Don't clip wires, desolder them. You probably have a switch on the playfield that's probably closed causing the associated 10, 100 or 1000 point relay to lock on. Find the switch and open the gap. Then replace the coil if it's shorted. When you turned the game on, did you hear a ding from the chime right away? If so it's a closed switch somewhere. The fuse you are describing is the fuse for the coils.

The fuses left to right are 15A for 6V insert lighting, 15A for 6V GI lighting, 10A for 50V coils and 8A for 120V mains. The voltage ratings for the left two fuses can be 32V or 250V. The right two fuses are to be 250V rated.

I'd look at the schematic. Find the knocker coil in the chart and it will tell you where in the schematic it is located. I think on these Bally's there is the credit unit end-of stroke switch that energizes the knocker. The schematic will tell you the switch to look at.

If it is the end-of-stroke switch for the credit unit I think it's the one I circled in red. It should be open, but if it got bent when putting the back cover on, it could cause the knocker to lock on.

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