<quote>1. The pop bumpers don't always score. They always "pop" when hit, but a lot of the time the hits aren't registering on the score reels.
Check the EOS switch at the bottom of the pop bumper assembly that is normally closed until the plunger is fully pulled in. If it is opening too soon or dirty then the B relay won't be held in to give a nice clean pulse to the score relay

2. What is supposed to light/unlight the pop bumpers? They are almost always lit for 1000 on this game, rarely being unlit, and I can't figure out what is supposed to cause them to change.

Pops are lit by a contact on the I "Target Bank Spot Relay" relay mounted under the playfield. Lights should alternate on/off when I is advanced.

3 Ball setting: 100 (M) and 1000(N) point relay advance I.
5 Ball game: 10(L) and 1000(N) point relays advance the unit.

3. What is supposed to cause the lit drop target arrow to move? On this game it seems to move between 2 or 3 drops but can't see what is causing it to do so.

I relay advances drop target arrow.

3 Ball setting: 100 (M) and 1000(N) point relay advance I.
5 Ball game: 10(L) and 1000(N) point relays advance the I.

4. The bonus counter doesn't work very often moving from 1000 to 2000. You can complete the 1-2-3-4 rollovers and it will fire the mech. to increase the bonus, but only rarely does it move from 1000 to 2000. If you do get to 2000, subsequent moves to 3000, 4000, etc. work fine. Switches in the rollover mech below the top rollovers?

Manually operate the Bonus Advance plunger and check it advances OK. You may need to clean and adjust assy. You could also manually operate relay E and step the unit.

5. Sometimes the bonus accumulator sticks and makes a buzzing sound until I bang the side of the cabinet. I think the pivot point on the reset arm is binding and needs to be cleaned and lubed.

Probably. Could also be the E relay contacts that operate the Add Bonus coil (or whatever operate E)

Beware!! This from http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index2.htm#steps

Gottlieb Stepper Unit Shoulder Bolts (a Warning.)
On many Gottlieb stepper units (the backbox Credit unit and the bottom panel Coin unit), these units like to bind at the "shoulder bolt" pivot point for the step up/down arms. This is a pivot point that was factory lubed with white grease. Over time, the white grease solidifies, and the unit will not step up and/or won't reset. The solution to this is to remove the shoulder bolt and to clean off the old solidified white grease with alcohol. Then re-lube with Teflon Gel Lube and reassemble.
WARNING. This shoulder bolt has a nut on the back side. If this nut is not removed, and a big screwdriver is put on the shoulder bolt to turn it, the shoulder bolt will shear. This renders the shoulder bolt useless. If this happens nothing short of ordering a new shoulder bolt from Pinball Resource (part# a1059) will fix the problem. So the moral of this story is to first remove the nut from the shoulder bolt before removing/adjusting this bolt. (And even then during nut removal sometimes the shoulder bolt still shears.)

6. The chime unit is only firing 1 chime consistently, very occasionally a second chime, and never the 3rd. Likely to just need the chime solenoids cleaned up/replace the coil sleeves to resolve, or are there other switches somewhere that might need cleaning/adjusting?

Clean the chime unit coils and plungers first and also replace the beer seal foam that the plungers rest on.

7. What is the preferred / stock playfield angle for this era of game? He had it at 5.75deg. I lowered to 5.4 deg, but subsequently read that 4 deg is optimal. That seems pretty flat, but again this is my first EM. Thoughts?

I just adjust the angle to my personal taste and don't rely on an inclinometer

8. Would a PDF version of the schematics for this game be available anywhere? Didn't see it linked to on the ipdb.org site.
Thanks for any assistance, really digging this game and hoping to iron out some of these quirks and learn a bit along the way.

Schematics available from Pinball Resource
http://www.pbresource.com/ads/adschem.jpg

Hi Fytr and woz
I agree with "woz , post-2, <quote>1" --- and add on some guessing. IF (if, if) You do SOMETIMES do not get the points when the ball simply hits an playfield-target (of equal points as the pop-bumper) - the fault can be the "Self-Hold-Switch*** on the XYZ-Points-Relay" - THIS switch is not really closed when the relay pulls.

I show it on "Royal Flush" --- the feature goes through the green numbers, "4" is the 'woz-mentioned EOS-Switch' ", "11" is the "Self-Hold-Switch*** on the XYZ-Points-Relay. A short wire runs from "Coil on the XYZ-Points-Relay" to "Switch mounted on XYZ-Points-Relay" - the Self-Hold-Switch***.

IF (if, if) this "Self-Hold-Switch*** is dirty - misadjusted - NOT good closing: You only get points from the XYZ-Points-Relay when the ball makes an "Bulls-Eye-Shot" --- NO POINTS awarded when "Grace Shot" is made (((and the action on a Pop-Bumper I say is an 'Grace-Shot type of hitting something' --- it is FAST - SHORT in time.
May also want to check the Self-Hold-Switch*** - greetings Rolf

zRoyal-Flush-Work-04 (resized).jpg

There could be a difference between setting for 3 Ball or 5 Ball. On my AcD (set to 5 Ball) the Pops light up after 100 points scored by either the pop bumper hits and hits to the playfield switches. Once the Pop Bumpers are lit, 1 hit to them collects the 1000 points, the pops go dark again. On the 3 Ball setting the pops might stay lit.

I already mentioned this I would suspect the I unit needs cleaning/adjusting

Here's the schematic snippet:

Capture (resized).JPG

Sometime the tention on the alternating switch that rests on the cam is too much and restricts rotation. Manually lift the switch up to release pressure on the cam and then see if the unit steps properly.

If that doesn't fix it you may need to adjust the detent.

There's a nice writeup about adjusting the Gottlieb AS style relay here:

http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index2.htm#steps

and search on the page for "Gottlieb's AS Relay (the Miniature Stepper)."

The ratchet gears do need replacement at times due to wear. The disc and wiper can be cleaned with a brass or copper cleaner on a soft rag, then polish clean. A SMALL application of Super Lube to the disc is a good idea. Be certain that both boards are aligned properly that when the wiper turns, it is centered directly in the middle of each setting.

Are you sure you mean Delay Relay - I don't see that on the schematic.

Relay E starts the bonus scoring sequence. Check if E operates when you manually activate the outlane switches as they always score bonus. Report back

"E Relay" is also called 'Advance Bonus Relay'. It will be on the motor board, on the right hand row of relays. It should have a small label on it black letting on a yellow background. Is your pin missing the long white relay label, that is between the relays?

On the bottom panel near the rear Jones connectors

Capture (resized).JPG

Abra certainly is a keeper game for most.