Ran test on eyes and everything seems to be working except the eyes stay locked shut. They try to open, but just make noise. I'm thinking it may be mechanical, so I removed his face to look at the process. The coil that pulls down (opens eyes and opens eyes wide - vertical) work until they close, but when the back coil pulls in to close the eyes (horizontal), it stays locked shut.

Question: If i push down on the linkage (vertical) that opens the eyes when they are shut, should it go down without resistance from the back linkage (horizontal), or dose that back coil need to fire to release the front (vertical) linkage? I can see that there is a notch that keeps the eyes open, but not a notch that keep the eyes closed.

Any help appreciated!

OK - I'll try and find that video. There is a spring on that coil (vertical) that provides resistance, but when you push down manually on the linkage, it it locked in place and won't go down (to open up eyes) unless you manually push in the other coil (horizontal).

Watched the video from pinballhelp, and it looks like the plunger should go down to open the eyes by just pushing it down - mine will not do that. Possible the linkage is broken, but I cannot see that with Rudy still in the game. Hoping to fix it without removing him.

Is this the part?: http://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/A-14030

or is this the part?: http://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/A-14028

Vertical or horizontal coil part?

Thanks - that makes sense because when I activate the plunger it has a lot of play and moves to far forward and locks up. Can't see the broken part because it is inside the coil! Came up with a temporary fix today (bracket stop that keeps the horizontal linkage from going too far forward).

Looks like taking Rudy out is a pain, so it will have to be when I have some time.

Any tips and lessons for taking Rudy out and putting him back?

That is a good article - and will be helpful when I do the full repair. The "quick fix" is working now, but in time I should do it right.

Thanks.