That looks like a ribbon cable issue to me. Maybe check that they are seated properly. Maybe try different cables.

Your display cable is wrong connected to the pcb, the pin no 1 (Red side should be on the left). Turn around your flatcable

2. The reel mechanism uses optos, not micro switches. Wipe them off to make sure they aren't dirty and look for any broken wires. They should also be able to be tested in the test menu.
3. When you say the ball is getting stuck, is the game trying to kick it out and can't, or does it just sit there? This could either be a switch problem, or a problem with the coil. Run a switch edge test and stick a ball in the saucer to see if it registers. If a ball search doesn't kick it out then the issue is probably in the coil circuit.

I had a problem a ways back with my reel. Popular place to have an issue turned out to be the board on the bottom of the playfield associated with the reel. The idc connector was weak and the wire was not making a good connection. Man took forever to find that. Thank you Lisa from Cadillac Music. Agree with cleaning the optos. Mine were filthy. Can't hurt going forward bibsued 91% rubbing alcohol and q tips

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If the reel seems out of sync than i would make sure the optos are clean. Have you done this? Then I would make sure the wiring that connects to the board under the playfield by the reel has good connection with the wiring. The idc style of connector can be problematic. Make sure the wires going into that connector are seated well and making good contact with the idc style connector. If you can post a video it may help all of us help you. Post it to you tube and then put a link here in your posts. This many times is very helpful

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1) I just had a similar issue with my DMD. If turning the cable around doesn't fix it (hopefully nothing shorted), check out his thread. Wound up being 2 bad capacitors on my DMD.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/fish-tales-wpc-dmd-issues

3) make sure the solenoid is pushing the ball ejector out of the slot correctly.

Has this been fixed? On mine I had to replace the pulley on the reel, previous owner put a screw through the pulley to make it kindof work but the bore was shot. It will break every time someone tries to turn the reel by hand. I keep a spare since they're cheap.

Part# 03-8086

http://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/03-8086

That's a gate, looks fine from that pic. I see rust on your ground braid and in other spots. Hum through speakers I find is usually attributed to bad ground and seeing that rust is suspect for a good cleaning. Is that a rip in your speaker at around 11 oclock? tough to tell and the cable from you switch box doesn't look like a factory install.

I'd say game is in need of a disassemble and full check out. If it was my game anyways

Looks a bit dark, make sure you unplug your machine if your working in the switch box. The utility outlet doesn't look grounded. Notice the Black/Green/white cable coming in, that's right from the wall pretty much. I see it's soldered to the ground lug on the line filter but I can't tell if it ends there, it shouldn't end there it must carry on. Refer to your manual page 115 "Power Wiring Diagram" . If that lug is screwed into the metal box then a ground braid running under... hmm ok but you can do better then that the entire game depends on it.

Williams_1992_Fish_Tales_English_Manual_page_115.pdf

Ok I just took a peek in whitewater, the ground braid needs to be attached to shiny metal. I'm no rust removal expert and I don't think it looks good on pinball machines anyways so make sure to deal with that, maybe a dremel.

switch_box_(resized).jpg