Simpsons, The
Data East, 1990This game is starting to drive me a little crazy. I just replaced a sleeve on the right VUK to try and fix the inconsistent kickout, and now none of the flashers or coils work.
The flippers work fine, but none of the play field flashers or coils do anything. No switches are stuck and I don't see anything obvious on the boards - nothing loose or burnt as far as I can see. Can anyone please help with some very specific basics?
I did. The flipper fuse seems a little loose but the coil fuses seemed tight and toned out. I think it's F6 on the PPB and F5 and F6 on the power supply board. I also reseated the connectors coming out of the power supply board as well.
Right now I am going to look for obvious grounds.
Quoted from LTG:Did you pull them out and check with a meter ?
LTG : )
Yeah, each one. After reseating the fuses I would get a few pops or a few flashes with a LOT of noise in the speakers so I was somewhat convinced that I had a bad coil, bad diode, or a ground issue. I replaced the VUK coil and diode and cleaned up the wires and now it works again.
I know it's bad voodoo to replace a bunch of stuff in hopes of fixing something, but I wanted to replace the coil anyway because of VUK re-kicking issues. Maybe me scrunching around trying to fix the VUK might have grounded something or shorted it.
And lo and behold, a new coil, a new sleeve, a new diode, a new cup... and the VUK STILL REKICKS. I know the enemy of good is perfect but I feel like I have to fix this damn vertical up kicker.
Quoted from alexmogil:And lo and behold, a new coil, a new sleeve, a new diode, a new cup... and the VUK STILL REKICKS. I know the enemy of good is perfect but I feel like I have to fix this damn vertical up kicker.
Do you mean it repeatedly keeps firing during a game? If so, the switch is installed wrong or needs adjustment.
Or does it fire and stay up when you just turn in the game?
Quoted from PinballManiac40:Do you mean it repeatedly keeps firing during a game? If so, the switch is installed wrong or needs adjustment.
Or does it fire and stay up when you just turn in the game?
Oh, it fires at the correct time, when a ball is on it. It just doesn't push the ball out the ramp every time. 4 or 5 times in a row and then it works for 30-40 times.
On issues where the plunger seems to hit a bit weaker than it should, I normally change the coil sleeve, then use 220 grit sand paper to smooth out the whole plunger (going in the direction that it was machined) and then wipe it off with novus 2.
Yeah, I did that. New sleeve, cup, and insanded down the plunger. Same. Then I bought a new coil. Still the same. The plunger is very smooth in the sleeve. My last move might be to figure out how to extend the travel of the plunger.
I even went back on rec.games.pinball and saw some of my old posts from the early 90s and people were complaining about it then!
Thanks though. I might replace the metal rails next.
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Parkersburg, WV