Hi everyone,

I'm new to the site and hobby!
I just got my first pinball machine!!! It's a Williams Earthshaker.
I can send you some pics if you want. I'm enjoying playing it very much.

I have few problems though I need your opinions/help with.
In the test (machine is on german language so I don't understand everything, will get a new english ROM next month) it reports switches : 11 and 12 (Ball Through 1 (right) and Ball through 2 (left). It seems that swiches are closed, can you help me find them? Where are they located? (I couldn't figure it out using the manual as they are not labeled on the playfield picture).

Second problem is : when I lock the first ball it says (Ball 1 locked). It stays in the drop hole and as soon as the new ball from the plunger hits any target on playfield - the locked ball kicks out of the hole and I get some kind of 2 ball multiball. I never get a 3 ball multiball no matter what I do.

What could be the problem?
I'm not that technical at all but I don't have access to a service man so I would probably do it myself. I'm hoping it's just a dirty switch or something. Can you guide me through it?

One more noob question - how to lift the playfield? I managed to remove the glass but when I try to lift the playfield it only moves few centimeters and stops. Is there a lock or something?

p.s. the shaker motor seems not to be working too

Thanks a lot guys for any feedback. I'll be able to post pictures and videos if you need them...

[b]Please look to my last post bellow with the new insights and pictures[/b]

Cheers,
Bogdan

My earthshaker does the same thing with the 11 and 12 switches. Like you, I cannot see them in the manual. Maybe all earthshakers are like this? When you pull up on the playfeild, pull the plunger out a little bit. I'll bet that's your problem with the playfeild not lifting. Also, make sure to take the balls out when lifting the playfeild. There is a little prop bar on the inside right of the cabinet to hold the playfeild up. I prefer to lift it all the way up though.

Thanks for such a fast reply!

Do you know what are those (11 and 12) switched for?
It's funny how they are not labeled in the manual....
Do you have problems with the multiball I mentioned in the post (I'm only getting strange 2 ball multiball and never 3 ball one)?
Any one have ideas what could be behind this?

YES - It must be the plunger blocking it! And yes - I saw the prop bar inside the cabinet! I'll try it tomorrow.

Thanks a lot for replies guys - this is really helpful

edit: I think I found a way how to remove the balls.

There is a two ball multi ball on earthshaker. If you hit the ball into the shelter during play, the match up mode happens and you can get quick multi ball which is only two balls. Maybe you are not locking two balls correctly to get the three ball multi ball.

I'm doing it correctly (I know about a quick multiball). But I'm getting this strange 2 ball multiball every time I complete the predicted zones and light the locks.

I've also noticed that there is a delay after I shoot the shelter (it does it's thing on display) and then I have to wait at least 5 seconds before ball is kicked out of the hole. It seems like a dead time and not normal.

Ok, new symptom : When strange 2 ball multiball starts, drop hole upkicker is continuously firing even though the hole is empty?

Is there a switch directly bellow the drop hole kicker that could be malfunctioning?

Ok guys I think I located my problem. It's the right Bottom Ball Popper that should be causing this weird 2 ball multiball. When multiball starts, the bottom ball popper keeps firing even though there is no ball in the cup holder so I think it's somehow stuck or something.

Can you guys help me fix this switch. Here are some pictures of it. I'm not sure how it's suppose to look/work exactly so I don't want to touch it until you guys tell me which metal contact should be touching/be open.

Please help me fix this )

Also if anyone knows where the Ball Through 1 (right) switch is - I would be really grateful.

HERE ARE THE PICTURES :

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/7012/sany0052v.jpg

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/3783/sany0054p.jpg

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/7475/sany0055c.jpg

Please let me know if you need more pictures etc...

Thanks a lot for all the help - It means a lot to me since I'm new to the hobby!

Thanks for answer! I'm also wondering if its normal for switch to make the contact with the metal above it. And yes - when ball lands it makes contact with the metal bellow.

