silver Slugger Ball Not Always Recognized In Top Right Hole

Symptom

After the ball goes through the Home Run spinner on the left and into the hole, it is not always recognized. I need to shake the machine to get the ball to be recognized. It seems like if the ball hits in there hard it is recognized. If it goes in softly it is not recognized.

Resolution

I adjusted the switch. It seems to work better. Occasionally it is not recognized but the switch is a nice distance apart

 Gottlieb Silver Slugger Ball Right Flipper stays up after flip

Symptom

When the right flipper is pressed, it stays up until the ball hits it.

Resolution

This is definitely a mechanical problem. It worked great in my home for 6 months. It was moved to the customer and immediately starting doing this. I cleaned the shaft. I added a second spring and it works fine.

 Gottlieb Stargate backboard lights not lighting up

Symptom

The regular lights on the backboard do not light.

Resolution

I tracked the wiring to solenoid A in the cabinet bottom. A switch was not set correctly. It was changed and worked.

 Gottlieb Stargate flipper switches not working

Symptom

The Stargate machine I purchased was a mistake. It was missing a few solenoids and such. It was actually missing all of the flipper assemblies, many solenoids, the back VUK (vertical upkicker) and several boards. I put the flipper assemblies together. The menus were not recognizing the flippers.

Resolution

I realized that with Gottlieb's new flipper assemblies, the circuit needed to be completed for the flipper switches to be recognized. I added the wires and the menu worked. Still need to see if the flippers flip.

 Gottlieb Stargate Top Right Flipper Not Working

Symptom

My neighbor called and said he changed the flipper assembly for the bottom right flipper and the top right flipper stopped working.

Resolution

I suggested he check the fuse for the top right flipper (F24 I believe). The fuse was blown. He changed it and it worked.

 Gottlieb Stargate Bad Battery or U3 or U6 error

Symptom

I am getting the above error when I turn on the pinball.

Resolution

I replaced the battery with a new battery and battery holder. This did not work. I realized that the solder connection on the front of the board for the negative lead was not connecting to the battery. I added long wires to the battery holder. I placed the wires through the board and soldered the negative wire on both sides. This removed the error.

 Gottlieb Stargate Door Open is Not Recognized

Symptom

The door open switch is not recognized therefore I can't get into Tournament mode to set the machine to free play.

Resolution

While trying to figure out why the game feeds balls to the plunger lane continuously, I noticed that the switch for the plunger lane was set too far apart. I fixed this but also checked for other bad switches. Switch 15 center kicking target was not being recognized. I checked under the playfield. One of the wires was not connected. It was the same color as a wire that was attached. therefore I assumed it attached to the same leaf and allowed the power to flow to downstream switches. I placed the wire back. I turned on the machine and the game realized it was in tournament mode and allowed me to set the game to free play.

It seems I fixed one problem but not the one I was looking at. Now only one ball is fed. But once the ball is plunged, the next ball is fed. This is the Stargate from Hell that I described above that I should not have bought.

 Gottlieb Stargate Many Coils Not Working

Symptom

Many of the coils do not work.

Resolution

I looked at the driver board from this Stargate from Hell. I realized that it was missing most of the 12N10L transistors.

 Gottlieb Stargate Left Flipper Very Weak

Symptom

The left flipper is very weak.

Resolution

I replaced the coil. It was still weak. I replaced the capacitor. Now the flipper works great. Was it both or just the capacitor?

 Gottlieb Stargate Left Lane Under Apron Not Returning The Ball

Symptom

When the ball goes into the left lane under the apron, it is not recognized.

Resolution

The coil works. In switch test, when I close the switch with my fingers it works, but not with the ball. I adjusted the switch to get it closer. It still did not work. I used a steel file and filed the contacts on the switch and now it works great.

 Gottlieb Tee'd Off Volcano Vertical Upkicker not working

Symptom

When the ball goes into the volcano, it just sits there. Even in ball search mode, the solenoid does not fire.

Resolution

The solenoid was burned out. I replaced the solenoid and it promptly burned. I should not have done this. I should have tested the transistor as well.

I tested the transistor. It short circuited. It is a 20N10L transistor. Luckily there are extra transistor on the board that were not used. I replaced the transistor. I replaced the solenoid but I did not have the correct size sleeve since the original fried. Q8 controls the top up-kicker. Q27 is not used and can be reused

The solenoid worked but did not get a good shot up to the wire. I ordered a new solenoid with the correct sleeve. I placed it in, it worked better but not great. Then (finally) I realized that not only do I need the correct sleeve, I also have to ensure that the solenoid metal connector was pushed as far toward the playfield as possible to reduce vibration. This vibration was dissipating the energy of the solenoid and not full kicking the ball. Once the solenoid was snuggly attached towards the playfield, the VUK worked great.

 Gottlieb Volcano Flippers Not Working

Symptom

When the game starts the flippers don't work.

Resolution

Some coils worked, some did not. The flipper coils did not work

But sometimes, the flipper coils would work and the motor would work to move the entrance for a few seconds.

I tested the fuses. They were all good.

I checked the wires and connectors to coils and board. They looked good.

I noticed that all coils not working were non controlled. I followed the flipper circuits to Q and T coils.

During reset, the Q and T coils clicked. During game play the Q did not set. These enabled the flippers and other non controlled coils. As a short term solution, I bent the switch so it is always engaged. The flipper work when the game is in game over mode, but they also work when the game is in game mode.

I need to figure out why the Q coil is not engaging in game play (but does no during the reset).

 Gottlieb Water World missing opto boards behind the jet ski guy

Symptom

The entire assembly for the opto boards was missing behind the jet ski guy.

Resolution

I purchased new stuff based on the manual from Pinball Resource. I was afraid that I would not wire the transmitter and receiver boards correctly. I mapped out which side went to ground and which side went to the appropriate control on working optos. The schematics showed that 4 optos were controlled by the board. (As a side note that 2 opto board and 4 opto board were switched. You would think that an operator or repair person could see that the numbers did not match.) Three of the optos were correctly installed. This left 4 wires open. Two went to ground. The transmitter was clearly marked and the receiver was clearly marked.

 Gottlieb Water World Dive Hole not recognizing ball

Symptom

The dive hole was not recognizing the ball.

Resolution

In switch test, I could adjust the boards so the optos lined up. But this would only last a few minutes, then it would go out of alignment. The customer stated that they bought the game and 3 weeks later this problem started to occur. They called the company they bought the game from. The guy came out and fixed it. Five minutes after he left, the problem resumed. Now it is almost two years later. They found me. I think it is terrible the way items are sold and repaired. The game was sold as complete missing the opto assembly as described above.

I took out the VUK. One side of the VUK had the opto jerry rigged on. In the bottom of the game (besides thousands of shards of glass) was the gray cylinder used to align the opto. I replaced this and the switch worked.

 Gottlieb Water World Stops Working During Game Play and States "Ball Stuck Call Repair Person"

Symptom

During game play game would end and display the above message

Resolution

The customer originally told me it was when the balls got caught in the Sink the Deez lock area. I tested and the lower and upper opto worked. I then moved the Sink the Deez to be in the lock position and the 2 optos still worked.

I played the game and during game play, the Dive Hole would start to pop. One time it stopped on its own. The next it gave the above message. I went into switch test mode and left the game there for a while while I worked on another machine. No switches reported. I turned off the game. I took off the VUK and cleaned the optos with alcohol and a Q-tip. I put it back together and played it for over 10 minutes and it did not cause the above error. Hopefully the optos were just a little dirty.

The customer called back and the same problem continued. I checked Clay's guides. I reflowed the solder on the opto boards. This seems to have solved the problem.

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