I just realized I posted this in the owners thread by mistake when I meant to post here…

So a recent problem just appeared and I need a little help knowing where to look. It seems my right flipper on the upper playfield will stop working after a few minutes of gameplay. When looking at the switch test and comparing it to when the Upper Playfield Left Flipper is engaged, it looks like The Upper Playfield Right Flipper EOS (D05) is not triggering. Since it works for a bit and then dies, I’m not sure what I should be looking for. No other issues with the machine and it has been pretty bulletproof for quite a while. Thanks in advance!

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The End of Stroke (EOS) switch is an important part of nearly every flipper assembly ever made. There should be a small leaf switch next to the linkage of the flipper assembly. When the flipper is engaged, the linkage should push into this switch and trigger it *only* at the very height of the flipper stroke. This tells the game that the flipper is now fully in the up position and changes the power to the coil. A misaligned switch can cause a weak or overheating flipper, or even smoke a transistor on some systems. Generally, there are 2 types of EOS switches; normally open and normally closed. I'm pretty sure the Black Pearl flippers use normally closed EOS switches, meaning that the flipper should be pushing the switch open just slightly when the flipper is fully UP. You may be able to use a small mirror to see and adjust the switch from underneath without removing the Pearl.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I just thought it was particularly odd that it consistently works for a bit when turning on the machine and then stops. I'm hoping it's just a switch adjustment like you said and I'll report back.

The Black Pearl is notorious for wires coming off the flipper coils and EOS. There is not enough slack in the wires and all that rocking back and forth doesn't help either. The best thing you can do is remove the Black Pearl and inspect underneath. Every owner needs to know how to get the Black Pearl out. After you've done it once or twice it becomes easy. If you've never had it out, you won't believe how dirty it is underneath.

Greetings everyone,
So the strangest thing. I was hitting the inner loop and with each one I was getting credit for the malstrome pieces of 8. It would give me 1 for each loop. Anyone heard of that?

Great question. Going to give that a try! Thanks much

The switch history is one of the greatest things in the JJP test menu. It is super helpful in diagnosing switch issues and it would be awesome if other manufacturers would implement that.

Hi all,

I have one issue and one question.

Issue- the auto plunge will not fire therefore will not auto launch a ball into play during multi ball or ball save (the ball is ejected into the shooter lane but no auto plunge). It will fire and launch a ball when the pin searches for a ball. Do you have any thoughts on why this happens and how to fix?

Question- If the chest has one or two balls locked and I start a different multiball or stacked multi balls, the chest releases one ball presumably to provide a ball for those other multi balls. Then after I complete those other multi balls, if I lock the third ball in the chest it starts dead man’s chest multi ball (with only two balls in the chest) then it auto launches a third ball to allow for dead man’s chest three ball multi ball. Does this sound correct?

I’m asking because I think I’m seeing a situation where dead man’s chest multi ball starts after only two locked balls. Has anyone run into this?

Dead Mans Chest behavior is normal. If it uses a ball from the chest, you do not have to relock balls. For your other question, I would check the shooter lane switch. Put the game in switch test mode and actuate the switch with a ball, not your finger.

If the game doesn't see a ball at that switch, it's not going to fire the solenoid to launch a ball it does not see.

May need to bend the switch arm up slightly so it closes better.

Thank you, I’ll give it a shot.

Thank you.

Thanks guys, problem solved. The ball wasn’t bending the wire down enough to register the switch, so I bent the wire up and now it registers and auto plunges!

Hi everyone,
Trying to track down Switch 69 and 70 which are the Black pearl inner and outer motor optos. Not sure where on the upper playfield it is.l Thanks

Got it and much thanks!!!

Hi all,

I am running into a similar issue as Heater.

In my case, when ball #2 ejects into the shooter lane, the goblet is qualified automatically. Then, when I hit various pieces of 8 shots, sometimes I’ll get two for one (I shoot the wooden eye shot which qualifies both that and the glass bottle for example).

Before I pursue the recommendations of adjusting the maelstrom multi ball difficulty settings and then switch tests, I thought I’d ask the group if anyone has experienced/diagnosed/fixed this issue.

Thank you.

That solves half my problem (which turns out to not be a problem) Thank you!

Check switch history right after you experience the problem. You should see one or more switches that you know you didn't shoot. Causes could be an opto that is out of alignment, a dirty opto, or a loose/flaky opto connector on a board.

Thank you.

Hi everyone,
So my spotlights went out. By chance does anyone know if there is a main fuse for them and where it might be. I tried looking at the wiring diagrams and can't seem to find it.

Thanks on advance

I don't think it's a fuse or you would have other things out as well. Check this connector number and also look for a wire that has come loose.

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Yep that was it, didn't notice the pear wasn't rocking or the led strip on the lamp. All good now and thanks!

Hello,

My right spinner on the black Pearl doesn’t register and is red/doesn’t register in matrix switch test. Has anyone run into this and is the fix to replace the switch? How difficult is this to do?

