Grand Prix
Williams, 1976On my Williams Grand prix, the right side scores bonus "ejector" is intermittently not popping the ball out. Essentially this ends the game as the ball is stuck until physically removed.
This is my first pinball machine so trying to learn. It is wired to a blue Motorola canister. I assume this is the problem, the popper moves freely when I do it with my finger.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks
20240526_153923 (resized).jpg20240526_153907 (resized).jpgQuoted from BDHawk04:On my Williams Grand prix, the right side scores bonus "ejector" is intermittently not popping the ball out.
It's called a Saucer. Ball goes in saucer, activates the switch, that tells the Coil/Solenoid (Canister) to activate, pushing the ball out.
It's usually the most simple problem casing the issue, and that would point to the switch not registering every time. Most likely not the Coil because it happens intermittently.
gp (resized).jpg
Ball goes in the saucer, causing 'something' to push the 2 leaves of the switch together. So let's start there.
Make sure there is some piece pushing the top leaf (metal piece) into the other one.
Make sure the leaves are touching each other when the ball is there. During a game if you physically push the switch closed (both leaves together) it should start the sequence of counting bonus then activating the coil.
Clean the contacts on the leaf switch with a little sandpaper to make sure they are contacting each other when it happens.
Good luck!
Quoted from bonzo71:If the spinner switches are closed, this will also prevent the ball from ejecting. When this happens, are you noticing if either spinner is also in a position other than vertical?
Definitely check this too. Very common issue.
Great, thanks guys for the information and guidance. I will check out both of these items and report back.
Ok, finally got to looking at the machine. When the ball goes into saucer, it counts down the bonus, but does not eject. The left side works as it should. I sand papered both sets of contacts, however it looks as though both are touching. I am gonna try to get a little more contact on the top set though.
I also checked the spinners and they are in the vertical position. Any other thoughts? Is there another part like the spinners that wouldn't allow it to eject if it's closed?
Thanks
Quoted from BDHawk04:When the ball goes into saucer, it counts down the bonus, but does not eject. The left side works as it should.
1. Does the right hole eject when the left side does?
2. Does the Eject relay activate when this happens?
Quoted from HowardR:1. Does the right hole eject when the left side does?
2. Does the Eject relay activate when this happens?
Yes, when the ball is on left side saucer, both left and right side relays eject. When ball is on right side saucer, it stops and no relay ejection on either side.
If the Eject relay (here not referring to the eject solenoids) doesn't activate after the right hole counts its bonus,
starting with the right bonus unit disk and wiper,
inspect and diagnose this circuit with Alligator clip jumper wires
pasted_image (resized).png
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/gottlieb-big-shot-repair#post-6305153
http://www.planetimming.com/Pinball/troubleshooting/EM%20Troubleshooting.pdf
http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index3.htm#features
Example of a pinsider actually doing this https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/red-baron-tech-question#post-5858156
With the machine on game over, reset machine and remove ball from the shooter lane and turn the machine off.
Lift playfield and pull playfield towards you about 6-8 inches and tilt the playfield backwards at an angle so it rests on the backbox securely.
Find the bonus step unit marked left bonus unit.
The top of the wiper rivet board will have 2 wire connections on the top left side. The left side of the board will have a long row of wire connections. The wiper fingers will be positioned in a 12 o’clock position, an almost 3 o’clock position, an almost 5 o’clock position, and a 8 o’clock position. The right bonus step unit is an exact copy of the left bonus unit.
Find the right bonus unit and the top of the wiper rivet board. It’s the almost 3 o’clock and the almost 5 o’clock wiper fingers that are most important here.
Cleanliness of the rivets that these wiper fingers run over and proper downward pressure of the finger to rivet connection is important.
Lightly sanding and cleaning of the rivets and a slight downward pressure adjustment to the fingers may be necessary.
There are 2 solenoids with movable plungers that will step up and step down the unit and wiper fingers. Check by pushing each plunger and watch the operation of the unit that it advances and subtracts properly.
Quoted from pinballdaveh:With the machine on game over, reset machine and remove ball from the shooter lane and turn the machine off.
Lift playfield and pull playfield towards you about 6-8 inches and tilt the playfield backwards at an angle so it rests on the backbox securely.
Find the bonus step unit marked left bonus unit.
The top of the wiper rivet board will have 2 wire connections on the top left side. The left side of the board will have a long row of wire connections. The wiper fingers will be positioned in a 12 o’clock position, an almost 3 o’clock position, an almost 5 o’clock position, and a 8 o’clock position. The right bonus step unit is an exact copy of the left bonus unit.
Find the right bonus unit and the top of the wiper rivet board. It’s the almost 3 o’clock and the almost 5 o’clock wiper fingers that are most important here.
Cleanliness of the rivets that these wiper fingers run over and proper downward pressure of the finger to rivet connection is important.
Lightly sanding and cleaning of the rivets and a slight downward pressure adjustment to the fingers may be necessary.
There are 2 solenoids with movable plungers that will step up and step down the unit and wiper fingers. Check by pushing each plunger and watch the operation of the unit that it advances and subtracts properly.
GP has a third solenoid on the bonus units. Step up, step down and full reset. Be careful not to mess it up it's more complex than a normal bonus unit.
If I remember correctly, the full reset coil is not a solenoid with a plunger. It more resembles a relay with an armature plate. Instead of the armature plate activating switches, a rod is attached to it that interacts with the gear catch pawls preventing them from re-engaging the gear teeth and allowing the gear to spring return to its zero position for a full reset instead of a single step reset.
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Ann Arbor, MI