Gottlieb Hearts & Spades adds extra balls on WOWS

The game always adds one extra ball as it should for point thresholds such as 30,000 or when hitting the center (when lit) red WOW target..

BUT when the ball DRAINS and the white (A-5 cards complete) is lit, or when the red WOW (A-10 complete) is lit it will once in 10-15 times give two or more bonus balls.

When this happens, I've noticed (while looking through the coin door), that the A-5 sequence bank attached to the underside of the playfield will double or triple clutch, giving 2 or 3 free balls when the malfunction occurs. This can happen for either a white or red lit bonus insert.

(Picture 1) I've inspected and cleaned motor switch 2C to 1/2 amp fuse, to O relay, to LB armature, to sequence bank reset (A-5 bank). Same for 1 amp fuse to motor 4B, O relay, [couldn't figure out how to see the HB armature switch] to control bank reset (10-A reset bank).

The other schematic snippet shows the C relay (add ball count unit relay) and the Add Ball Count Unit. I get lost in there, still being a bit shaky with schematics.

Is there a switch on the A-5 sequence bank that says 'i've been reset already, don't fire again?' I'm not seeing it. Why does the fault occur on both the high and low sequence? Help appreciated!

H&S RESET BANKS (resized).png

I had looked at that switch - the one circled is the LB armature. It had been misadjusted to be always closed - and at every ball drain all the low cards, Ace-5, would be reset even if only one or two were lit. I opened the gap and now A-5 only reset if all are lit (that is lit ones carry over through the ball drain unless all are lit.) Maybe I'm missing something...

I'll check out the MarkG post next, but am not sure that the HB armature switch makes sense as the problem.

Thanks for responding.

IMG_4188 (resized).JPG

I'd seen that post. I had loosened the wing nuts and swiveled the unit up earlier and still have trouble working on those armature switches. I'll have my son with younger eyes check it if need be - but still not sure that would be the issue. Henry

BTW, the game gave extra bonus ball before I adjusted the LB switch and still does now. That is why I was tracking down the the reset path.

Thanks HowardR. Will check them in the morning daylight.

I checked the switches except for DB armature. It's really not my eyes being the problem - when I loosen the wing nuts and swivel the unit up the switch contacts are still underneath and hidden from view.

I did notice that the score motor sometime turns an extra third rotation when I drain the ball with the red WOW lit. About half the time when that happens I get only the expected bonus ball, other times I get two bonus balls. I looked at what starts the score motor and checked the O relay and score motor switch 1C. Is it worth checking the other A, G, SB2 or is my thinking wrong about what triggers the extra third of a turn? Thanks, Henry.

ScoreMotor (resized).jpg

Thank you JR. had not thought about taking the hinge apart. I’m away from home for much of the day but will check that out.

…and cool info on 11 balls. Will try that when I get home