I didn’t see this in the thread but I did read about adjusting the VUK strength down which I will do as well.

Thx

First check if it's opto thing is broken from ball hits. If so replace it.

If not.

I'd turn the game off. Remove the black pearl, inspect bottom for broken wires.

To remove the black pearl, refer to manual. Remove clip on rear of playfield, then between black pearl and back wall of playfield, look down and unscrew the long allen head thing holding it in place.

Slide the black pearl back and up, lay on it's side to the right. Put shop towels down first. No need to remove connectors below the playfield unless you want to remove the whole black pearl from the playfield.

Reverse the proceedure to put the black pearl back in.

LTG : )
Disclaimer : Call jjp and tell them to get LTG : ) back.

Will do and will do LTG. You are the best!

Thank you

We have them in stock

Ha ha ha
opto spinner opto things are in stock

Too funny.

Opto spinner assembly on page C-7 in the manual.

Part number 51-000089-01 for left and 51-000089-00 for right.

LTG : )

Make sure to get the right spinner opto protector from JJP. Mine didn't have it and the opto got smashed. All fixed now!

And the opto is not too bad to replace. The protector is super easy to install.

Order is in the queue already including the opto guard

For those of you that may have had a similar issue to mine, I reached out to JJP technical help and Stephen did a great job.

He confirmed with the programming team, the easier the maelstrom multiball setting, the more likely nearby pieces of 8 shots will be spotted if you hit one of the pieces of 8 red arrow shots.

I increased the multi all level difficulty from factory level 3 and it resolved the issue.

Thanks again to the community here for helping me and others.

LTG or anyone, can you please share the step by step needed to remove and replace right ship opto? Thank you!

Turn game off. Remove playfield glass and put somewhere safe. Lift playfield up and pull forward and rest on front of cabinet so you can access the black pearl better.

Page C-34 in the manual. You might have to remove plastic molding around it. Then remove it's bracket #2 in the diagram. Then you can get at the screws holding the opto on.

Follow the wires below the playfield, you might need to cut a cable tie or two. Unplug the opto wires for that side.

LTG : )

Thank you sir!

LTG is best support rep in the industry. JJP please beg him to come back.

Thank you my friend !

They wouldn't have to beg.

LTG : )

Hey - just a little cautionary note on the ship opto replacement above. I just ordered 2 18-005003-00s from the JJP website and I think there might be 2 versions of that part? Both have the same screw hole placement. Both have the same connector. The one in the game mounted on the "front" of the bracket and was short and stubby and wide. The one that came from JJP was longer, narrower, and I had to mount it on the back of the bracket with some plastic buffer and adjust the spinner to have it register hits and spin freely. It works well now. I now also have a mod that protects it from strikes in the rear. I'm just leaving this other to make sure folks get the right 18-005003-00s!

Explanation - the parts carry the same part number and serve the same purpose. The designers of Pirates took the part from Hobbit and used it on the Black Pearl. We ran out of the Pirates ones at some point recently so when ordered, the Hobbit optos (which have longer harnesses to at least allow easier plug in below) are filling in and seem to be working fine.

Cool. So did I do the "right" thing by bending the spinner arm so it actually fit in the skinnier bracket? It works so I'm inclined to say yes but is there an easier way?

I hadn't heard of that being necessary from anyone else who got essentially the Hobbit version of that opto for Pirates but yes if that made it work. I'll check with the guys at the factory - mainly Eric in this case.

Hello, I need your help. During a game, a marble was stuck and it took me a while to find it. There was a long ball search. Since the switch "Shooter lane" does not register. Marbles are not returned automatically. I replaced the switch but it didn't work. I think I've reached my skill limit. Could someone help me with the diagnosis? Thanks.

Tests - Switches Matrixed. Does it work there ? If so just needs adjusting so the ball triggers it.

If not then check if any wires broke off of it. If that looks good, then check the switch matrix in the manual page C-152. It's on column 7 and row 7. Check switches on that row or column to see if a wire is off there. And on the I/O board check that connectors J201-7 and J200-7 are on tight.

LTG : )

Thank you very much, it was the thread of the target ×3 !! I figured out how to follow rows and columns

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Having trouble getting my POTC to boot up. It's been working fine in this same spot for about 2 years now. The fan for the motherboard and the power supply are turning on. I tried the manual jumper for the mb anyway and it turns these off/on. I also tried clearing the CMOS, but that didn't change anything. I tried reseating as many connectors on the motherboard and the HDD as I could. The game just turned 3 years old, so I have not touched the battery yet since getting it.

When I turn on the game, I get the JJP logo and then it goes to a screen where it is asking me to select the OS, with the options of "*Ubuntu" or "Advanced options for Ubuntu". If I let it load "*Ubuntu", it opens another screen where a wall of text appears and then stops. I can't get it to do anything more from this point.

I couldn't find any other reports of this specific problem. I am suspicious of the ATX power supply in the game because of a high pitch whine I have been hearing through the speakers for a while now, but I don't know enough about it to say if it's related. Any suggestions?

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