Tinabanana - the first thing you need to do is get a schematic of your game. Follow this link for a schematic.

http://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?any=road+kings&search=Search+Database&searchtype=quick#1970

This will allow you to determine which transistor controls which solenoids. Look on the very first page and you will see that there is a table that shows the solenoid and which transistor controls it along with wire colors, connector identification, etc. etc.

Once you identify the transistor you can use your DMM to test it. Also, you can clip a wire to the tab of the transistor and then ground that wire. This should fire the transistor activating the corresponding coil.

Give this a try. Let us know how it goes. You can be sure you will get lots of help here. I have now repaired/restored four machines with the help of my fellow pinsiders! I am about to get started on my 5th machine in a couple of weeks. You will enjoy repairing your machine and get a great sense of accomplishment when it works and you did the repairs.

Al

Tina, good advice from everyone. Just my $.02 worth get a good Hakko digital temperature controlled soldering iron like their FX-888D or FX-951. It will last forever in home use. Also, if you really get into repairing pinball machines you might want to get the Hakko 808 desolder tool that someone suggested. I have the Hakko 808 and one use (removing a forty pin display) made it worth its weight in gold. Got mine on Amazon but someone on Pinside was at one time offering them at a good discount. Don't know if that is still available.

A good way to practice and learn is to get some old junk PC boards and practice unsoldering components and then resolding them. You can probably get some from the electronic junk yard AKA electronic recycling center for free or check out a TV/Stereo repair shop.

It wont take long to develop the skill necessary to solder and desolder if you have good equipment. If you have cheap AKA poorly performing equipment it will make it a drag and you will not get good results and may even further damage something.

Let us know how things go with your Road Kings.