(Topic ID: 111309)

Gottlieb Duotron: counting ball issue

By Theonlylilo

9 years ago


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  • 12 posts
  • 3 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 8 years ago by pinhead52
  • Topic is favorited by 2 Pinsiders

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#1 9 years ago

Hi guys!
I'm here again to find a solution for a little issue on my Duotron pinball.
I've also asked to EM "gurus" here in Italy, but Gottlieb 2 players pinballs had not success, so no one can help me!
Sometimes 1-2 games every 10, the player 1 must play twice the first ball. Then the game continues regular until the end, counting the 2nd ball, the 3rd, etc...
I checked the "1st ball relay" and it starts not energized until the points are scored.
I also checked the unit stepper in the headbox, and the contact between wiper and round disc seems ok.
Any suggestion to solve this problem? Where can I check?

#2 9 years ago

Does this happen when playing a 1-player game or on a 2-player game?

The Player Unit in the backbox needs to step to advance to the next player and ball, so if it's staying on player 1, ball 1, then that suggests it's not stepping. If it's a 1-player game, then it needs to step more times to bring it back to player 1, ball 2 (skipping past player 2).

So would start by looking at the path on the schematic for the "Add Player Unit" coil.

#3 9 years ago

The problem appears also during a 2-player game, and while the player one repeats the 1st ball, the player two repeats the 5th ball (not always, but has happened sometimes).
During a 1-player game (frequently used insted 2-player game), when I lost the 1st ball, the wiper is energized once (you can hear the sound from backbox) then the light of "ball in play" stays on N° 1.
I made a video, but I don't know if is possible to upload here or only on YT.

#4 9 years ago

Then sounds like the problem lies on either the "Add Player Unit" path, or the player unit itself perhaps isn't mechanically stepping reliably (could need cleaning).

If you look at the schematic, starting with the "Add Player Unit" coil, then read left to right (following the black line), then you'll see which switches are involved with completing that circuit.

#5 9 years ago

Ok! I hope the problem is here, caused to dirt!
It's not very easy for me to read these schematics , but I try!
If I have troubles I'll write to you again
Thanks for the moment! I'll check then I let you know...

#6 9 years ago

Hello everybody!
I checked the "Add Player Unit" relay "P". It looked ok but I cleaned it anyway!
Then I played over 10 games in 1 and 2 players mode, all in the correct way ... I'm happy of course, but I havn't figured out the real matter of this problem...
Can anyone teach me to read the schematic? For example the path "P"...
Thanks
Ciao
Loris

Duotron-Page2.jpgDuotron-Page2.jpg
#7 9 years ago

Relay 'P' is activated when the ball rolls over the ball trough switch (so there's a normally open 'trough switch' shown in the path to 'P').

Then there's a normally open switch on 'P' that is in one of the paths that leads to the Add Player Unit coil. This path is shown over on the right side, and has a bit of a zig-zag to it, so may not be as clear. (There are a couple paths to the Add Player Unit, depending on whether it's for reset or during play.)

So when P is activated via the trough switch, the switch on P is then closed, which completes the path to the Add Player Unit.

Cleaning the switches on P probably included that one switch, so that a more reliable connection was made.

#8 9 years ago

Thanks a lot!!! just one question...
Could be the matter that I play the first ball (in the launch channel) before the complete reset? In this way I close in advance the through switch before the reset sequence? (the mechanical sound is not stopped yet)...

#9 9 years ago

I guess I don't understand the question/issue. How'd the ball get to the plunger before the reset completes?

#10 9 years ago

My apologies! I intended as "through switch" the switch in the launch channel for the ball gate return.
So, when the ball is launched, that switch is closed even if the wiper has not completed the rotation due to the switch under the apron.
Is difficult to explain that in italian, let alone in english!!!
Mostly I don't know well the EM pinballs!!! Double

11 months later
#11 8 years ago

Hi guys! The problem is definitively disappeared. I had to change the backelite flange of the player unit. The one I rebuilt with my own hands (unfortunately the flange was broken when I got the pinball) was not too good... the spring contacts were not perfectly alligned and the contact was unreliable... But now it works great!!! Thanks again to all!!!
Ciao

#12 8 years ago

Glad we could get you the right part!

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