When I enter switch testing and press down on the cup (where ball lands) nothing happens! It doesn't register it.

Can someone comment on if the metal above should be making contact with the middle "leg" of the switch or also should I bend the upper "leg" in order not to touch the metal construction above it?

Thanks for all the help, as I can't get a serviceman in my area - all your advices are gold!

I tried to isolate the upper metal part in order not to make contact with the metal housing above and it didn't work.
Test does report a bottom ball popper as malfunctioning switch.

Any one has any ideas (please look at the pictures)?

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: after further examination I can see that diode seems missing on the switch? Am I right and if so, which diode is it (what do I say when I go to the radio shack).

Thanks guys.

Thanks a lot for your answer!

Can you please just answer me these question as I'm not sure how this switch works.

PICTURE with labeled parts by numbers : http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/8629/switchproblempic.jpg

1# Should the top two metal pads labeled in the picture as number 1. be touching each other when the switch is in the resting position?

2# When you said the pads seem a little too close together are you referring to metal parts distance labeled in the picture as number 2. ?

3# When you say "pads" you mean the metal parts as labeled in the picture as number 4. ?

4# Is there maybe a diode missing as labeled in the picture as number 3. ?

Thanks a lot for answers, I'm not a native speaker and even though I'm new to the hobby I think I'm getting hang of things.

This switch seems like the only issue on my game (except for the shaker motor which I intend to take care of later) and it's very annoying as it prevents normal gameplay

I'm ordering new Roms from ebay - I need the English language ))

Thanks for help, means a lot to me.

Thanks man. I just tried it and it doesn't seem to work

Just to be precise, it's not a bumper in question - rather bottom vertical up kicker.

I'm running out of ideas

Is there maybe a diode missing in the switch??? If so, do you know which one is it (part number or something)?

That is the thing. I was able to find the test menu (remember its in German) where I can press down on switches and they will show up on display when activated.

When I press down on the top ball popper it works just fine. BUT when I press down on the bottom ball popper it doesn't register at all
(That is the one I'm having trouble with and it's on the pictures).
So coil keeps firing when the strange 2 ball multiball starts (which shouldn't start) and since the switch doesen't seem to function when I test it - I guess that is the source of my problems (with the 2 ball multiball).

EDIT : When I start the machine it does test and then when I enter report - there is Bottom Ball Popper reported there.

How only thing left is - how to fix this switch?

Thanks a lot for your time SealClubber!

I think I'll have to order a A-11658 switch and replace it.

Now - I'm really getting worried as it seems that on your switch and on my Earthshakers top ball popper (second VuK on my machine) there are 4 wires soldered to it.

On my (As you can see in the picture) there are only 3 wires and I can't find any loose ones beneath the playfield...

Thanks a bunch!!!
I think I have all the info now I need to fix this one.
I'll buy a new switch (or get a diode for this one) and resolder the wires.
Hopefully it will solve the problem.

Thanks a lot for support guys!

p.s. I'll open a new thread about the shaker motor later on (after I fix this switch).
I'll go ahead now and see if it's turned off in the settings though I think I did find the setting and turn it on there (still didn't work).

Thanks again,
Bogdan

Hey guys, just to keep you updated - I have finally fixed this problem! ))

It was the switch missing the diode - I had to make a workaround as the lug was broken off. I installed 4007 diode because there were no 4004 ones in the local shop and it worked!!!
I'm going to order now a new switch to replace this "workaround" one I just did.

Strange thing is that once I fixed my bottom ball popper switch, game got stuck on the 3rd ball launch and kicker that sends the new ball to the plunger was constantly firing and that caused top ball popper not to send the ball into 3 ball play. Really strange.

But, I found out that ball through 1 switch was constantly closed causing this problem and that fixed the whole multiball thing and I had an opporunity to play my first normal Earthshaker gameee!!! WEEEE

Only thing left now is to fix the shaker motor and right drop target, everything else works.

Thanks a lot for your help guys, I couldn't do it without you!