I thought I had this solved (see a couple other recent threads,) but I'm stumped again. Every time I try to start a game now, I get a Pinball Missing error and the game tries to search for the balls, which are all in place. I put the game in switch edge test, and each of the trough switches registers when I roll a ball over it, and they all show closed with the balls in place. I'm at a loss for what to do next.

For clarity, top to bottom is trough empty, ball 1 in place, ball 2 in place, ball 3 in place:

empty trough (resized).JPG

ball 1 (resized).JPG

ball 2 (resized).JPG

ball 3 (resized).JPG

And yes, each registers properly as I roll the balls in place.

Good idea! Of course, this time, there was no pinball missing error. BUT the game served two balls. So...I put a screwdriver into the trough to hold balls two and three in place after the first was served. The ball 1 actuator is slightly bent out of position, so when ball 1 is launched, the actuator cannot get back to the open position. Now working on proper adjustment and will report back shortly. Thanks!

Well, this is aggravating...I've reproduced the 'serve two balls problem' about a dozen times now. At first, it appeared that ball 2 was preventing the ball 1 actuator from coming to its open position. I corrected that. Then it appeared that the actuator itself was preventing it, and I made another minor adjustment to the actuator. With no ball in place, the switch arm that the actuator rests on now comes all the way up to the open position. However, it still serves two balls on ball 1. If I replace the second ball in the trough, I can complete a game normally. That is, the game doesn't serve a second ball on ball 2 or 3. Really odd.

Thanks guys, I've got some switches around here somewhere...

Had to order switches, which will arrive today. In the meantime, I've been fiddling with the switches and took SLO-MO video of the action to see if it really was a physical problem with switch closure or timing. Thus, I repeated game startup multiple times. As I was doing so, I noted a message that flashes up for less than a second as the game boots up. Just before PRESS "ENTER" FOR TEST REPORT, I get a very quick - less than 1 second on screen - msg that says GND. SHORT ROW 1 IS STUCK CLOSED. No idea if this is related, but again, everything else seems to be working just fine. That is, the GND. SHORT messages flashes, then the boot sequence completes, and other than the two balls served on ball 1, everything else is 'normal.' If I put the second ball served back in the trough, I can complete a game, and everything I can activate seems to be working fine. Anyone ever seen anything like this?

Thanks!!

OK time to install the new switches. I thought I'd test one more idea before doing so. My theory was that is may yet be a timing issue with the switches, so I blocked the second ball from rolling forward. Waited a beat, and then allowed it to roll into position, with ball 3 behind it. This time, the game did not launch a second ball. Power off, power on. Started a game. Only one ball served. Mind you, I have done nothing to the machine since the last post, other than think about what the problem might be if replacing switches doesn't correct it. Power off and on again. I did not see the GND. SHORT message pop up. So I played a game normally, or as normally as you can with no apron and the launch lane partially disassembled. Everything seems to be working as it should, even started a quick multi-ball. While I was cradling the ball with the left flipper, it suddenly failed and will not fire at all. Small THING flipper still fires, but my lower left flipper is dead. Honestly, I'm almost afraid to raise the playfield. Maybe if I just think about it a while, it will fix itself...

All of the original problems returned once I reassembled the trough and reinstalled the apron. ***SIGH***

New info - I was going through edge test on the Row 1 switches, as well as examining the switches and the White-Brown wire for obvious shorts. Not sure if this means anything, but when I get to the shooter lane switch and close it, it shows the switch closing , then flickers, and causes all 4 of the Bookcase Optos in the associated column to flicker. Never seen that before...Any thoughts?

Nobody....?