Hi guys, I'm close to the finish-line with the second King Pin (the one with the weird Canadian kill-switch I posted about a few weeks ago) I bought back in May, which I'm going to sell. It starts up normally and kicks out the ball, and will go through Balls 1-5 to Game Over normally. That was a big relief, since I hadn't powered it up since bringing it home.

As far as I can tell there are 3 primary issues remaining, and we'll take them one at a time, but I list them all here together in case they're related.

1. The drop-target bank -- when it resets -- doesn't ALWAYS reset all the targets. In other words, they reset but occasionally some of them (maybe half?) fall back down under the playfield. Sometimes it resets just fine. But about half the time some of the targets don't stay "up". What are the main causes of this I need to be looking at? (Note: Not sure if relevant, but earlier yesterday they weren't working at all and I noticed that the white wire had come unsoldered from the transformer. I resoldered it and the reset began working as described above).

2. Sometimes when scoring -- and often this happens with the drop targets, but not always (sometimes it will happen with some of the playfield switches) -- I'll get hundreds and thousands scoring when only hundreds should be scoring. Seems like occasionally a random 10-point score will happen as well maybe when hundreds are scoring. So it's like a path is being opened to other scoring relays/chimes when it shouldn't be, but only occasionally.

3. This may be related to #2 above, but I think my score reels still need some adjusting because I notice that things happen such as when the hundreds reel moves the thousands might move with it. Do the score reel switches (9s?) cause not only the reel next to it to move at times, but could that also cause #2 above (and actually activate the chimes too?)?

Ok, let's start with #1 above -- drop-target bank not always resetting please. Would greatly appreciate your help.

*** NOTE: If you need a high-res scan of my schematic, I can provide one, but will need to run to Kinko's tomorrow. ***

Thanks!

Yep, makes sense. I'll go back over the reels more closely. That's likely what's causing the wrong reel(s) to move and chime.

I meant "closing" -- just had a brain lapse in terminology.

Will report back on the target bank resetting and also on this later this week. Thanks newmantjn!

So two steps forward but a step backward too. I got all the scoring to work correctly but my 1,000s reel won’t reset.

In adjusting the reels I noticed (and maybe caused?) two wires on that reel to come unsoldered: the one attached to the “4” lug on the circuit board and the double wire that connects to one of the runout switch lugs (the middle switch in the stack—I believe that’s runout).

I’ve soldered and re-soldered both of those a couple of times but the reel still won’t reset. Is one of those the likely culprit? Or something else. The coil works because the game scores correctly if I manually reset it and start a game.

Also I can maybe get 1-2 reset pulses from the coil if I hold the reel in my hand and move it around a bit. Sound like a short? A bad solder connection?

I don’t want to lead the witnesses though. Could it be something else?

Mark

Will do. I think I’ll start by jumping that runout switch to see if that solves it. I’m almost positive it has to be something on the reel itself, as it was working (resetting) before I started fiddling with it to fix the scoring issues.

Jumpered the switch and the reel spun correctly.

Spent some more time with the switch contacts and now the real resets correctly. Thank you all!

OK next problem: this game has two broken set-screws – one in each flipper. How the heck do I get these out? I tried turning them with a needle nose plyers in the plyers just slip off.
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Ended up hack-sawing them and ordering all new flipper assemblies from PBR.

Slightly off-topic of this particular restoration: In my other King Pin (the one in my collection) am blowing the 25v 15a fuse — must’ve accidentally moved something I shouldn’t have. For that specific fuse to be blowing where are the likely culprits to look at?

Thanks, I have one of those fuse helpers – made one a couple of years ago. I will use that. Seems to blow right after power up.

Spotted and fixed it. I had unsoldered the wires from the door coil to prevent it from buzzing and had not properly insulated them and wire-nutted them off. They were touching the inside of the coin door.